The Diplomat
The Spanish Navy and NATO launched Dynamic Mariner/Flotex-25 this Monday in the Gulf of Cádiz, the most important naval military exercise in recent years at both the national and allied levels.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Defense, the exercise, which will run until April 4, will take place off the southern coast of Andalusia and around the Strait of Gibraltar. Nearly 4,000 troops, 30 ships, two submarines, amphibious units, and aircraft from nine allied countries (Germany, Croatia, Spain, the United States, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Turkey) will participate. Additionally, the integration of new technologies into naval operations, including unmanned aircraft, will be tested.
“The Dynamic Mariner/Flotex-25 aims to put into practice the Navy’s ability to exercise Command and Control of a Naval Force far from our coasts in a medium- and high-intensity scenario, capable of projecting naval power and exercising control of the sea,” the Ministry of Defense continued.
In addition, this year will also focus on the certification of the Spanish Maritime Forces Headquarters (SPMARFOR) to act as the Maritime Component Command (MCC) for NATO’s Alliance 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, which also involves the Army, the Air Force, the Joint Cyber Command, and the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA), participants will test their capabilities in naval power projection, command and control, amphibious operations, anti-submarine warfare, and cyber defense, among others, integrating the most advanced technologies and with the participation of NATO and Spanish unmanned aerial vehicles (UXVs).
“The maneuvers represent a challenge for the Navy, which will test its ability to operate in multinational scenarios and highly demanding environments,” the Ministry stated. They will also feature the first participation of the S-81 Isaac Peral submarine in an international exercise.
“As the host country, Spain strengthens its role as a reliable partner within NATO and one of the six countries that offer a qualified maritime headquarters to lead the Alliance’s naval forces,” it concluded.
