The United States Navy and the Israeli Navy held a coordinated PASSEX maritime exercise on November 13, 2025, in international waters of the Middle East.
The drill brought together the American destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG-57) with two Israeli corvettes: INS Magen (Sa’ar 6) and INS Hanit (Sa’ar 5). Images released by the US Fifth Fleet show the three vessels sailing in tight formation—hundreds of meters apart—demonstrating advanced tactical coordination.
The exercise focused on sharpening operational cooperation between the two navies and strengthening readiness for joint missions within the vast CENTCOM maritime arena, which includes the Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, and the eastern Mediterranean. PASSEX drills are routine, but they are crucial for building trust and aligning procedures among allied forces.
USS Mitscher arrived in the region either as part of the Eisenhower carrier strike group or as an independent deployment, carrying sophisticated air-defense and weapons systems. INS Magen, the Israeli Navy’s most advanced corvette, is equipped with the Barak 8 long-range air-defense system and the IAI MF-STAR radar. INS Hanit—globally known for surviving an Iranian anti-ship missile in the 2006 war—continues to serve as a proven, combat-ready platform.