Overview
- Cold Response 26 brought together more than 25,000 personnel across Norway, Sweden and Finland to rehearse collective defense in the High North.
- Dynamic Mariner placed Standing NATO Maritime Group One, led by a Spanish commander, under the UK Commander UK Strike Force for multinational task-group control.
- A surface group centered on the Spanish frigate Almirante Juan de Borbón with German and Danish escorts practiced air defense, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, electronic warfare, boarding and helicopter integration in icy waters and narrow fjords.
- Air crews integrated US and Norwegian F-35s with Finnish F/A-18s and Swedish Gripens, using KC-135 tankers for reach and HC-130J and HH-60W aircraft for combat search-and-rescue training.
- Navy Lookout reported UK battlestaff led the naval command practice and that several European ships departed early for Eastern Mediterranean duties, showing how real-world demands can redraw exercise lineups.