Atlantic Alliance 2025: Dutch and U.S. forces deepen amphibious interoperability aboard HNLMS Johan de Witt

The east coast of the United States is currently the scene of Atlantic Alliance 2025, a high-readiness joint exercise uniting Dutch and American naval and air units. At the center of this operation is the amphibious transport ship HNLMS Johan de Witt, serving as a key platform for integrated sea-to-shore operations and as the base of operations for 860 Squadron with its NH90 NFH maritime helicopters.

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09 july 2025 | 11:11 | Source: Gazeta Morska | Prepared by: Kamil Kusier | Print

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Atlantic Alliance 2025 focuses on strengthening NATO’s expeditionary capabilities through intensive training in amphibious warfare. Dutch Korps Mariniers and U.S. Marine Corps forces are working side by side in complex scenarios including rapid troop deployment, coastal infrastructure security, and high-intensity conflict simulation.

A milestone moment of the exercise occurred when a U.S. MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft landed aboard HNLMS Johan de Witt—the first such landing in over a decade. Shortly thereafter, a CH-53E Super Stallion, the largest helicopter in the U.S. military, followed. These heavy-lift platforms, significantly larger than the NH90s routinely operated from Dutch vessels, presented real-world logistical and deck handling challenges, all of which were successfully met by the Dutch crew.

Such combined operations are a powerful demonstration of NATO interoperability in action, allowing crews to test shared protocols, coordinate multinational command structures, and enhance readiness for real-world maritime deployments. The successful integration of U.S. rotorcraft aboard a European naval platform reflects the alliance’s commitment to adaptability and cooperation in all domains—on, above, and from the sea.

Atlantic Alliance 2025 continues through 11 July, reinforcing transatlantic ties and preparing allied forces for joint amphibious missions in high-threat environments across the globe.