NATO forces have successfully concluded Exercise Northern Viking, an 11-day multinational exercise that focused on securing the vital waterways and airspace surrounding Iceland.
The exercise, held from 24 August to 3 September 2024, was led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe and conducted by the U.S. Sixth Fleet, with participation from NATO Allies including Iceland, Denmark, France, Norway, Poland, and Portugal.
The exercise took place in the GIUK Gap (Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom), a key strategic chokepoint for naval and air traffic between North America and Europe.
This location is crucial for NATO’s collective defence strategy, as it plays a central role in maintaining global maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation. NATO forces aimed to refine their tactical capabilities in anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, maritime surveillance, and search and rescue operations.
A key aspect of Northern Viking 2024 was the focus on surveillance and deterrence. In this strategically significant region, NATO aims to maintain robust surveillance capabilities for early warning and rapid response to potential threats.
The exercise featured the use of maritime patrol aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and surface vessels equipped with advanced sensors and radar systems. By simulating a hypothetical threat to Iceland’s national security, the exercise tested NATO’s readiness to respond to any crisis in the GIUK Gap.
“Maintaining security and freedom of navigation in this area is essential for NATO’s collective defence strategy and global maritime security,” the report highlighted.
The exercise scenario provided NATO forces with the opportunity to operate in harsh weather and challenging sea conditions, training that is vital for the North Atlantic region.
Participating forces included ships from Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1), which consists of the NRP Dom Francisco de Almeida, FGS Rhoen, FS Aquitaine, and HNLMS De Ruyter. SNMG1 is one of NATO’s high-readiness maritime groups, ensuring security across the Alliance’s area of responsibility and able to respond to a range of operational tasks.
Watch out for civilian freighters.
Harpoon won’t sink them either👍😂
Very true!! Only damage.😀
And I’m surprised Russian intelligence isn’t worried about all our SSN alongside at once.
Clearly, the RN is prepping it’s assets and increasing readiness across the board…
Is battery production occurring round the clock?😀
Bloody good read though👍
That’s it!
Julius Fucik??😉
Some landing at Reykjavik. 😜
Time to head to the hills with Mr Chavez !!
B52s incoming.
Right completely O/T have you read Armageddons song by Andy Farman that’s another cracker.
No mate.
Oh my god can you imagine Russia,the country that can’t rest control of the Black Sea from the Ukranians,tried to invade Iceland in the face of the most powerful naval coalition in history?
Nope. That sort of happened in the book as well. They had to use subterfuge to get anywhere near it as NATO naval forces as we know are dominant.
I won’t spoil the rest incase others have not read it, unlikely given it’s age.
NATO would be even more dominant now.
I always get annoyed with that sort of thing. There are multiple games where the Russians sneak an invasion force past the US Navy to land in Washington/New York/Seattle etc and it’s like “Okay… so now the USN is going to cut off their supply and… what then?”
Surprised the UK was not involved in defending the GIUK Gap. Indo-china pivot more important I guess.