NATO tackles ASW skill fade in Ionian Sea

Seven submarines, eight surface ships and 18 aircraft from 10 nations are participating in the latest iteration of NATO's largest annual anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise.

Conducted by the headquarters of Submarines Allied Naval Forces South (SUBSOUTH) and Maritime Air Naples (MARAIRNAPLES), Exercise 'Noble Manta 10' is taking place in the Ionian Sea, southeast of Sicily, on 10-24 February.

Exercise Director Captain Walther Luthiger (US Navy) told Jane's on 11 February: "This year 'Noble Manta' will particularly concentrate on co-ordinated ASW and NRF- [NATO Response Force-] related tasks and missions. We intend to provide more interaction opportunities among air, surface and subsurface forces."

The exercise will include one submarine each from France ( Rubis ), Germany ( U 17 ), Greece (HS Pontos ), Italy (ITS Sciré ) and Spain (SPS Mistral ), with Turkey providing two boats (TCG Dolunay and TCG 18 Mart ). Canada, Norway, the UK and the United States are also involved.

With concerns over ASW skill fade evident in the UK, and probably elsewhere too, Capt Luthiger said it was "essential" that NATO units train together to amplify their existing interoperability.

"ASW is an operational environment in continuous evolution," he said. "It also requires skills that can only be achieved and maintained through training, and training is particularly effective if conducted in a very multinational and multidimensional environment."