Close to twenty Norwegian and allied vessels are taking part together with units in the air and on land.
Participating Norwegian Navy vessels this year include:
- Frigates KNM Thor Heyerdahl and KNM Roald Amundsen
- Submarines KNM Utvær and KNM Uredd
- Corvettes KNM Gnist, KNM Skjold, KNM Steil and KNM Storm
- MCM vessels KNM Rauma and KNM Hinnøy
- Support vessel KNM Magnus Lagabøte
- Logistics vessel KNM Maud. The latter is currently part of NATO’s standing maritime force.
Allied units include:
- German Navy frigate FGS Sachsen Anhalt,
- French Navy frigate FS Bretagne
- Danish Navy frigate HDMS Triton
- Vessels from NATO’s standing maritime force (SNMG1).
The air assets that will participate are F-35, F-16, maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), rescue helicopter, NH90 helicopter and DA20.
The goal of FLOTEX 21 is to build maritime combat power, and increase warfare capability in northern waters. To achieve this goal, large parts of the exercise focus on anti-submarine warfare and submarine hunting. In addition, musterings are carried out on board several of the Navy’s vessels.
Commander Marinen, flag commander Trond Gimmingsrud said:
“FLOTEX 21 is this year’s largest naval exercise. It is important to us for two reasons. First, it gives us the opportunity to practice a variety of basic skills. We do this internally in the Navy, but also together with allied vessels and air units. Along the way, we will check the competence level of our units through musterings, and FLOTEX provides a good framework for this, says about the exercise.”
He further explains that by practicing in Northern Norway, allies become better acquainted with Norway’s immediate areas.
