Ukraine’s Navy conducts drills with US Navy destroyer USS James E. Williams
On Saturday, the Ukrainian Naval Forces conducted PASSEX type joint training exercises with the US Navy’s James E. Williams destroyer, the press center of Ukraine’s Naval Command reported.
“On December 2, the Ukrainian Naval Forces together with the USS James Williams conducted PASSEX type training exercises. Two Ka-27 helicopters from the Ukrainian Navy were involved in the event,” the report states.
The goal of the exercises was to work on cooperation with partner-states’ ships according to NATO standards, increase the level of compatibility and deepen collaboration.
During the training, the helicopters from the Ukrainian Navy rehearsed elements related to landing on the deck of the American ship.
In addition, the participants in the maneuvers carried out anti-air defense drills in accordance with NATO standards.
As reported, the USS James E. Williams came into the Odessa port on the morning of November 29.
The USS James Williams is the latest version of the Arleigh Burke-class of destroyers, brought into use in December 2004. Its total displacement is above 9,600 tons, it is 155 meters long, 20 meters wide, and has a draft of 9.4 meters. With four 108,000 horsepower gas turbines, it can reach 32 knots. Its 96 launch facilities contain Tomahawk, Standard 2, Standard 3 and ASROC missiles, as well as Harpoon anti-ship missiles. The ship has a crew of 380, and two Sikorsky SH-60 helicopters on board.