Neptune Strike Kicks Off

NATO has 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. 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.

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.

It will be Sweden’s first NEST since joining the Alliance.

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 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.

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.

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.