May 6 2024

Allied Air Forces make major contribution to joint combined Neptune Strike missions

RAMSTEIN, Germany - Allied fighter jets and refueling planes flew hundreds of sorties in support to NATO’s Neptune Strike enhanced Vigilance Activity showcasing collaboration, professionalism and interoperability of Alliance forces that work together in multi-domain and joint operations.

Neptune Strike is an excellent opportunity for NATO to train its air and naval fleets across large distances ensuring that Allied forces maintain the highest level of readiness to work together to defend Allied territory

The first iteration of Neptune Strike in 2024 is a visible demonstration of NATO’s ability to cooperate and integrate effectively. The manoeuvres are built around the five Carrier Strike Groups of the French Charles de Gaulle, the Spanish Juan Carlos I., the Italian Cavour, the Turkish Anadolu and the United States Eisenhower aircraft carriers or amphibious assault ship deployed and operating in the Mediterranean. The strike groups were joined by other Navies’ ships e.g. from Albania and North Macedonia making Neptune Strike 24-1 proof of the strong cohesion and trust between North American and European Allies.

NATO jets and vessels participating in the enhanced Vigilance Activity Neptune Strike 24-1 across Europe; this is an excellent opportunity for NATO to train its air and naval fleets across large distances ensuring that Allied forces maintain the highest level of readiness to work together to defend Allied territory.

Since April 26, besides carrier-generated sorties in the Mediterranean, NATO conducted several flying drills under Neptune Strike in and around the Baltic Sea and Eastern Europe; Allied fighter jets from Finland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain, joined these manoeuvres. While Allied fighters and air-to-air refuellers supported simulated long-range maritime strikes and Air-Land Integration with Joint Terminal Attack Controllers in the south, they flew similar missions and combined air operations in the north.

“Neptune Strike is an excellent opportunity for NATO to train its air and naval fleets across large distances ensuring that Allied forces maintain the highest level of readiness to work together to defend Allied territory,” said Lieutenant Colonel Rodolphe, head of the Neptune Strike execution team at Allied Air Command.

“It is important during these times for the Alliance and the Allies to exploit the availability of five multinational strike groups that provide a high-end capability to defend the Alliance, guarantee the freedom of navigation and manoeuvre, and maintain regional stability,” he continued to say. Neptune Strike also offers valuable joint training opportunities for various fighter squadrons deployed to Air Policing missions on the eastern flank. “This shows we can do both – execute command and control of advanced and complex training activities and ensure our standing mission to ensure deterrence against potential aggression and defence of NATO populations and territory,” he added.

NATO is a defensive alliance of 32 nations committed to safeguarding the collective freedom, security and sovereignty of all Allies against all threats. Regularly conducted, military exercises enhance Alliance security by maintaining NATO’s high level of readiness to meet any threat. In this context, Neptune Strike (NEST) is a multi-domain and multi-national enhanced vigilance activity, an unscripted maritime exercise that hones NATO’s ability to integrate maritime capabilities including carrier strike groups to support Allied defence.

Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office