NATO warships attend the Italian-led Mare Aperto exercise

Standing NATO Maritime Group 2, Task Unit 02 (SNMG2 TU02) ships are taking part in the Italian-led cooperative maritime exercise Mare Aperto 2021.

Mare Aperto 2021 is an Italian exercise accessible to ally and NATO countries that aims to improve the combat preparedness of the participating assets.

From October 4 to 27, 2021, the Adriatic Sea, Ionian Sea, Strait of Sicily, and the Tyrrhenian Sea will be open to the public as part of Mare Aperto 2021.

More than 4,000 men and women from nine navies, 21 naval units, four AV-8B aircraft, and 17 embarked helicopters, including two Italian Army combat helicopters, three Italian submarines, an Italian Air Force P72 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, and ground-based P180 aircraft, take part.

Staff and crews face increasingly difficult drills in a complex and realistic environment where a wide range of activities are carried out, including counter-terrorism, critical infrastructure protection, free navigation protection (including counter-piracy), combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and maritime interdiction.

Training is being done in a variety of warfare specialities, including anti-air, anti-submarine, and anti-surface ship situations. The exercise is also intended to teach participants how to work together to resolve crisis circumstances including both conventional and asymmetric threats.

Rear Admiral Stefano Russo commands SNMG2 (Italian Navy). SNMG2 TU02 is now made up of the Italian flagship ITS Fasan, the German tanker FGS Spessart, and the Turkish frigate TCG Gokceada.

Standing Naval Forces participate in exercises like Mare Aperto to improve interoperability, demonstrate presence, and reassure allies of the maritime commitment to collective defence.

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