In Crete the NATO naval manoeuvres Neptune Strike, Italy participates with the aircraft carrier Cavour
16 countries involved, air force exercises also planned
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Key points
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The Nato Neptune Strike 2024 (Nest) naval manoeuvres come into full swing in the waters off the island of Crete. The allied naval exercise, organised and conducted by the allied command STRIKFORNATO (Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO), underway in the Mediterranean is the first for the Swedish navy as a NATO member and also includes a massive presence of personnel from Turkey as well as ships and assets from Albania, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Turkey, Sweden, the UK and the US. Also participating is Italy, with the aircraft carrier Cavour. In all, 16 countries are involved.
The characteristics of the aircraft carrier Cavour
.The Cavour has a 234-metre long flight deck, equipped with 6 take-off and landing points for aircraft and helicopters, 2 aircraft parking areas and two 30-tonne lifts connecting the flight deck with the hangar. It can embark a mixed flight group, aircraft and helicopters, consisting of about 20 aircraft. The aircraft used on the Cavour are AV8Bs, short take-off and vertical landing, with tasks of air protection of the fleet and close support to amphibious and ground operations. The helicopters are all those currently in line in the Navy and in particular the new EH101 and SH90. The hangar, which is necessary for the sheltering and navigational maintenance of helicopters and aircraft, is 134 metres long and 21 metres wide, with the capacity to accommodate up to 11 aircraft. The Cavour is equipped with the most modern systems for self-defence: the SAAM-IT surface-to-air missile system, built in collaboration with the French Navy and equipped with modern ASTER 15 missiles; the 76mm-calibre guns, double-loaded and in DAVIDE configuration, equipped with radio-guided munitions of the DART (Driven Ammunition Reduced Time of Flight) type.
Landing exercise on Greek island coast
.The main objective of the manoeuvres, which also include a landing exercise on the shores of the Greek island, is "to sharpen Nato's ability to defend freedom of navigation, protect strategic sea passages, conduct deterrence and surveillance activities and increase interoperability among allied nations", Nato explained. Multinational forces are called upon to practise a high-level strike capability, which enables them to defend the Atlantic Alliance with the necessary readiness.
Air units also involved
.During the Nest naval manoeuvres, NATO will control units operating throughout the Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea, as well as airborne units flying over Europe (carrying out in-flight refuelling), all within the framework of firing missions in the Baltic Sea and on firing ranges in Poland and Romania.
Manoeuvres until 10 May
For the duration of the manoeuvres (until 10 May), NATO will have direct control over all involved units operating in the Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea. For the first time, the French Navy will also transfer control of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its affiliated units under Alliance command.
