NATO’s Communications and Information Agency supported the first cyber readiness test at Exercise Dynamic Mariner 25. During the two-week event, NCIA cyber experts and NATO’s Rapid Reaction Team defended exercise networks against simulated cyber threats in real time.
Cyberattack Simulation
NATO said the agency fielded personnel from its Communications and Information Systems services support unit in Northwood, United Kingdom, and Torrejon, Spain. Five cybersecurity experts from NCIA’s NATO Cyber Security Centre also provided cyber defense during a simulated cyberattack on logistical deployment.
Dynamic Mariner 25 not only tested the allies’ cyberthreat response capabilities but also enhanced the deployed teams’ coordination in an operational scenario, Maj. Serbay Cetinkaya, NCSC cell head, said in a separate NATO announcement last week. “Strengthening our ability to respond to evolving cyberthreats in real time will ensure greater resilience and readiness for future challenges.”
Held across the Western Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, Dynamic Mariner 25 involved over 4,000 personnel aboard 30 ships, two submarines, amphibious vehicles and aircraft from Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and United States. In addition to cyber defense, the exercise’s focus also included anti-submarine operations, surface warfare and amphibious operations.
Allied Reaction Force
The exercise resulted in the Spanish Navy, which fielded its newest submarine, Isaac Peral (S-81), in Dynamic Mariner 25, being designated as the NATO Allied Reaction Force, or ARF, Maritime element starting July 1. The Turkish Amphibious Task Force was also designated as the ARF Commander Amphibious Task Force and Commander Landing Force.
NATO said the experience gained from Dynamic Mariner 25 reinforces the Spanish and Turkish capabilities to provide rapid and adaptable responses to their newly assigned ARF roles. The ARF concept is designed to boost NATO’s readiness and flexibility in organizing multi-domain forces across the alliance to address wide-ranging security challenges, including cyber threats.