Dynamic Guard 23-II is designed to provide Allied units with the opportunity to test, train and enhance the techniques required to operate in a degraded or denied electro-magnetic environment.
NATO Joint Electronic Warfare Staff (JEWCS) supported the exercise, providing specialist knowledge and equipment to generate a realistic electronic warfare scenario.
Almost 1,000 personnel and several ships and aircraft took part, including SNMG2’s flagship, the ESPS Mendez Nunez (F104), together with four other Spanish ships: ESPS Canarias (F86), ESPS Reina Sofia (F84), ESPS Cantabria (A15) and ESPS Vigia (P73). A British Falcon DA-20 aircraft and Spanish AV8B Harriers acted in conjunction with specialist electronic warfare equipment fitted by JEWCS to ESPS Vigia to simulate a range of realistic threats against which to test the response of the Allied ships.
As is being demonstrated every day during Russia’s war against Ukraine, the electro-magnetic spectrum remains a vital component of modern warfare. It is essential that our ships retain the technology and skills to be able to operate and defend themselves effectively, as a fully integrated task group, when the electro-magnetic spectrum is contested by our adversaries
Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) led an electronic warfare and anti-ship missile defence exercise, known as Dynamic Guard, alongside Spanish Allies in the Alboran Sea off the coast of Cartagena, Spain, from Sept. 4-8.
NATO warships are equipped with a plethora of complex sensors and communication equipment, all of which rely on use of the electro-magnetic spectrum to function correctly. The exercise simulated an adversary employing sensors and jammers in both ships and aircraft to detect the Allied ships, degrade their capabilities, and then attack them with anti-ship missiles. The ships in turn had to demonstrate the ability to identify threats, react to the hostile electronic warfare measures, and then defend themselves and the wider task group.
“As is being demonstrated every day during Russia’s war against Ukraine, the electro-magnetic spectrum remains a vital component of modern warfare,” Commander, SNMG2 Royal Navy Commodore Paul Stroude said. “It is essential that our ships retain the technology and skills to be able to operate and defend themselves effectively, as a fully integrated task group, when the electro-magnetic spectrum is contested by our adversaries.”
SNMG2 remains at high readiness, operating in the Mediterranean Sea.
SNMG2 is a multinational integrated task group that projects a constant and visible reminder of the Alliance's solidarity and cohesion afloat. This continuous maritime capability performs a wide range of tasks, including exercises and real-world operations in periods of crisis and conflict. SNMG2 is one of four Standing Naval Forces that operate under NATO Allied Maritime Command, headquartered in Northwood, United Kingdom.