The NATO exercise will engage in the Central Mediterranean, from 21 February to 4 March, men and vehicles from 9 Allied countries
Dynamic Manta 2022 (DYMA 22), one of NATO’s most important and complex anti-submarine exercises, will take place off the Sicilian coast from 21 February to 4 March.
The Dynamic Manta is an exercise planned and conducted annually by NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), which takes place in the central Mediterranean, along the eastern coast of Sicily, mainly aimed at training and conducting operations of anti submarine defense (Anti Submarine Warfare – ASW).
This year four submarines from France, Greece, Italy, and the United States, under the control of NATO Submarine Command (COMSUBNATO), will train together with eleven surface ships from Canada, France, Greece, Italy , Spain, Turkey and the United States.
Eight Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and eight helicopters, under the control of NATO Maritime Air Command (MARAIRNATO), will also participate. All under the command of Rear Admiral Mauro Panebianco, Commander of the Second NATO Permanent Naval Group (Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 – SNMG 2).
The Navy will take part in the exercise with the Margottini frigate, which is also the SNMG2 flagship, the Carabiniere frigate, the Salvatore Todaro submarine and the helicopters of the 3rd Helicopter Group based in the Catania Helicopter Station (Maristaeli Catania).
In addition, Italy ensures the logistical support of the naval base of Augusta and the air base of the Air Force of Sigonella in Catania.
The Dynamic Manta is one of NATO’s major exercises, aimed at ensuring constant interoperability between air, surface and underwater forces in anti-submarine combat. Through the presence of training scenarios with increasing difficulty, ranging from low to high complexity, the exercise allows for the establishment of coordination of operations between armed forces belonging to different countries and operating in a multi-threat context. It also allows NATO the ability to evaluate and develop new anti-submarine tactics. Already called Dog Fish, the exercise, in its current capacity, has been planned annually since 2013 and is not linked to the current situation in Eastern Europe.
