More Details

POHANG, South Korea (Oct. 23, 2025) MH-53E Sea Dragon from the Helicopter Mine Counter Measures Squadron (HM-15) conduct main rotor blade sleeve and spindle change during Multinational Mine Warfare Exercise (MNMIWEX) 25 in Pohang, South Korea, Oct. 23, 2025. MNMIWEX 25 is a multilateral exercise hosted by South Korea, with units from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Philippines, and the United States participating in a variety of counter-mine warfare drills. (U.S. Navy photo by Aviation Electronics Technician First Class Jordan Makrush)

More Details

BUSAN, South Korea (Oct. 23, 2025) Sailors from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 11 execute bilateral Emergency Action Plan training with Republic of Korea Navy EOD partners aboard the Republic of Korea Navy Cheon Wang Bong-class landing ship tank ROKS Ilchulbong (LST 688) during Multinational Mine Warfare Exercise (MNMIWEX) 25 near Busan, South Korea, Oct. 23, 2025. MNMIWEX 25 is a multilateral exercise hosted by South Korea, with units from the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Philippines, participating in a variety of counter mine warfare drills. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cory Buchanan).

More Details

BUSAN, South Korea (October 27, 2025) Naval Aircrewman Helicopter 2nd Class Alejandro Mojica and Naval Aircrewman Helicopter 3rd Class Joshua Palmer work to stream the AN/AQS-24C mine countermeasures sonar from an MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter during Multinational Mine Warfare Exercise (MNMIWEX) 25 near Busan, South Korea, Oct. 27, 2025. MNMIWEX 25 is a multilateral exercise hosted by South Korea, with units from the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Philippines, participating in a variety of counter mine warfare drills. (U.S. Navy photo by AWS2 Amber Edemann).

The annual exercise, hosted by the South Korean Navy, aims to enhance mine countermeasures (MCM) proficiency within a multinational force. Building upon subject matter exchanges that occurred in MNMIWEX 24, U.S. and Korean forces enhanced interoperability through MCM trainings involving undersea unmanned vehicles and command and control (C2) integration across the multilateral force. Commander, Task Force (CTF) 77 led U.S. MCM forces.

"Mine countermeasures is a vital skillset for any maritime nation to hone," said Capt. Peter Haynes, commander, CTF-77. "We are honored to work alongside our partners and allies to do our part to ensure the Indo-Pacific remains free and open."

Other MNMIWEX 25 participants include Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. Explosive ordnance disposal(EOD) personnel from all nations participated to enhance interoperability for detection and disposal of undersea mines in a joint environment. Unmanned air and undersea vehicles were combined with the capabilities and personnel expertise of a multilateral force of EOD specialists in a series of exercises designed to leverage unmanned capabilities to dispose of modern sea mines.  

CTF-77 is forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan. Subordinate units include the mine countermeasure ships USS Patriot (MCM 7), USS Pioneer (MCM 9), USS Warrior (MCM 10), and USS Chief (MCM 14), all based in Sasebo, and HM15, Detachment 3A in Pohang, ROK.

U.S. 7th Fleet, the Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific.