NATO Exercise Dynamic Manta 2025 In Full Swing

More than 1,600 sailors, six submarines, nine surface ships and 13 aircraft are currently engaged in the largest submarine exercise yet staged in the Mediterranean Sea.

Assets from Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM)’s Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) are among the vessels taking part in the Italian-hosted manoeuvres, which began on February 28 and run until March 14.

Dynamic Manta has been running since 2013, but in this most recent iteration submarine assets are also working with Allied maritime Special Operations Forces (SOF) - only the third time this has happened in the history of the exercise.

As per a recent MARCOM press statement, ships, subs and planes from 11 different countries are taking part: alongside the host nation Italy, assets from the U.K., the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey are also taking part.

Commander Submarines NATO, US Navy Rear Admiral Bret Grabbe, commented: “Exercises like Dynamic Manta help NATO maintain the edge when it comes to anti-submarine warfare.” 

“By practising coordinated operations against both conventional and advanced undersea threats, NATO continues to demonstrate its commitment to safeguarding the strategic waterways that connect member states.”

As per the MARCOM statement: “The aim of Dynamic Manta is to provide all participants with complex and challenging warfare training to enhance interoperability and proficiency in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare skills.

“Each participating unit will have the opportunity to conduct a variety of submarine warfare operations. The submarines will take turns hunting and being hunted, closely coordinating their efforts with the air and surface participants.”

• You can read more details on the MARCOM website