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NATO Warships, Led by USS Gerald R. Ford, Launch Major Naval Drills to Deter Russia
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![Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk]( "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
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The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, is spearheading NATO's Neptune Strike 2025-3, a major maritime exercise running from September 22 to 26, demonstrating NATO’s maritime capabilities and reinforcing its deterrence against Russian aggression, UK Defence Journal (UKDJ) reported on September 24.
Involving over 10,000 personnel from 13 allied nations, the exercise spans the Mediterranean, Adriatic, North, and Baltic Seas.
The exercise sees the USS Gerald R. Ford leading a coalition of warships, including the Danish frigate Niels Juel, French frigate FS Bretagne, and US destroyers USS Mahan and USS Winston S. Churchill.
NATO’s Naval Striking and Support Forces (STRIKFORNATO) are in operational control, with assets like Turkey’s TCG Anadolu and Italy’s ITS San Giorgio participating, UKDJ writes.
Operations include carrier-based sorties, amphibious landings in southern Italy, submarine patrols, and mass casualty drills. The exercise emphasizes NATO’s ability to quickly integrate multinational forces while focusing on defense and international law.
This exercise comes amid rising tensions following repeated Russian air and drone incursions into NATO airspace, underscoring the Alliance’s readiness to counter any threats.
Previously, it was reported that Germany planned to acquire three Large Remote Missile Vessels (LRMV) by 2035 as part of its updated naval strategy, Kurs Marine, Defense Express reported.
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-9220540186162ee79463169b5478a8d5.jpg "Soldiers of Ukraine’s 40th Coastal Defense Brigade prepare a SHARK UAV for a mission in Kherson region, January 2025. (Source: Getty Images)")
