The exercise was designed to strengthen coordination, sharpen anti-submarine warfare skills and improve NATO’s ability to operate seamlessly in the High North. It integrated submarines, surface ships, helicopters, Maritime Patrol Aircraft and autonomous systems in progressive training serials.
Dynamic Mongoose 2026 was conducted as part of Arctic Sentry. NATO said this reinforced the Alliance’s enhanced presence and readiness in the Arctic and High North.
Standing NATO Maritime Group One, already operating in the region, took part alongside Allied forces. NATO said the exercise built on earlier iterations and further strengthened multinational interoperability in a strategically important environment.
“Exercise Dynamic Mongoose 26 has been a real success for SNMG1, and for all the wider Allies and Partners that have participated. We have proved the successful integration of advanced capabilities and technologies, as well as refining and refreshing our tactics, techniques and procedures, during an increasingly complex series of exercises against live submarines,” said Commander SNMG1, Royal Navy Commodore Maryla Ingham.
During the exercise, surface ships carried out advanced manoeuvres, rehearsed force protection and completed replenishment at sea with Partner nations. These activities formed part of the wider effort to improve cooperation between multinational maritime forces.
Submarines from participating nations played a central role throughout the training. They conducted intensive one-on-one sub-surface warfare serials, alternating between hunter and evader roles in realistic operational scenarios.
The submarines worked closely with surface ships, Maritime Patrol Aircraft and supporting assets. Their crews practised patrol and detection tactics in a dynamic “cat and mouse” environment that tested coordination, endurance and tactical decision-making.
NATO said the exercise demonstrated the Alliance’s ability to conduct advanced anti-submarine warfare operations. It also showed the Alliance’s capacity to maintain a credible and combat-ready force beneath the surface.
The integration of air, surface and sub-surface assets created a realistic operational environment. The exercise tested NATO’s ability to detect, track and counter underwater threats while operating across multinational forces.
“The area in which the exercise took place is of strategic importance for the Alliance and training in the area helps us understand the environment. All of this has provided first class training for the crews of Maritime Patrol Aircraft, anti-submarine helicopters, ships and submarines,” Commodore Ingham said.
“It has enhanced our interoperability and the integration of nine different nations across the force has shown our ability to work seamlessly together. I am proud of the hard work of the sailors and aircrew from every nation which participated. Dynamic Mongoose demonstrates our will and ability to deter and, if necessary, defend the Alliance,” she added.
SNMG1 is one of four standing NATO maritime groups that provide continuous maritime presence and readiness in peacetime, crisis and conflict. NATO said exercises such as Dynamic Mongoose contribute to Allied assurance measures and enhance interoperability.
The exercise also demonstrated NATO’s ability to operate across the North Atlantic, the Baltic Sea and the Arctic approaches. NATO said this capability remains important for maintaining maritime readiness in key northern waters.
