Conclusion of the “Digital Shield” Exercise

Today (Thursday) the “Digital Shield” joint exercise of the Israeli Navy and The U.S. Fifth Fleet concluded.

The Exercise took place in the Gulf of Eilat and included the participation of dozens of soldiers and officers from the Israeli Navy and the U.S. Fifth Fleet.

In the exercise, manned vessels of the Israeli Navy, troops from the 915th Fleet and the “Snapir” Unit operated alongside unmanned vessels of the U.S. Fifth Fleet’s Task Force 59.

The purpose of the exercise is strengthening cooperation between the militaries, constructing a shared understanding of the maritime domain as well as using artificial intelligence as part of the operational toolbox.

Head of Naval Operations (N3), RAdm. Daniel Hagari:
“Since the State of Israel’s transition to CENTCOM, the Israeli Navy has expanded its operational capabilities alongside the U.S. Fifth Fleet. The ‘Digital Shield’ exercise expresses the integration of advanced technology, an operational response and cooperation in the face of challenges that require a combined response to maintain maritime security. The cooperation between manned and unmanned vessels constitutes an innovative opportunity for building a broad maritime situational understanding. It is also an opportunity to incorporate additional players operating in the region, all sharing the goal of maintaining the security of the region and the various navigation lanes.”