British, American, and Italian aircraft carriers, along with American and Turkish assault ships plus a range of warships and support vessels, are taking part in Exercise NEPTUNE STRIKE 2024-2 to enhance NATO’s ability to defend strategic maritime chokepoints and deter potential threats.

The exercise, running from 24th to 31st October, features the Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales, the U.S. Navy’s USS Harry S. Truman, the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp, Turkey’s TCG Anadolu, and Italy’s ITS Cavour, operating across the Mediterranean, North, and Baltic Seas.

The exercise, led by NATO’s Naval Striking and Support Forces (STRIKFORNATO), showcases the complex integration of high-end maritime strike capabilities across multiple operational areas, with a focus on ensuring freedom of navigation and defence across strategic maritime chokepoints.

The exercise encompasses joint operational areas from the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas up to the North and Baltic Seas, featuring air, land, and sea coordination. It includes significant air-to-ground actions in the Baltic Sea region, notably with the involvement of NATO’s newest member, Sweden. Key operations include amphibious landings, counter-mine efforts, explosive ordnance disposal, and defence against drones.

Rear Adm. James Morley, Deputy Commander of STRIKFORNATO, commented, “The goal is to increase NATO’s ability to conduct wide-reaching multi-domain operations, integrating air, land, and sea forces in real-time to maintain freedom of movement and safeguard critical areas of operation.”

In the North Sea, the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is joined by the Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales and her escorts. Meanwhile, in the Mediterranean, the command and control ship USS Mount Whitney leads operations, supported by the USS Wasp, USS Oak Hill, and Turkey’s amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu. Italy’s ITS Cavour also contributes to portions of the exercise.

A total of 20 surface vessels, submarines, Special Forces, and numerous aircraft are participating in the exercise, with approximately 15,000 personnel involved in various operational roles. NEST 24-2 reinforces NATO’s ability to respond to threats across multiple domains and locations.

This exercise, which is defensive in nature, is part of Project Neptune, launched in 2020 to improve the flexibility and pace of command and control within NATO’s naval strike and amphibious forces. It demonstrates NATO’s capability to integrate multinational strike and maritime groups across long distances, ensuring rapid, coordinated responses in times of crisis.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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15 COMMENTS

  1. goo to see to other NATO nations that are often unmentioned putt groups to sea it serves to remind would be aggressors the there is more THan just the U.S and UK and France that can bring real power to the Mediterranean, Spain too have the assets to add to the list.

  2. Also HMS Queen Elizabeth is out and about, so this is a really impressive demonstration of sea power. Anyone know if CDG is out too ? That really would be amazing to see so many flat decks out all at once. Imagine these all having full complements of aircraft, that would certainly send a message.

    • CdG did an exercise with Italian Cavour this month. Right now it is qualifying new pilots for landing training and qualification. US Navy Vice Admiral Dan Cheever visited the ship on Oct 22nd. Not sure what mission is planned after.

      • Oh, thanks for that… She really is an impressive ship, I was reading an article a few days ago which said France is to order the next Carrier (PANG ?) On paper it seems rather more impressive… something like 80,000 Tons, C’s and T’s, N powered and well armed. I’ll wait till anything actually comes of it before commenting though. I’m still waiting to comment on the long rumoured Russian “Super Carrier”.

        • Not sure I would compare the Russian BS every year to the French carrier, they have already started long lead items/planning for the new carrier.

          • PANG will be a real thing.

            It will be excruciatingly expensive if all the real costs were accounted in the way the UK does.

            However, the French see their nuclear propulsion design a bit differently as it is also part of the submarine budget. It had to go ahead to ensure R&D staff were fully employed in the next generation of nuclear reactors.

            Being a singleton you then don’t get the efficiency gain for #2.

            But impressive it will be.

            Problem is that it is part time as only one and you can’t ‘fix’ thing on a nuc like you can on a DG / GT powered ship.

        • PANG will be an impressive ship if built. Likely will cost similar to a Ford class eg £10-14 billion as EMALS, nuclear power plant will add to the cost, also just one in class so cost per hull-form for the programme is all lumped onto that one platform.
          Naval group are quoted as stating PANG will cost <£7 billion but numerous naval architect friends I have looked at the design and think the £10 billion mark is more accurate. Watch this space.
          Personally I think France would be better going for a QE class design and getting 2 ships for less the price of just one PANG.

        • €7Billion has already been earmarked in the military budget (€413 Billion) 2024 to 2030 which was approved by the french parliament in July 2023, The rest will will be part of subsequent military budget. The ship is estimated to cost around €10 billion total.
          Work started in 2020 for K22 nuclear reactors from TechnicAtome
          in 2022, EMALS and AAG ordered from General Atomics for $1.3 billion. This sale has been approved by US govt
          3x E2D have already been ordered for delivery in 2027 and due to enter service in 2030.
          First cut is scheduled in 2026, launch and sea trials in 2036, and operational in 2038 to replace CdG
          So yes it is happening. But at that cost, it is going to be a tough sell for the public to have a second carrier which some politicians are pushing for. I would say doubtful currently, but who knows how geopolitics evolve. the outlook is not looking very peaceful as things stand. Anyway that wouldn’t be decided until next military budget which covers 2030 to 2035 period at the earliest.
          2 is better than 1, but 1 is better than 0.

          • I see you are on a similar wavelength…. It’s clear that this might just amount to a mountain load of nothing, just like the previous QE based option.

          • was i unclear? i dont think you understood what i said.
            there is no doubt that PANG is happening. It is 100%.
            Budget has already been approved, orders for key components have already been placed.
            Furthermore the PANG is part of France’s nuclear deterance since Rafale carries the ASMP (300kt nuclear missile)
            When i say i doubt a second carrier, by that i mean another PANG #2. The PANG is not a a second carrier to CdG, it is its direct replacement.

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