The Expeditionary Combat Strike Group ‘Dédalo 23’ participates in Exercise ‘Neptune Strike 23.1’

As of today, Monday 20, and until February 27, the Spanish Navy warships integrated into the expeditionary Combat Strike Group ‘Dédalo 23’ will take part in Exercise ‘Neptune Strike 2023.1’. In this year’s edition, apart from the Spanish LHD ‘Juan Carlos I’, other Strike Groups also participate including the US Navy’s CSG ‘George HW Bush’ and the Italian Navy’s aircraft carrier ‘Cavour’.

It is a multi-domain exercise organized by NATO’s Naval Striking and Support Forces (STRIKFORNATO) to be held in the central Mediterranean and intended to test the different capabilities of Combat Strike Groups for the defense of the Atlantic Alliance.

These activities express commitment, improve the interoperability and cohesion of allied nations and furthermore, enhance the deterrence capability and strengthen NATO’s presence in the Mediterranean Sea.

Spain participates in Exercise ‘Neptune Strike 2023.1’ with the different elements of the ‘Dédalo 23’ combat strike group made up of the LHD ‘Juan Carlos I’ and her embarked aircraft, the F-100 frigate ‘Blas de Lezo’ and a Marine Corps Landing Battalion with its amphibious craft. During this period, several exercises will be conducted in areas of Greece, Croatia, Albania, Romania and Hungry, among other countries.

Deployment of ‘Dédalo 23’

The ‘Dédalo 23’ Group belongs to the Spanish Navy’s Operations Command and since the very beginning of this deployment, it has shown its interoperability with other international forces exchanging its own helicopters with the NH-90s from the French Navy aircraft carrier ‘Tonerre’. The Spanish warships have also carried out joint drills at sea with the Italian ships ‘Duilio’, ‘San Giusto’ and ‘Thaon de Revel’ as well as with the AAW French destroyer ‘Chevalier Paul’.

Because of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, the Air-Naval Group changed the schedule of events for a week in order to help the victims and contribute to distribute the humanitarian aid. The activities restarted on February 15.

During the first quarter of this year the ‘Dédalo 23’ air-naval group will be deployed in the Mediterranean to enhance training and express Spain’s firm commitment with the Alliance’s Defense and Deterrence Policy.

In addition, this deployment will serve to validate and certify the readiness of the Group to integrate into NATO’s Readiness Initiative for 2024 and strengthen the image of the Armed Forces in the international context. This stage of the deployment contemplates a series of activities off the coasts of Italy, France and Egypt.