NATO Resumes Second Iteration of Neptune Strike 2025
NATO Allied Joint Force Command (JFC) Naples
Jul 22 2025
The second iteration of NATO's primer enhanced Vigilance Activity (eVA), Neptune Strike 25-2, will recommence July 24, 2025. The U.S. Gerald R. Ford (GRF), under the command of NATO, will operate with ships and aircraft from seven nations to demonstrate high-end maritime strike capability during the second half of Neptune Strike 25-2. This is following Spain's participation in late June with their Expeditionary Combat Group.
The GRF Carrier Strike Group (CSG), led by the aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), with its naval air assets is capable of deploying worldwide for extended periods of time, conducting long-range strikes and demonstrating its comprehensive warfare capability.
"USS Gerald R. Ford is honored to participate in this iteration of NATO's Neptune Strike and exercise our high-end maritime strike capabilities side-by-side with our Allies," said Capt. David Skarosi, commanding officer of Gerald R. Ford. "Our Sailors understand the importance of the collective freedom, security and sovereignty of all Allies against all threats, and will continue to build their capabilities and readiness to defend those inherent rights."
Accompanying the Ford, are the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers: USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), USS Mahan (DDG 72), and the USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) which complete the power-projecting fleet. Enabling the CSG's long-range strike capabilities are the wide-range of aviation assets comprised of: F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes, MH-60 Seahawk helicopters, and C-2A Greyhounds.
While the U.S. CSG will be predominantly operating in the Mediterranean Sea, this second half of Neptune Strike 25-2 will see the CSG and supporting Allied nations conducting long-range strike missions across NATO's areas of operations to include the Baltic and Black Sea Region. These efforts will support dynamic training with NATO and ally maritime forces in order to create capacity in high-end warfare, enable collective defence capabilities and provide NATO the strategic and operational capacity needed to assure our Allies and partners.
In late June, the Spanish Expeditionary Combat Group, comprised of the Spanish Navy's flagship, helicopter landing dock (LHD) Juan Carlos I, led the first half of Neptune Strike 25-2 conducted long-range strikes from the central Mediterranean Sea on training ranges in Croatia, Slovakia and Romania.
In total, Neptune Strike 25-2 will see participation from 13 Allied Nations to include: Croatia, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Spain, Slovakia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
"Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group's participation in Neptune Strike enhanced vigilance activity strengthens our Alliance's collective resolve, readiness, and operational integration capabilities under NATO command," said Rear Adm. Paul Lanzilotta, commander of Carrier Strike Group Twelve. "This activity provides the framework for purposeful multinational maritime integration, and is a clear expression of our continued commitment to the defense of the Alliance, peace, and regional security and stability."
The Neptune Strike series is a long-planned vigilance activity, which is deliberately planned and dynamically executed in support of NATO's deterrence objectives, guided and directed by NATO's Supreme Allied Headquarters Europe (SHAPE). Neptune Strike activities are conducted in compliance with international law and standards and are defensive in nature.
"Our Neptune Strike enhanced vigilance activities represent important opportunities to coordinate and employ a wide range of combat forces throughout the European theater and demonstrate our combined capability to respond to crises and provide collective defense to the Alliance," said Vice Adm. J.T. Anderson, commander of STRIKFORNATO. "This reaffirms our continued commitment to high-end warfighting excellence as well as the unity of the Alliance."
Story by JFC Naples Public Affairs Office
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