Submarines Arrive in Iceland for NATO Exercises

Submarine coast guard ships helicopter NATO

 

The first ships that will participate in NATO’s 2020 Dynamic Mongoose exercises have arrived in Iceland today, and the rest will arrive tomorrow. In addition to Iceland, six NATO member states will be participating in the exercises: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Norway, and Germany. They are contributing five submarines, five warships, and five submarine search aircraft to the exercise.

The purpose of the Dynamic Mongoose operation is to “exercise submarine warfare and ASW (Anti-submarine Warfare) war-fighting for submarines, ASW surface units and maritime patrol aircrafts in order to conduct sea control or sea denial related naval tasks in preparation for future collective defence and crisis response operations,” according to NATO.

Iceland to Host Exercises Bi-Annually

NATO has held similar exercises annually in Norway since 2012, with the exception of 2017, when they were held in Iceland. It has now been decided that the exercises will be held alternately in Iceland and Norway. Iceland will provide facilities in the security area of Keflavík Airport and the Icelandic Coast Guard will participate in the exercises.

The exercises will take place between June 29 and July 10. The vessels’ arrival has been organised in consultation with Icelandic health authorities and appropriate disease prevention measures have been taken.