On Friday, April 26, 2024, NATO started a complex demonstration of its ability to integrate joint high-end maritime strike capabilities. It will take operational control of multiple aircraft carrier and expeditionary strike groups in support of deterrence and defense of the Alliance in its 75th year.
During this iteration, Neptune Strike (NEST) includes contributions by Albania, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Türkiye, Sweden, United Kingdom and the USA.
All you need is #NEST 🔱
— STRIKFORNATO (@STRIKFORNATO) April 30, 2024
🇪🇸Juan Carlos I's fleet of venerable 🛩️ Harrier jump jets is taking to the skies, clearing the seas for forthcoming amphibious landings along the Mediterranean shoreline.#NeptuneStrike isn't just about the here and now; it's sculpting a future for the… pic.twitter.com/fAO88nECdI
It will be Sweden’s first NEST since joining the Alliance.
Among the main naval units involved, we can mention the French aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle (R91), the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (C550), and the Spanish Juan Carlos I (L 61). Also participating in naval activities is the Turkish LHD TCG Anadolu (L 400).
This spring, and though not falling underneath NATO’s operational authority, for the first time Türkiye will participate with an expeditionary strike group including amphibious forces.
In a resounding testament to international cooperation, 🇹🇷 TCG Anadolu charts the course towards #NeptuneStrike, marking its historic debut in this @NATO Activity.
— STRIKFORNATO (@STRIKFORNATO) April 28, 2024
🗺️ As the Turkish Navy flagship cruises through the Mediterranean seascape, it emerges as the premier littoral… pic.twitter.com/q5GRSwaynD
In addition, NATO will establish and operate a Forward Command Element (FCE) aboard a floating unit to demonstrate its ability to deploy self-sufficient mobile command elements- anywhere, at any time.
Also for the first time, the French Navy will transfer the authority for the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its affiliated unites under NATO command for the duration of NEST.
🇫🇷French Carrier Strike Group🇫🇷
— MT Anderson (@MT_Anderson) May 1, 2024
h/t @blackswanadria on the initial spot.
In addition to Charles de Gaulle & Horizon Class Frigate Chevalier Paul, both the Aquitaine-class FREMM Frigate Provence & BRF Replenishment vessel Jacques Chevallier were spotted further south. pic.twitter.com/7xl6h9QnyQ
NEST blends the activities and capabilities of Allied maritime strike capabilities from their national tasking to STRIKFORNATO (SFN) and the wider Alliance. This effort sees multi-national assets integrating high-end strike capabilities to enhance their readiness to defend the Alliance.
The NEST main objectives are to exercise NATO’s ability to maintain the freedom of navigation and manoeuvre, to secure strategic maritime chokepoints, to conduct deterrence and vigilance activities, and to increase the interoperability between Allied and partner nations through air and land integration missions to foster NATO’s capabilities to conduct multi-domain operations across multiple Joint Operational Areas (JOA).
During NEST, NATO will control units operating across the entire Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas, but also air units will fly across Europe (by conducting air-to-air refuelling) culminating in live-firing missions in the Baltic Sea and on firing ranges in Poland and Romania.
Multi-domain operations encompass all interconnected sea, air, land, space and cyber activities with the aim of promoting and combining their respective capabilities to achieve advantages on the battlefield.
Neptune Strike (NEST) is a long planned activity conducted in compliance with international laws and standards and will take place from April 26 to May 10, 2024.
With the execution of Neptune Strike, the Alliance proves that it is able to face any threat from any direction faster, more persistent and with more capable and stronger unity than ever before.
(via NATO)
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