Expeditionary Battle Group 'Dédalo24' participates in exercise 'BALTOPS'

• The 'Juan Carlos I' is the only aircraft carrier in the Baltic among the 50 NATO ships participating in the exercise

BALTOPS 2024, the main NATO exercise in the waters of the Baltic Sea, has already begun and will run until June 20 with the participation of the Expeditionary Battle Group 'Dédalo24', under the operational control of the Operations Command. These exercises have been carried out without interruption since 1972.  The main innovative feature this year is the participation of units from Finland and Sweden as NATO member countries.

It aims to demonstrate the interoperability of allies and partners and NATO's determination to support security and stability in the region. More than 9,000 troops from 19 allied countries are taking part on board 50 ships and with the support of 85 aircraft.

In this edition, BALTOPS has a more amphibious orientation than on previous occasions. It has brought together the largest number of amphibious forces in history, in four groups commanded by Spain, the United States, France and Holland, respectively, which will act in unison to demonstrate their usefulness as an element of deterrence and protection in a very realistic scenario.

The Spanish participation consists of the Expeditionary Combat Group 'Dédalo24' commanded by Rear Admiral Gonzalo Villar and composed of the aircraft carrier 'Juan Carlos I', with its Harrier AV8B+ aircraft and AB-212 helicopters and a Reinforced Landing Battalion of Marines. The frigate ‘Blas de Lezo’ will escort it. Under Spanish command, the Polish amphibious ship 'Poznan', a company of U.S. Marines and two sections, one Polish and one Romanian, will also be integrated.

It was also the first time in its history that a Swedish military helicopter has operated from a foreign ship, in this case the 'Juan Carlos I'.

In command of the international group of frigates that will provide protection to the amphibious groups will also be another Spanish rear admiral, Joaquín Ruiz Escagedo, who commands NATO's Standing Escort Grouping No. 1 (SNMG-1) aboard the frigate 'Juan de Borbón'.

The 'Dédalo24' Group began its 2024 deployment last April 3 and since them it has assisted NATO's peacetime enhanced surveillance activities 'Neptune Strike'; supported operation 'Sea Guardian' to combat international terrorism in the Mediterranean Sea; participated in the 'Mare Aperto 24' exercise. It has also participated in the Naval Inspection to H.M. the King and subsequent dynamic exhibition in Gijón on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day and has carried out numerous bilateral activities with Greece, Turkey, Albania, North Macedonia, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, France, Belgium, United Kingdom, Holland and Sweden.

In the coming days, as part of the BALTOPS exercise, its Marine Battalion will conduct amphibious landings in Latvia, Poland and Germany.