The Exercise ‘Dynamic Mariner/Flotex-25’ co-organized by the FLEET and MARCOM (Allied Maritime Command) will be conducted from March 24 to April 4
The Armada and NATO are finalizing the planning of Exercise ‘Dynamic Mariner/Flotex-25’, the largest naval exercise in recent years at national or allied level.
It will take place between March 24 and April 4 in the Gulf of Cadiz and the southern coast of Andalusia with participation of some 4,000 military personnel, 30 ships, 2 submarines, amphibious units and aircraft from 9 allied countries: Germany, Croatia, Spain, USA, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Turkey. In addition, the exercise will test the integration of new technologies in naval operations, with participation of different unmanned vehicles.
This training is linked to the Armada’s genuine and most particular raison d’être: namely, the contribution, at sea and from the sea, to the defense of Spain and its legitimate interests, security, welfare and territorial integrity.
‘Dynamic Mariner/Flotex-25’ is intended, on the one hand, to implement the Armada’s capability to exercise Command and Control of a Naval Force far away from our coasts in a medium/high intensity scenario, capable of projecting naval power and exercising sea control. On the other hand, this year will also be oriented towards the certification of the Spanish Maritime Forces Headquarters (SPMARFOR) to operate as the Maritime Component Command (MCC) of NATO’s Allied Reaction Forces (ARF) from July 2025 to July 2026. SPMARFOR will be the naval command of this high readiness force, prepared to respond immediately to any crisis affecting the security of the Alliance.
During the exercise, the participants will test their capabilities in naval power projection, command and control, amphibious operations, anti-submarine warfare and cyber defense, among others scenarios, integrating the most advanced technologies and with participation of Allied and national unmanned vehicles (UXV). The Spanish Army, Air Force, the Joint Cyberspace Command and the National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) will also participate.
This exercise is a challenge for the Armada, which will assess its ability to operate in multinational scenarios in highly demanding environments. In addition, it will feature the first participation of the new submarine S-81 ‘Isaac Peral’ in an international exercise, a milestone in the modernization of the Spanish Submarine Force.
Through ‘Dynamic Mariner/Flotex-25’, the Armada contributes to Spain’s commitment to the Alliance, to peace and international security, and demonstrates cohesion with other allied countries by fostering interoperability to work together at sea and from the sea. It also implements the concept of Euro-Atlantic Area Deterrence and Defense. Spain, as host country, reinforces its role as a reliable partner within NATO and is one of the six countries offering a qualified maritime Headquarters to lead Allied Naval Forces.
The High Readiness Maritime Headquarters, under the authority of the Fleet Commander, is the department responsible for the advanced training of the whole FLEET. Furthermore, when operating as the Spanish Maritime Forces Headquarters (SPMARFOR), it is a deployable and permanently available command structure designed to support the Commander of a given Operational Naval Force. As such, it can adopt different configurations depending on the mission entrusted.
The Allied Reaction Force (ARF) is a key strategic capability for NATO’s deterrence and defense mission, designed to act quickly in any crisis scenario. Its preparation and training guarantee the Alliance’s immediate response capability in the face of emerging threats.
Spain remains committed to a modern, technologically advanced and prepared Armada ready to face the future challenges, guaranteeing security from the sea.
