U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command > Press Room

Gen. Laura J. Richardson, commander of U.S. Southern Command, speaks to media on the pier before embarking the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), Oct. 23, 2022. Comfort is deployed to U.S. 4th Fleet in support of Continuing Promise 2022, a humanitarian assistance and goodwill mission conducting direct medical care, expeditionary veterinary care, and subject matter expert exchanges with five partner nations in the Caribbean, Central and South America.

Nov. 18, 2022

USNS COMFORT COMMENCES CONTINUING PROMISE 2022 IN MIAMI

MIAMI — Hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) departed from Miami after commencing Continuing Promise 2022, Oct. 23, 2022.

USS Wichita (LCS 13) trains with Dominican Republic ships in the Caribbean Sea.

Nov. 18, 2022

USS Wichita Returns Home Following a Successful 4th Fleet Deployment

MAYPORT, Fla. — The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Wichita (LCS 13) returned to Mayport, Fla., on Oct. 21st following her second successful deployment to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations.

An FVR-90 autonomous delivery drone from L3 Harris Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems prepares to land onto the flight deck of the Spearhead-Class expeditionary fast transport vessel USNS Burlington (T-EPF-10), amongst distinguished visitors from the Scientists-to-Sea program as part of the Navy’s Fleet Experimentation Program (FLEX), in the Atlantic Ocean, Oct. 16, 2022.

Nov. 3, 2022

Navy’s Fleet Experimentation Program at Forefront of Emerging Unmanned Technologies

Atlantic Ocean — The Navy’s Fleet Experimentation Program (FLEX), featuring unmanned aerial and surface vehicles, was held on the Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport vessel USNS Burlington (T-EPF-10) in the waters around Key West, Fla. Oct. 16-21, 2022.

The Freedom-variant littoral combat ships USS Wichita (LCS 13), left, USS Billings (LCS 15), and an MH-60s Sea Hawk helicopter participate in a photo exercise in the Caribbean Sea, Sept. 10.

Oct. 8, 2022

USS Billings (Gold Crew) Returns Home After 4th Fleet Deployment

MAYPORT, Fla. — The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15) Gold Crew returned to Mayport, Fla., Oct. 7th, following its second successful deployment to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations.

Sept. 28, 2022

Jacksonville Sortie Area Ships and Aircraft Ahead of Hurricane Ian

Mayport, Fla. — U.S. 4th Fleet has ordered all ships and aircraft to make preparations for Hurricane Ian’s expected arrival.

Sept. 22, 2022

UNITAS Concludes After Successful Exercise

Rio De Janeiro — UNITAS LXIII (63), the world’s longest-running multinational maritime exercise concluded with a closing ceremony in Rio De Janeiro, Sept. 22, 2022.

RIO DE JANEIRO (Sept. 8, 2022) Brazilian Navy Adm. Marcos Sampaio Olsen, Commander Naval Operations, and U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro greet each other prior to the opening ceremony for UNITAS LXIII, Sept. 8, 2022. UNITAS is the world’s longest-running maritime exercise. Hosted this year by Brazil, it brings together multinational forces from Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Namibia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and the United States conducting operations in and off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. The exercise trains forces to conduct joint maritime operations through the execution of anti-surface, anti-submarine, anti-air, amphibious and electronic warfare operations that enhance warfighting proficiency and increase interoperability among participating naval and marine forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ethan Craw/Released)

Sept. 16, 2022

U.S. Secretary of the Navy Kicks Off UNITAS LXIII in Rio De Janeiro

RIO DE JANEIRO — More than 5,500 military personnel from 19 partner nations kicked off UNITAS LXIII (63) during an opening ceremony Sept. 8, 2022.

A U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom helicopter assigned to Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 773 hovers above the landing pad of the San Antonio class dock landing ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) in the North Atlantic Ocean, Aug. 16, 2022. HMLA 773 launched three UH-1Y Venom and two AH-1Z Viper helicopters from McGuire Air Force Base and embarked them aboard the USS Mesa Verde for transit to Brazil in support of exercise UNITAS LXIII hosted by the Brazilian Navy and Marine Corps. UNITAS, which is Latin for “unity,” was conceived in 1959 and has taken place annually since first conducted in 1960. This year marks the 63rd iteration of the world’s longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise. Additionally, this year Brazil will celebrate its bicentennial, a historical milestone commemorating 200 years of the country’s independence.

Sept. 3, 2022

U.S. Maritime Forces Arrive for UNITAS LXIII hosted by Brazil

NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN — Navy and Marine forces are set to arrive in Rio de Janeiro in support of UNITAS LXIII, the world’s longest-running multinational maritime exercise scheduled to take place Sept. 8-22.

Chief Master-At-Arms Robert Abreu, assigned to the Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Burlington (T-EPF-10), briefs Dutch military police while they tour the ship during a theater security cooperation event, Aug. 9, 2022. Burlington is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support expeditionary maintenance to deployed littoral combat ships operating in the region and conduct theater security cooperation engagements to maintain access, enhance interoperability and build enduring partnerships in the Caribbean, Central and South America.

Sept. 3, 2022

USNS Burlington Conducts Theater Security

ORANJESTAD, Aruba — The Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Burlington (T-EPF-10) arrived in the port of Oranjestad on the island of Aruba, Aug. 7, during its deployment to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations.

Aug. 16, 2022

Exercise PANAMAX 2022 Concludes in Mayport, Florida

Mayport, Fla. — PANAMAX 2022 concluded at U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet (USNAVSO/4th Fleet), Aug. 11.

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