Brilliant Mariner kicks off in France

Ships from 13 nations are taking part in the French-hosted exercise Brilliant Mariner which kicked off September 29.

The exercise is attended by Standing NATO Maritime Groups one and two and the Standing Mine Countermeasure Group 2 in addition to the French Aero-Naval Rapid Reaction Force (FRMARFOR)

Brilliant Mariner is a Non-Article 5 crisis response operation exercise designed to support the certification of the naval component of the NATO Response Force (NRF) for 2018.

France is the host nation of this year’s exercise which is conducted in the Mediterranean Sea off the coasts of France, Italy and Spain between September 29 and October 13.

The maritime commander for the NRF rotates among different groups annually. The French Aero-Naval Rapid Reaction Force will assume responsibilities as the Maritime Component Commander (MCC) for the NRF 2018. Currently NATO Striking & Support Forces (STRIKFORNATO) hold the role.

A total of 27 naval units supported by maritime patrol and rotary wing aircraft from the navies of Canada, Denmark, France, Greece, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom are participating in the exercise.

NATO Response Force (NRF) is a highly ready and technologically advanced, multinational force made up of land, air, maritime and Special Operations Forces (SOF) components that the Alliance can deploy quickly, wherever needed, to strengthen the Alliance’s deterrence and defence posture and project stability beyond Allied borders.