ANNUALEX

ANNUALEX^[1] or AnnualEx (AE) is a military exercise by the United States Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.^[2] It is annually held in the Southern Sea of Japan.^[2]

USN-JASDF ships and aircraft formations during ANNUALEX 2008

Aircraft fly overhead during an ANNUALEX 21G formation in 2009.

The official definition reads: [ANNUALEX] …

… is a bilateral training exercise between the Navy and JMSDF conducted in the waters south of Japan, to practice and evaluate the coordination, procedures, and interoperability elements required to effectively and cohesively respond to the defense of Japan or to a regional contingency in the Indo-Asia-Pacific.

— United States Navy, Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Sara B. Sexton, Commander, Task Force 70 Public Affairs, Japanese Admiral Embarks Ronald Reagan as Sea Combatant Commander During AnnualEx 16^[3]

History

The first ANNUALEX was held between November 5 and 15, 1996.^[2] ANNUALEX 13g was held from November 4–11, 2016, and participation included 750 American military personnel.^[2]

ANNUALEX 2021 was held from November 21–30 in the Philippine Sea. Five international navies participated, including the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), German Navy (GMN), Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and the U.S. Navy.^[4]