Official U.S. Navy website - Commander Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

Kilat Eagle is a cooperative exercise taking place in the U.S. 7^th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) between the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and the Malaysian Army that focuses on jungle training, air assault operations, a staff exchange and numerous platoon and company movements.

Sailors assigned to Makin Island’s flightdeck worked long hours to launch 11^th MEU aircraft and embarked Marines into Kuantan, Malaysia in order to take part in the exercise.

"The Navy and Marine Corps team plays a critical role in helping to establish international maritime security cooperation with our partner nations,” said Capt. Jim Landers, Makin Island’s commanding officer. “Global maritime security is best achieved through international and regional maritime integration, awareness, and response initiatives.

Landers said that theater security cooperation exercises like Kilat Eagle enable mutual capabilities and capacity to carry out real-world operations.

“The economic interests of the United States, our allies and partner nations depend on unimpeded trade across the world's oceans," added Landers.  “Open trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region is extremely important to the world’s economy.”

During the exercise, Marines from the 11^th MEU with work alongside their Malaysian counterparts to learn jungle survival skills and improve helicopter-borne assault techniques.

“Kilat Eagle reinforces our relationship with the Malaysian forces and provides a unique training opportunity for all parties,” said Col. Michael Hudson, 11th MEU’s commanding officer. “We look forward to sharing all that this agile, forward-deployed Marine air-ground-logistics team has to offer.”

“This is a golden opportunity,” said Hudson. “The venues and expertise offered by our gracious hosts will allow us to train with the Malaysians while keeping us sharp for our deployment as America’s premier fighting force in the littorals.”

Other 11^th MEU personnel from Makin Island are participating in additional theater security cooperation exercises in nearby Singapore.

Makin Island is the first U.S. Navy ship to deploy using a hybrid-electric propulsion system. By using this unique propulsion system, the Navy expects over the course of the ship's lifecycle, to see fuel savings of more than $250 million, proving the Navy's commitment to energy awareness and conservation.

The 7th Fleet AOR includes more than 52 million square miles of the Pacific and Indian oceans, stretching from the international date line to the east coast of Africa, and from the Kuril Islands in the north to the Antarctic in the south.

More than half of the world's population lives within the 7th Fleet AOR. In addition, more than 80 percent of that population lives within 500 miles of the oceans, which means this is an inherently maritime region.