Hellennic Navy-hosted exercise NAIAS 2018 concludes in Aegean Sea

The biennial multinational naval exercise NAIAS 2018 came to a close on September 21, after a week of maneuvers in the Aegean Sea.

Photo: NATO MARCOM

Participating units trained in multi-threat warfare events, including anti-asymmetric warfare, maritime interdiction and counter-terrorist events.

The scenario of NAIAS 18 reflected the contemporary challenges threatening the maritime security.

Units from Greece, Egypt, Albania, USA, Romania and NATO’s SNMG2 were among the participating units.

“The training objectives as well as the number of ships, boats, submarines and aircraft from the Hellenic Navy and Air Force, coincided greatly with SNMG2’s Force Integration Period,” said commander of SNMG2, Commodore Boudewijn Boots.

SNMG2 TU.02 currently consists of the flagship Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter, Spain’s ESPS Cristobal Colon, Canada’s HMCS Ville De Quebec and Greece’s HS Elli. While HNLMS De Ruyter and ESPS Cristobal Colon joined the exercise while the other two ships resumed routine patrols in the East Mediterranean.