The United States Navy’s expeditionary sea base (ESB) USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3) participated in the AMAN 2025 multinational maritime exercise, held from February 7 to February 11, 2025, in the Arabian Sea. Hosted by the Pakistan Navy, AMAN 2025 brought together naval forces from over 60 countries, reinforcing maritime cooperation, regional security, and joint operational readiness.
USS Lewis B. Puller: A Versatile Expeditionary Asset
The USS Lewis B. Puller is a state-of-the-art expeditionary sea base (ESB), designed to support a diverse range of naval and joint operations. Commissioned in 2017, it is the first purpose-built ESB, serving as a mobile sea platform for special operations, mine countermeasures, and expeditionary missions.
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Key Features of USS Lewis B. Puller:
- Expeditionary Capabilities: Functions as a floating forward operating base, providing logistical support, refueling, and mission staging for naval and special forces operations.
- Aircraft Operations: Features a large flight deck, accommodating MH-53E Sea Dragon mine countermeasure helicopters and MV-22 Ospreys, enhancing operational reach and flexibility.
- Mission Flexibility: Equipped for mine countermeasures (MCM), maritime security patrols, anti-piracy operations, and amphibious warfare support.
- Specifications: With a displacement of over 90,000 tons, it enables long-duration deployments, making it a critical asset for maritime security and regional stability.
AMAN 2025: Advancing Multinational Maritime Security
Since its inception in 2007, the AMAN exercise has evolved into a significant platform for multinational defense collaboration. AMAN 2025 focused on enhancing interoperability, naval partnerships, and countering transnational threats such as piracy, illegal trafficking, and terrorism.
Exercise Phases:
- Harbor Phase (Karachi): Involved joint operational briefings, strategic planning sessions, and cultural exchanges to foster naval diplomacy.
- Sea Phase (Arabian Sea): Included anti-piracy drills, search-and-rescue (SAR) operations, maritime interdiction exercises, and tactical fleet maneuvers, enhancing joint combat readiness and coordination.
AMAN Dialogue: Strengthening Maritime Strategy
A key highlight of AMAN 2025 was the AMAN Dialogue, a high-level forum for strategic maritime discussions. Naval representatives, defense experts, and maritime analysts deliberated on securing global sea lanes, ensuring freedom of navigation, and addressing asymmetric maritime threats.
The U.S. Navy delegation reaffirmed its commitment to international maritime security, emphasizing the role of multinational exercises like AMAN in promoting stability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The participation of USS Lewis B. Puller demonstrated the U.S. Navy’s ability to project power, support allied operations, and strengthen global maritime partnerships.
