Manama, Jumada II 4, 1437, Mar 13, 2016, SPA -- Activities of the Joint GCC naval exercise (Union 18) today kicked off into Bahrain's extended territorial waters with the participation of the Royal Bahrain Naval Force (RBNF) alongside GCC and Arab naval forces. The naval exercise is a key one in terms of the size of forces involved and the quality of fighting techniques and equipment employed. It targets the exchange of military expertise and raising military efficiency and combat readiness to meet the requirements of the joint military action among GCC states. --SPA 19:31 LOCAL TIME 16:31 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w