NATO navies conduct training in anti-submarine warfare in the Baltic Sea

NATO exercise Merlin 2024 in the Baltic Sea

The NATO-led training exercise involved naval and air units from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Merlin 2024 encompassed the full spectrum of maritime assets, including surface ships, submarines, and maritime patrol aircraft. The exercise allowed NATO navies to enhance key skills in anti-submarine warfare, surface operations, and aerial maneuvers related to maritime patrols. The objective was to increase situational awareness in the maritime domain and track enemy submarines.

- Thanks to the involvement of multiple platforms across all three domains, participating units confirmed their operational skills at the highest level - said the commander of SNMG1, Commodore Thomas Stig Rasmussen of the Danish Navy. - Anti-submarine warfare is a challenging field, but through regular exercises like Merlin 2024, NATO forces maintain capabilities at the highest level throughout the year. These exercises also highlight the Alliance's ability and readiness to act together, responding to threats from all directions - he added.

The benefits of Merlin 2024 stem from high-level training and the interoperability of NATO navies. Training with real submarines, combined with regular maritime exercises, strengthens cooperation among allied navies. Maintaining a wide range of NATO's interoperable military capabilities at a high level of readiness is a key element in the Alliance's defense.

- The Baltic Sea is a demanding operational environment. The local knowledge of our regional allies contributes to success, and practicing command and control ensures the effective use of resources - said Commodore Rasmussen. - Joint training in Swedish waters gives allies an important opportunity to increase interoperability, which is key to success in real-world operations. Our new allies, Sweden and Finland, have changed the way NATO approaches maritime security in the region - he emphasized.

The exercise was led by NATO's Maritime Command (MARCOM) and marked the first maritime training under the tactical command of the Baltic Task Force (CTF Baltic). The new multinational headquarters of CTF Baltic is a German national center with the capacity to carry out NATO tasks.

- During Merlin 2024, our entirely new personnel worked directly for the commander of NATO's Maritime Command (MARCOM) for the first time - said Rear Admiral Stephan Haisch, commander of the Baltic Task Force. - This is another milestone for us. The goal of Merlin is to train allied command and control structures in the Baltic Sea region. We are pleased to contribute with our capabilities and experience - he emphasized.

NATO's Maritime Command (MARCOM) is the central command entity for all NATO maritime forces, and the MARCOM commander serves as the Alliance's principal naval advisor.