NATO Allies begin Anti-Submarine Warfare exercise in North Atlantic

Europe, News April 25, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

NATO Allies are participating in a large-scale Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) exercise, Dynamic Mongoose, to enhance Northern Flank capabilities. Twelve NATO partners are taking part in this year’s Dynamic Mongoose drills.

NATO nations began training on April 24, 2023, to defend themselves against attacks from submarines with warships, submarines, aircraft, and helicopters.

The Nordic island nation, Iceland is the primary host of the exercise, while the naval and air assets of Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States will participate in the drills.

During the course of the 11-day exercise, NATO submarines will practice “hunting and being hunted”, according to the NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) statement.

NATO-led Exercise Dynamic Mongoose is held every year to test the Alliance with complex scenarios such as practicing response to sub-surface threats in the challenging environment of the Norwegian Sea.

#RCAF CP140 Aurora crews are taking part in exercise #DynamicMongoose in Iceland. The training will include dynamic scenarios to test the ability to confront any threat within the subsurface domain alongside #NATO allies. #WeAreNATO @NATO_MARCOM pic.twitter.com/pSGFozRAgF
— RCAF Operations (@RCAFOperations) April 24, 2023

Dynamic Mongoose is the sister event of the Dynamic Manta exercise which was held in February 2023, in the Central Mediterranean Sea. During the Dynamic Manta 23 nine NATO Allied nations’ ships, submarines, aircraft, and personnel participated in anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare exercises.

According to the MARCOM statement, “The exercise will not only help forces work together effectively as an Alliance, but also develop better interoperability in the ASW domain”.

Command of Submarines NATO (COMSUBNATO) Commander U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Stephen Mack said, “These exercises enable our Allies and teams to sharpen their skills as well as work on new tactics while enhancing interoperability, coordination, and teamwork”.

*^{USS Toledo leading the formation during Dynamic Mongoose ’17 Exercise. (Image Credit: NATO/FRAN CPO/Christian Valverde)}*

During Dynamic Mongoose Exercise, NATO Allies will perform a series of challenging tasks and sharpen their “ASW and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASUW) skills in the seas between Norway, the Faroe Islands, and Iceland” as well as use air bases across the region.

NATO MARCOM statement highlighted that the Allies would conduct “high-tempo training” in different scenarios. As the NATO Alliance adapts to new security challenges, it is becoming increasingly important to test the ability of all units to confront any threat within the subsurface domain, the statement added.

The main purpose of the exercise is to ensure that NATO crews are prepared to respond to threats posed by sub-surface forces and demonstrate the Alliance stands ready to defend all NATO states. MARCOM statement stressed that “NATO is a defensive Alliance that remains ready to respond to any threats against Allies from any direction.”

Each year, there are almost a dozen maritime exercises led by MARCOM, including Dynamic Mongoose, along with several national exercises that enhance the military preparedness and readiness of the Alliance.