The Finnish Navy will organize an activity, which is part of the NATO Neptune Strike 25-3 series. Activity will be carried out together with the USS Bainbridge, the Swedish Navy corvette HMS Helsingborg and German frigate FGS Hamburg which currently deploys as a part of NATO Standing Maritime Group. The activity will be carried out in the northern Baltic Sea from 22 to 26 September.
Neptune Strike is Naval Striking and Support Forces NATOs (STRIKFORNATO) major maritime enhanced Vigilance Activity, phases of which have been executed earlier this year for example in the Mediterranean. In addition to the activities in the Baltic Sea, this phase features, for example, presence and exercise activities of US Carrier Group led by USS Gerald Ford in the North Sea.
In the Baltic Sea, e.g. joint fires from the sea and from the air are carried out together with allied vessels and aircraft.
The Navy’s goal is to enhance the ability of different echelons and forces to execute maritime operations together with the Allies. Integration of vessels of the Allied forces under the Navy command and organization of the necessary host nation support are also on the agenda.
The cooperation involves the Finnish Defence Forces’ helicopter operations and fighter flights in the northern Baltic Sea and the coastal area of Southern Finland.