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| Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO |
| Native name | STRIKFORNATO |
| Dates | 1952–present |
| Country | NATO |
| Branch | Allied Command Operations |
| Type | Maritime headquarters |
| Role | Naval strike, amphibious support, power projection |
| Garrison | Oeiras, Portugal |
| Commander | NATO appointed admiral |
Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) is the principal maritime headquarters within Allied Command Operations responsible for planning and conducting naval strike and support missions for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization maritime component. STRIKFORNATO provides high-readiness maritime command and control to coordinate assets from the Royal Navy, United States Navy, French Navy, Italian Navy, and other NATO navies during crises, contingency operations, and partnered exercises in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and adjacent littorals. It serves as a bridge between strategic direction from Supreme Allied Commander Europe and tactical forces such as Carrier Strike Groups, amphibious ready groups, and multinational task forces.
STRIKFORNATO traces institutional roots to early Cold War maritime arrangements under the North Atlantic Treaty and the establishment of Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic and Supreme Allied Commander Europe; its evolution parallels events like the Suez Crisis and the Cuban Missile Crisis. During the 1950s and 1960s STRIKFORNATO adapted to concepts from the Marshall Plan era and integrated carrier doctrine influenced by lessons from the Battle of the Atlantic and Korean War. The command reorganized after the end of the Cold War to address crises in the Balkans and later supported operations connected to the War on Terror, including maritime interdiction related to Operation Active Endeavour and Operation Ocean Shield. NATO defence reviews following the 1999 Washington Summit and the 2010 Lisbon Summit shaped STRIKFORNATO’s modern remit alongside reforms linked to the 2014 Wales Summit and the 2016 Warsaw Summit.
STRIKFORNATO operates as a maritime component headquarters under Allied Command Operations and interfaces with joint NATO structures such as Allied Joint Force Command Naples, Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum, and the Allied Maritime Command; its chain-of-command reflects procedures codified in the NATO Defence Planning Process. The headquarters is normally led by a flag officer who coordinates staff branches comparable to NATO Standardization Office procedures, liaising with national naval commanders from Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Netherlands Navy, German Navy, Spanish Navy, Hellenic Navy, and other maritime services. STRIKFORNATO embeds liaison officers from partners including the European Union, United Nations, and the African Union when multinational operations demand civil-military coordination under instruments like the North Atlantic Council decisions.
STRIKFORNATO’s core roles include maritime strike planning, amphibious support, power projection, and coordination of carrier aviation, cruise missile employment, and expeditionary operations informed by doctrine such as NATO’s Allied Joint Doctrine and concepts developed at the NATO Defence College. Capabilities provided span command and control of aircraft carrier task groups, coordination with Submarine Force elements, integration of maritime patrol aircraft and helicopter assets, and planning for littoral operations that may involve amphibious assault ships and Marine Corps-style expeditionary forces. The command supports maritime security tasks ranging from anti-surface warfare to strike operations using systems influenced by platforms like the Aegis Combat System, Tomahawk cruise missile, and carrier-based aircraft exemplified by the F/A-18 Hornet and Rafale.
STRIKFORNATO has directed or supported operations including NATO maritime patrols in the Mediterranean Sea during the Yugoslav Wars, escort and counter-piracy missions off Somalia related to Operation Ocean Shield, and maritime security activities linked to Operation Active Endeavour after 9/11. It has coordinated multinational carrier strike packages during high-profile events such as crises near Libya during Operation Unified Protector and exercises that demonstrate rapid reinforcement to NATO eastern flank scenarios influenced by tensions with the Russian Federation. Deployments often involve coordination with national deployments from United States Sixth Fleet, United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group 21, and combined amphibious task groups drawn from Spanish Navy and Italian Navy elements.
STRIKFORNATO designs and leads multinational exercises including large-scale maritime war games and carrier strike rehearsals in coordination with institutions like the Allied Maritime Command and national naval schools such as the Britannia Royal Naval College and École navale. Regular exercises often tie into NATO-wide events such as Trident Juncture, Dynamic Mongoose, Steadfast Defender, and bilateral interoperability drills with partners including the United States European Command and Joint Forces Command Brunssum. Training emphasizes integration of command-and-control systems compliant with NATO Interoperability Standards and practical scenarios involving amphibious landings, maritime interdiction, and combined air-naval strikes.
STRIKFORNATO itself is a headquarters and does not own combat platforms but exercises operational control of assets from contributing navies, including aircraft carriers like HMS Queen Elizabeth, USS Gerald R. Ford, and Charles de Gaulle; amphibious ships such as the America-class and Wasp-class; destroyers and frigates equipped with Aegis Combat System or Sea Ceptor; submarines including Type 212 and Virginia-class; maritime patrol aircraft such as the P-8 Poseidon and Breguet Atlantique; and shipborne helicopters like the NH90 and AW101. Strike capabilities integrate armaments such as the Tomahawk and air-launched munitions carried by F-35 Lightning II and Eurofighter Typhoon.
STRIKFORNATO maintains formal and informal ties with NATO members and partner nations through arrangements similar to the Partnership for Peace framework, information exchanges with the European Defence Agency, and interoperability projects involving the Multinational Capability Cooperation initiatives. The command routinely engages with non-NATO navies including the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Royal Australian Navy, and Republic of Korea Navy for exercises and information sharing, and cooperates with international organizations such as the International Maritime Organization and the European Union Naval Force when maritime security operations require multinational legal and diplomatic coordination. Category:NATO