Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Claims that the Israeli occupation has withdrawn from areas in the neighborhoods of al-Zaytoun, al-Tuffah, and al-Shujaiya are false
Hamas: The two delegations stressed that any negotiations must lead to the achievement of our people's goals and aspirations, foremost among which is ending the war and the complete withdrawal of enemy forces
Hamas: A delegation from the Hamas leadership, led by the head of the leadership council, Mohammad Darwish, met with an Islamic Jihad delegation, headed by its Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah

Over 20 warships, 35 aircraft take part in NATO's Formidable Shield

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 25 May 2023 20:17
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

Deputy Commander of STRIKFORNATO says the participants will train on countering a broad range of missiles, including supersonic missiles.

  • x
  • ds
    US Marines fire ordnance from a high mobility artillery rocket system HIMARS during Exercise Formidable Shield 2023 at the Andoya Space Range, Norway, May 10, 2023 (US Defense Department)

NATO’s 2023 Formidable Shield drills will see the participation of more than 20 warships and submarines, in addition to HIMARS and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System NASAMS, UK Rear Admiral and Deputy Commander of STRIKFORNATO James Morley said on Thursday.

“We brought together more than 20 ships and submarines, 35 aircraft, and 8 ground-based units, including US Marine Corps HIMARS and Norwegian advanced surface-to-air missile system,” Morley said during a virtual briefing.

Read more: NATO chief admits splits on Ukraine membership push

The rear admiral added that the participants will train on countering a broad range of subsonic, supersonic, and ballistic missiles.

“Formidable Shield combines routine tactical training with the most offensive and defensive live missile-fire events that you will see anywhere in the world,” he said.

Read more: Cyberattack targets NATO Special Operations HQ websites: Reports

The drills will enable the coalition's air, ground, and naval units to improve integration of combat readiness, he added, noting that the conflict in Ukraine does not affect the exercises that reveal the mutual aim of the NATO army to defend the members' territories.

The exercise, which is happening between May 8 and 26, will show "the strength and unmatched cohesion of our trans-Atlantic Alliance lies in our mutual commitment to one another and to the deterrence and defence of the Euro-Atlantic area," he said.

“Formidable Shield is the premier IAMD and live-fire rehearsal in the European theatre and highlights STRIKFORNATO’s proficiency in seamlessly integrating Allied and Partner maritime and air forces into combined operations,” he concluded.

Related News

Trump hints at Russia confrontation: 'You'll see things happening'

Kremlin addresses Ukraine talks, Western policies, US weapons

13 NATO allied and partner counties, including approximately 4,000 personnel from across the alliance, will take part in the biennial exercise.

On his part, Officer Commanding Station Operations at Royal Air Force Lossiemouth, Wing Commander Tim McAuley, considered that the exercise is "an excellent example of the UK taking a leading role in the development of IAMD with our NATO Allies."

Read more: Medvedev: NATO is undermining the threat of nuclear war

“I am delighted that RAF Lossiemouth, is at the centre of this exercise helping to protect our people and counter a growing threat,” he concluded.

But his sentiment on UK's "leading role" does not completely resonate with earlier statements made by NATO officials, especially when it comes to the coalition's spearhead forces.

In February, British media said NATO military leaders considered that the UK armed forces will be unable to assume command of the alliance's rapid response force this year due to a lack of military resources.

Germany will hand over command of NATO's rapid reaction force to the United Kingdom in late 2023. However, the alliance has asked Berlin to continue leading the bloc's force for another year because London is unable to provide the required 5,000 soldiers, according to the media outlets.

The United Kingdom is now in its most vulnerable position since World War II, because the British army is the smallest it has been in four centuries, and the navy is less than half what it was during the 1982 Falklands War, it added, citing officials from Britian's Defense Ministry.

Read more: UK armed forces would only last 'five days' in war: Senior MP

The chairman of the UK Parliament's Defense Select Committee, Tobias Ellwood, told a different British media outlet in late January that the UK army was "in a dire state" despite two decades of multi-billion dollar investments.

The UK's Defense Secretary, Ben Wallace, also confirmed then that the UK army had "fallen behind its peer group" and needed investments. Despite this fact, Ellwood stated that the UK, already involved in the Ukraine conflict, needed to "face Russia directly rather than leaving Ukraine to do all the work."

  • Nato
  • Formidable Shield 2023
  • UK
  • Nato Alliance
  • United Kingdom
  • Norway

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS