IRIA News

Warships, submarines, and aircraft from 10 NATO states are taking part in the annual anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASuW) exercise Dynamic Mongoose 24 from April 29 to May 10, 2024.

Thousands of NATO military personnel and units from Canada, Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States gathered in Norway to enhance joint capabilities.

The Exercise Dynamic Mongoose, hosted by Norway, began in Stavanger, with some elements also scheduled near the Faroe Islands. The exercise will conclude in Reykjavik, Iceland. The Air bases in Norway, Iceland, and the UK are tasked with providing support to the participating Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

According to NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), “The exercise includes submarines from the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It also includes aircraft from Canada, Germany, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States.”

The Dynamic Mongoose 24 exercise also involves the multinational surface ships of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), commanded by Spanish Navy Rear Admiral Joaquin Ruiz Escagedo aboard flagship ESPS Almirante Juan de Borbon, as well as other surface ships from Germany, Denmark, the Faroe Islands, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom.

Ex #DynamicMongoose24 kicked off today from 🇳🇴 #Stavanger. 10 Allied nations joined for the anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare ex in the North Atlantic Ocean. The exercise enhances interoperability between Allies & builds the defensive capacity of the Alliance #WeAreNATO… pic.twitter.com/uqt2Y01HM4

— NATO Maritime Command (@NATO_MARCOM) April 30, 2024

The exercise aims to prepare NATO maritime crews to respond and adapt to emerging threats from the seabed to space. According to the MARCOM statement, the exercise offers an “opportunity to train submarine crews to evade and respond from deep below the surface, while simultaneously training surface vessels and air assets to detect submarines and address the threat below the waves”.

The Allies will conduct this highly complex submarine exercise led by the Command of Submarines NATO (COMSUBNATO) between Norway and Iceland in the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom-Norway (GIUK-N) Gap waters. “The cold environmental conditions at this time of year in the region present their own set of challenges that crews must overcome in addition to the exercise serials,” the statement highlighted.

During the exercise, the Allies are conducting a variety of submarine-warfare operations. The NATO submarines will “take turns hunting and being hunted, closely coordinating their efforts with the air and surface participants, while an in-stride debriefing team will provide feedback that can be built upon during the exercise for immediate improvement,” the statement added.

The MARCOM-led maritime exercise supports NATO’s maritime readiness in defense of the Alliance. The COMSUBNATO Commander Wall said, that the exercise is helping NATO’s proficiency in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare and supports the Alliance’s defense against multi-domain threats.

“The crew of every single submarine, ship, and aircraft participating in this exercise brings a unique perspective and valuable capability to the table. I continue to be proud of the work they have done and now it’s time to put it all into practice,” he added.

This year the newest member of the NATO Alliance, Sweden, is participating in the NATO maritime exercise for the first time. Commander, Submarines NATO U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Thomas Wall said, We are excited to incorporate the stealth of one of Sweden’s advanced, silent Gotland-class submarines into Dynamic Mongoose this year.”

“We’ve been collaborating with the Swedish Navy for many years so the interoperability is already there. They bring the experience of a submarine crew well versed in shallow water operations so to have them in our Allied maritime force composition firmly enhances our collective defense in the region,” U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Wall added.

NATO Allies are also conducting exercise Neptune Strike 24 in the Mediterranean Sea and Baltic Sea regions from April 26 to May 10. The multi-domain exercise is aimed at enhancing the Allies’ vigilance activity and improving the interoperability of high-end maritime forces.

The MARCOM statement highlighted, “Conducting these two complex, multi-domain exercises simultaneously illustrates the Alliance’s ability to execute missions across the entire Euro-Atlantic area.”