US and Moroccan Navies Conduct Joint Anti-Piracy Exercise in Agadir

The "Paul Ignatus" ship is one of four ships assigned to the U.S. naval base in Rota (Cadiz) since June 2022. It will participate, alongside the "Sultan Moulay Ismail" (F-613) frigate of the Royal Moroccan Navy, in the Atlas Handshak exercise, which aims to improve interoperability between the U.S. and Moroccan navies in the areas of air-naval warfare and anti-submarine warfare, combined logistical support, and the fight against maritime piracy.

Two other U.S. Arleigh Burke-class ships will also participate in this exercise. On the Moroccan side, the modern Moroccan frigate SIGMA 9812, designed by the Dutch firm Damen, and which carries out the same missions as the American "Paul Ignatus," will participate in these maneuvers, as well as an AS565 Panther helicopter from the Moroccan navy and F-16 and F-5 combat aircraft from the Moroccan air force.