MEDITERRANEAN SEA - NATO officially launched Neptune Strike 25-1 on April 1, 2025, marking one of the first major maritime vigilance activity of the year under Allied command. The opening capabilities demonstration conceptualized NATO’s readiness to deter and defend, employing multi-domain capabilities across Europe’s southern flank.
The start of the Neptune Strike 25-1 was marked by a Media Day aboard Italy’s newest amphibious assault ship, the Landing Helicopter Dock Trieste, and at the Teulada Training Area in Sardinia. Hosted by Italian and Spanish naval commanders, the event offered a dynamic display of joint maritime strike operations, amphibious landings, and flight operations.
Announcing the official start of Neptune Strike 2025-1 were: Italian Rear Admiral Michele Orini, Commander of the Italian Navy 3rd Naval Division and Commander of the Italian Amphibious Task Force (CATF), Italian Rear Admiral Massimiliano Grazioso, Commander of the San Marco Naval Infantry Brigade and Commander of the Italian Landing Force (CLF), as well as Spanish Rear Admiral Isidro Carrara, Joint Force Command Naples, Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans.
The Media Day featured several demonstrations ranging from vessel maritime-capabilities, aviation operations, amphibious landing operations, and a dynamic demonstration by the Italian Marine forces. The demonstration served as a scaled visual representation of Neptune Strike 25-1’s complex integration of joint high-end maritime strike capabilities that will be taking place over the coming days.
This is the perfect example of NATO’s multi-domain approach. Coming from the sea, supported from the air, using the cyber domain by coordinating everything, to deliver massive strike effects on land.
Italian Naval Vessel, ITS Trieste prepares to launch amphibious assault vehicles during a Neptune Strike 2025-1 capabilities demonstration.
Italian Marines conduct a tactical assault demonstration during Neptune Strike 2025-1.
Tactical Vehicles are offloaded during a Neptune Strike 2025-1 capabilities demonstration.
“This is the perfect example of NATO’s multi-domain approach. Coming from the sea, supported from the air, using the cyber domain by coordinating everything, to deliver massive strike effects on land,” said Rear Admiral Carrara.
The Trieste, is one of several naval vessels that will be under the operational control of NATO in order to enhance the pace and flexibility of command and control of naval strike and amphibious forces, supporting the deterrence and defence of the Alliance during Neptune Strike 2025-1.
The main objectives for Neptune Strike 25-1 are to maintain freedom of navigation and maneuver in NATO’s area of operations, to secure strategic maritime chokepoints, to conduct deterrence and vigilance, and to increase the interoperability in operational domains (e.g. the air-land-integration), fostering NATO’s capabilities to enable multi-domain operations across Europe.
Neptune Strike 25-1, the first iteration of this peacetime vigilance activity for 2025, will take place in April 2025 and will see contributions and participation from Bulgaria, Canada, France, Greece, Italy, Northern Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Neptune Strike 25-1 is a long-planned activity conducted in compliance with international law and standards. It is defensive in nature and not directed towards any third party.