[News] "Sea Shield 21", the most complex NATO exercise led by the Romanian Naval Forces

[itan.mx]

Over 2,400 soldiers from eight states, 18 battleships and 10 aircraft participate, between March 19 and 29, in "Sea Shield 21" - the largest and most complex multinational NATO exercise organized and led by the Romanian Naval Forces, in year 2021, in the Black Sea area, on Saturday taking place, in the port of Constanţa, the official opening of the exercise, according to Agerpres.

"Sea Shield 21" aims to develop the interoperability of allied forces in all combat environments - sea, submarine, land and air.

Foreign military ships docked in the port of Constanta between March 17 and 19, for a stopover to restore combat capability and to prepare the latest organizational details.

According to the representatives of the General Staff of the Naval Forces (SMFN), the training activities are led by the Fleet Command, the participating forces being from Bulgaria, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, the United States of America and Turkey.

A cruiser, a destroyer, frigates, corvettes, dragoons and minesweepers, missile carriers, a patrol vessel and maritime tugs will join forces to carry out, as of March 22, the planned sea sequences of "Sea Shield 21 ”, And the fight against air threats will be ensured by F-16 Fighting Falcon, MiG 21 Lancer and IAR-330 helicopters of the Romanian Air Force and Naval Forces, together with“ Eurofighter Typhoon ”fighter jets from Spain and air research aircraft from USA and Turkey.

The head of the SMFN, Rear Admiral Mihai Panait, mentioned that "there are series every day, from artillery fire to submarine search exercises, to ship discovery and attack exercises or aviation exercises".

Two of America's most powerful warships are taking part in the exercise

Two of America's most powerful warships are taking part in the exercise, both with missiles and naval targets on board.

"The USS Monterey and USS Thomas Hudner are participating in the exercise and, together with the entire team, are working to build capable submarine forces and help develop allied combat tactics," said US Navy Admiral Jeff Spivey.

According to the SMFN, in the coastal area, three mobile missile launch detachments of the Romanian Naval Forces and a battery of coastal missiles of the Polish Naval Forces will act in conjunction with Capu Midia, to repel enemy forces. Polish sailors are taking part in the "Sea Shield 21" exercise for the first time with a "Kongsberg" mobile surface-to-air missile system.

The land sequences of "Sea Shield 21" are complemented by the exercise of operational procedures for the protection of land routes and the port of Constanta, in which participates a detachment of military divers specializing in the fight against improvised explosive devices (EOD) together with an infantry platoon of the Romanian Land Forces.