Between 25 and 28 November, the Spanish Navy (Armada) will be conducting the national anti-submarine exercise MAR ASW-24 in Mediterranean waters near Cartagena and the Alboran Sea. This major deployment seeks to strengthen anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities and interoperability with allied forces.
The participating group includes the F-80 frigates ‘Navarra’ and ‘Canarias’ of the 41st Escort Squadron, the F-100 frigate ‘Méndez Núñez’ of the 31st Surface Squadron, the submarine ‘Galerna’, the recently commissioned multipurpose ship ‘Carnota’, and the patrol vessel ‘Toralla’, together with several air and allied units.
The event is enhanced by the participation of an Armada SH60B helicopter, a U.S. Navy MH60R helicopter from the HSM-79 Squadron based in Rota and two maritime patrol aircraft, a P-3C Orion from the Portuguese Air Force and a U.S. Navy P-8 stationed in Sigonella (Italy).
MAR ASW-24 is an excellent opportunity for the Armada to test its units against a threat – the submarine – which continues in rapid proliferation throughout the world. The exercise aims at upgrading its capabilities in the face of the technological developments by potential opponents, in order to safeguard the prosperity and well-being of Spanish society.
These threats are constantly evolving and therefore a technologically advanced, balanced, interoperable and expeditionary Navy is necessary. It is also essential to invest in its preparation and modernization.
The planning, organization, management and conduction of the Exercise is carried out by the Deployable General Staff of the 41st Escort Squadron, under the command of its chief, Captain Ernesto Grueso García.
Before the beginning of the exercise, the participating vessels met at the weekend in the port of Cartagena, where they carried out several prior coordination activities, culminating with the Pre-Sail Conference on Monday, November 25, before going to sea.
At the end of the MAR ASW-24 exercise, the frigates ‘Navarra’ and ‘Canarias’ will head to the port of Tarragona, where they will make a port call during the weekend of 29 November to 2 December. They will organize open days to bring the Armada closer to the citizens and strengthen relations with the different civil associations and local and regional authorities.