Overview

• The 54th annual Baltops exercise runs from June 5 to June 20 with about 50 ships, more than 25 aircraft and nearly 9,000 personnel from 17 NATO countries.
• For the first time, the drills are launching from Rostock, underscoring the city’s growing role as the German Naval Command hub.
• Participating forces will conduct a full spectrum of maritime operations, including amphibious landings, submarine hunting, air defense, mine clearance and drone missions.
• Germany’s contribution features corvettes Braunschweig and Magdeburg, the frigate Bayern and the supply ship Frankfurt am Main.
• Moscow has condemned the maneuvers as provocative and is holding its own Baltic Sea exercises with over 20 warships.