HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen (F310) launched two Evolved Sea-Sparrow-Missiles (ESSM) as a part of At-Sea-Demonstration Formidable Shield 2021, May 21, 2021. The exercise consists of firing two counter-missiles at an autonomous drone at supersonic speed. The Nansen-class Frigate passed with flying colours. Nansen participates in the exercise as a part of NATO, to strengthen international cooperation. At-Sea Demo/Formidable Shield is a U.S. Sixth Fleet-led exercise, conducted by Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO), in which NATO Allies are the participants.
STRIKFORNATO will provide a Joint Battle Staff under the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) direct Operational Command (OPCOM) to deliver a rapidly deployable and scalable headquarters capable of planning and executing full spectrum joint maritime operations, primarily through the integration of U.S. naval and amphibious forces, in order to provide assurance, deterrence, and collective defence for the Alliance. The exercise is designed to improve allied interoperability in a live-fire joint IAMD environment, using NATO command and control reporting structures.
Ten nations will participate by sending ships, aircraft, ground assets, and embarked staff in Task Group IAMD, including Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Exercise At-Sea Demo/Formidable Shield receives support from U.S. European Command, Missile Defense Agency, the Maritime Theater Missile Defense Forum (MTMD-F), and Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO-IWS).
HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen is a frigate of the Royal Norwegian Navy. Launched on 5 April 2006, she is the lead ship of the Fridtjof Nansen class of warships. The frigates were originally intended as a replacement for the aging Oslo-class frigates, with a primary focus on anti-submarine warfare (ASW). Eventually, the need for a robust anti-aircraft defense as well as the possibility of incorporating the Naval Strike Missile surface-to-surface missile produced by Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace led to a more multi-role design.
