Current Ops Report: BALTOPS 2015 Continues ...
Channel: CNE-CNA/C6F
Date: 2015-06-18

BALTOPS 2015, scheduled from June 5-20, 2015

Commitment: BALTOPS is an annually recurring multinational exercise designed to enhance flexibility and interoperability, and will involve air, ground and maritime forces working together to strengthen the combined response capabilities necessary to ensuring regional stability.

Interoperability: NATO allies, as well as partner nations in the region, are working hand in hand on integration, building experience, team building, and lasting relationships.

Diversity: Participating nations include Norway, Germany, Latvia, Poland, Canada, France, Denmark, Georgia, Estonia, Finland, Turkey, Belgium, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and the United States, all coming together with a common goal and purpose, and sharing diverse backgrounds and professional experiences with one another.

History: BALTOPS is nothing new. It is a recurring exercise currently in its 43rd iteration. It’s America’s enduring relationship with its NATO allies and partners that helps make it possible to maintain peace and security in the Baltic region.

Scope: BALTOPS will employ land, sea, air, and undersea assets throughout the Baltic region. Surface ships, mine countermeasures ships, helicopters, amphibious craft, and more, all working in concert.

Did we mention Scope: The exercise spans nearly the entire breadth of the Baltic Sea. Ships will leave Gdynia and disperse throughout the Baltic Sea for various training events. Amphibious ships will sail all the way to Ravlunda, Sweden to pick up Finnish, Swedish, and U.S. troops and then transit back for a culminating amphibious landing in Utska, Poland. Meanwhile, maritime patrol and fighter aircraft will launch from Germany, Poland, and Sweden to practice anti-submarine and air defense warfare scenarios. The entire force will sail to Kiel at the conclusion to coincide with Germany’s annual Kiel Week events.