Dynamic Guard:Electronic Warfare/Anti-Ship Missile Defence

NATO Exercise Dynamic Guard 2022-01 wrapped up on 25 February 2022 off the coast of Norway,even as Russia's war on Ukraine was ramping up.The bi-annual drills are an electronic warfare series providing tactical training that helps build and maintain proficiency in maritime electronic warfare and anti-ship missile defence for the NATO Response Force and national units,Allied Maritime Command said.The five-day exercise showcased the Allied Forces' skills in quick integration of maritime patrol aircraft;submarines;helicopters;and warships.Those participating were Denmark,Germany,the Netherlands,Norway and the US.* The Joint Electronic Warfare Core Staff (JEWCS) provided specialised radar jamming and communications equipment to the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 flagship Federal German Ship Berlin.Besides the Berlin,the Royal Danish Navy's HDMS Peter Willemoes;Royal Netherlands Navy's HNLMS Van Amstel;and US Navy's Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Donald Cook (DDG 72) and USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) participated in the drills.All of the ships practised gunnery,and the Royal Norwegian Air Force Falcon aircraft and planes from Draken Europe simulated air defence scenarios.Draken's modified Dassault Falcon 20 business jets act as paltforms for electronic warfare and naval gunnery training and other target facilities for the UK Ministry of Defence,U.S. Air Force Europe and Air Forces Africa,and NATO.The exercise involves increasing degrees of complexity for electronic warfare and anti-ship missile defence.The layered defence concept is critical to all NATO Forces in their highly contested environments.Said USS The Sullivans CO Commander James Diefenderfer: This exercise allowed us to plan,integrate and operate the full range of activities we need for electronic warfare,anti-ship missile defense and logistics in a complex environment.* SNMG1 is part of the core maritime capability of NATO'S Very High-Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF).Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022.*