- Augusta, Sicily, Italy – 13 Feb 09 – The Turkish Submarine TCG I. Inonu and the German Submarine FGS U-34 moored at Augusta, Sicily at the beginning of exercise Noble Manta 09. (NATO photo by SCPO Falk Plankenhorn, DEU Navy)
Here are some of the things which have been going on around Allied command Operations in the last few days.
NATO’s largest annual anti-submarine Warfare exercise “Noble Manta 09” began last Friday in the Mediterranean Sea southeast of Sicily and will run until the 27th . 6 submarines, 9 surface ships from Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 and 13 aircraft (including ship-based helicopters, Maritime Patrol Aircraft and shore-based ASW Helicopters) are taking part. They represent the NATO countries Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States
The exercise demonstrates NATO’s determination to maintain proficiency and improve interoperability in coordinated anti-submarine, anti-surface and coastal surveillance operations using a multi-national force of ships, submarines and aircraft. Furthermore it will provide operational training in potential NATO Response Force (NRF) tasks/roles and missions. All participating submarines will have the opportunity of being a hunter as well as the prey. For more details follow the link.
Members of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NPA) travelled to SHAPE Monday where General John Craddock, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, engaged them in discussions focusing on their role as advocates for reform of the alliance. He was emphatic that the NPA should play a role in encouraging nations to display a willingness to commit resources in order to match NATO’s mandate for addressing collective security issues.
“The importance of your role as a forum for dialogue and consensus building on matters of defence and security is becoming increasingly important.” General Craddock told NPA members (press release)
The German TV station ARD (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland – Germanys leading TV station) has been back to Allied Command Operation Headquarters (SHAPE) to conduct interviews with members of SHAPE Staff. The interviews will be used in a TV-production to mark NATO’s 60 year anniversary, which will be broadcast to coincide with the 2009 NATO summit in Strasbourg/Kehl. The summit will take place on the 3rd and 4th of April and is being co-hosted by France and Germany. NATO was founded on the 4th of April 1949 and is celebrating 60 years of ensuring peace. During the year NATO will be sponsoring a wide range of events in nations to highlight the milestone and reiterate the continued need for the alliance in securing our future.
E-3A AWACS from the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force (NAEW&C Force) will provide airspace security and surveillance support during the upcoming informal meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Krakow Poland from 19-20 February 2009. (link to press release) The mission is in response to a request from the Polish national authorities. The aircraft will fly from airfields in Germany and provide continuous airspace surveillance for the duration of the event.
The use of E-3A aircraft for airspace surveillance and control has become an important part of national and international efforts to ensure the safety and security of political summits and other strategic world leadership events.
