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The hunters: NATO’s anti-submarine capability
FROM THIS GALLERY
The hunters: NATO’s anti-submarine capability
The hunters: NATO’s anti-submarine capability
The hunters: NATO’s anti-submarine capability
The hunters: NATO’s anti-submarine capability
With their ability to cruise beneath the waves unseen, carrying a belly full of torpedoes and missiles, submarines pose a serious threat to Allied security. But that’s where the sub hunters come in.
Assets Details
- Publication date 15 September 2026
- Version Master-with-subs
- Themes Deterrence and defence , Exercises
- Music “On the Edge (Underscore)” by Bamforth and Bradley; “Prime Suspects (Underscore)” by Price; “Reset Pulse” by Whitfield
Synopsis
The scariest weapon facing NATO Allies isn’t necessarily an elite Special Forces operator, nor a stealth fighter: it’s a submarine cruising beneath the ocean’s surface, hidden from view, carrying a belly full of torpedoes and ballistic missiles.
Between their stealth and their firepower, submarines present a uniquely serious threat to NATO’s security. But Allies have an answer: a combination of sub-hunting ships, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft that use sonar sensors to find submarines, and if necessary, neutralise them.
NATO Allies train to hunt subs three times a year. Each body of water has its own unique characteristics, so Allies need to stay ready to tackle threats wherever they might surface.
This video peeks inside exercise Dynamic Manta 26, hosted by NATO Allied Maritime Command and the Italian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea. Follow along as Allied ships and aircraft try to pin down submarines lurking in the depths below.
Transcript
—VOICEOVER—
“This may look peaceful, but trust us, it’s terrifying.
It’s scarier than this …
or this…
or this.
Not because of what’s there, but because of what might be there.
Submarines are one of the most serious threats to Allied security. They can travel thousands of kilometres undetected, carrying bellies full of torpedoes or ballistic missiles. By the time you see them, it might already be too late.
But NATO is not helpless against this threat. Thanks to cutting-edge technology and constant training, Allied sub-hunters are ready and able to search the deep, and find this danger before it finds them.
—TEXT ON SCREEN—
THE HUNTERS
—VOICEOVER—
“All skills take practice, and sub-hunting is no exception. NATO Allies practise sub-hunting three times a year, once in the Baltic Sea, once in the Mediterranean Sea, and once in the North Atlantic Ocean.. Each body of water presents its own challenges.
Here in the Mediterranean, the Turkish sub İnönü is getting underway.
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
GRAPHIC: Lieutenant Commander Orkun Turan, Turkish Navy
“The Turkish Navy operates in different maritime environments. Each provides valuable operational experience shared within NATO exercises.”
—VOICEOVER—
“Türkiye is one of 14 NATO nations with submarines, and during this military exercise, they’ll play cat-and-mouse with helicopters, patrol planes and surface ships searching for them.
Submarines are relative newcomers to naval warfare, first seeing widespread use in the early 20th century. During World War Two, Allied supply convoys carrying troops and equipment from North America to Europe were menaced by packs of attack submarines that ambushed cargo ships with little to no warning. The Battle of the Atlantic was the war’s longest fight, and one of its most brutal.
That’s because there’s really no good way to defend against a submarine. When submerged, they’re invisible to the eye. Warships can hunt for subs using sonar, a kind of sensor that uses sound to map out the world beneath the waves, but a clever sub captain has plenty of tricks up their sleeve.”
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
GRAPHIC: Lieutenant Commander Orkun Turan, Turkish Navy
“Submarines may exploit thermal or salinity layers to reduce detectability. They may also use seabed features or heavy maritime traffic to mask their presence.”
—VOICEOVER—
“If you don’t know what a salinity layer is, don’t worry. We’ll get to that.
The point is, submarines can be really hard to track, which makes them hard to predict. Which is a problem. Because you don’t want this much firepower showing up unannounced.
Submarine-launched torpedoes can explode under a ship, creating an air bubble so big it breaks the ship’s spine, all but guaranteeing sinking. Some subs can launch ballistic missiles, posing a serious threat to land forces.”
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
GRAPHIC: Rear Admiral Bret Grabbe, Commander, Submarines NATO
“One of the advantages of having a submarine in your military arsenal is the covert nature in which they operate. So a submarine can leave the pier, submerge and then oftentimes be difficult to track. And that allows it to move around the water anywhere, you know, on the surface of the Earth, and potentially pose a threat.”
—VOICEOVER—
“So, how does NATO defeat this threat?
First off, there’s no hunting submarines without teamwork. To find something you can’t see, you need sonar sensors, the more the better. Those can be dipped from helicopters, dropped from airplanes or pulled behind warships on the surface.”
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
GRAPHIC: Rear Admiral Bret Grabbe, Commander, Submarines NATO
“We use those assets to isolate where an enemy submarine could be. We want to be able to practise hunting submarines so that if we ever get into conflict with an adversary, NATO anti-submarine warfare capability can find, isolate, track and then, if necessary, neutralise an enemy submarine.”
—VOICEOVER—
“Allied warships equipped for anti-submarine combat have two kinds of sonar: passive and active. Passive sonar is like listening to the ocean with a very sensitive set of ears. The good news is, you can hear everything. The bad news is … you can hear everything. From colonies of shrimp, to pods of whales, to other ships, sonar technicians need to sort through the deafening wall of sound to hear the telltale sounds of a submarine underway.
NATO Allies are experimenting with using machine learning and artificial intelligence to help them tell a tuna from a torpedo. But if that’s not enough, there’s always another type of sonar: active pinging.
Active sonars send a loud signal racing through the water. Sound travels through water much faster and farther than it does through air, and when it hits something, it bounces back. The speed, direction and size of that echo can help you find what you’re looking for.
But even if detected, submarines have ways to avoid getting caught. As it turns out, the open ocean is a great place to hide. Because sound gets weird under water.”
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
GRAPHIC: Rear Admiral Bret Grabbe, Commander, Submarines NATO
“When you hear me talking right now, the sound is travelling quickly to your ears in a straight line. Beneath the surface of the ocean, the sound bends, and it can bend to make things seem very far away when actually they’re close, but it can also reflect off of different things, and it can also be absorbed by different bottom types in the ocean.”
—VOICEOVER—
“When it comes to hiding in the open sea, two things give submarines excellent cover: water temperature, and salt. Water that is colder and saltier can slow sound waves, or even deflect them, creating a sort of invisibility shield for subs to hide beneath.”
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
GRAPHIC: Rear Admiral Bret Grabbe, Commander, Submarines NATO
“If you’re in a kind of worst-case scenario and you have a very quiet submarine you’re trying to hunt, that can seem like mission impossible, but in fact, we have a lot of capability inside of NATO.”
—VOICEOVER—
“The key to catching a submarine is casting a wide net. The sonar systems used by surface ships are sophisticated and strong, but they’re attached to a platform that’s relatively slow-moving. By using aircraft, a sub-hunter can cover more territory in less time.
Many Allies warships carry sub-hunting helicopters equipped with so-called “dipping sonar.” This sensor can slip between temperature and salinity layers to listen for subs lurking underneath. These helicopters can fly far ahead of the warships and scout out the waters ahead. But when it comes to long-range sub-hunting, nothing beats the maritime patrol aircraft, or MPAs.
Besides having more fuel, these aircraft have a secret weapon: sonar buoys. These disposable sensors start sending data back to the MPA moments after they hit the water. When dropped in a wide pattern, they create a sonar net that can catch submarines passing through.”
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
GRAPHIC: Rear Admiral Bret Grabbe, Commander, Submarines NATO
“So when you put all this together with NATO, mission impossible suddenly becomes mission possible. We practise these exercises to make sure that it’s skill, and deliberate, when we find the enemy submarine.”
—VOICEOVER—
“Anti-submarine warfare is a complex task with a lot of moving parts. This is a lot for one navy to manage, never mind several navies all trying to work together. It’s never easy, and it’s rarely perfect. But thanks to relentless practice, NATO’s navies are ready and able to counter the threat posed by submarines.
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
GRAPHIC: Rear Admiral Bret Grabbe, Commander, Submarines NATO
“We have quite an amazing group of people working together. When you have 32 nations of NATO working together on real-world operations, this is an impressive feat that we have learned over 75 years of working together.”
TEXT ON SCREEN
This video includes Getty Images’ and its third parties’ and third-party contributors’ copyrighted material licensed by NATO, which cannot be used as part of a new production without Getty Images’ consent. For any use, please contact Getty Images: service.gi.bnl@gettyimages.com. This video also contains Thomson Reuters copyrighted library material licensed by NATO, which cannot be used as part of a new production without consent of the copyright holder. Please contact Thomson Reuters to clear this material.
END
Usage rights
CLOSE
This media asset is free for editorial broadcast, print, online and radio use. It is restricted for use for other purposes. This video includes Getty Images’ and its third parties’ and third-party contributors’ copyrighted material licensed by NATO, which cannot be used as part of a new production without Getty Images’ consent. For any use, please contact Getty Images: service.gi.bnl@gettyimages.com. This video also contains Thomson Reuters copyrighted library material licensed by NATO, which cannot be used as part of a new production without consent of the copyright holder. Please contact Thomson Reuters to clear this material.
The hunters: NATO’s anti-submarine capability
With their ability to cruise beneath the waves unseen, carrying a belly full of torpedoes and missiles, submarines pose a serious threat to Allied security. But that’s where the sub hunters come in.
Assets Details
- Publication date 15 September 2026
- Version Master
- Themes Deterrence and defence , Exercises
- Music “On the Edge (Underscore)” by Bamforth and Bradley; “Prime Suspects (Underscore)” by Price; “Reset Pulse” by Whitfield
Synopsis
The scariest weapon facing NATO Allies isn’t necessarily an elite Special Forces operator, nor a stealth fighter: it’s a submarine cruising beneath the ocean’s surface, hidden from view, carrying a belly full of torpedoes and ballistic missiles.
Between their stealth and their firepower, submarines present a uniquely serious threat to NATO’s security. But Allies have an answer: a combination of sub-hunting ships, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft that use sonar sensors to find submarines, and if necessary, neutralise them.
NATO Allies train to hunt subs three times a year. Each body of water has its own unique characteristics, so Allies need to stay ready to tackle threats wherever they might surface.
This video peeks inside exercise Dynamic Manta 26, hosted by NATO Allied Maritime Command and the Italian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea. Follow along as Allied ships and aircraft try to pin down submarines lurking in the depths below.
Transcript
—VOICEOVER—
“This may look peaceful, but trust us, it’s terrifying.
It’s scarier than this …
or this…
or this.
Not because of what’s there, but because of what might be there.
Submarines are one of the most serious threats to Allied security. They can travel thousands of kilometres undetected, carrying bellies full of torpedoes or ballistic missiles. By the time you see them, it might already be too late.
But NATO is not helpless against this threat. Thanks to cutting-edge technology and constant training, Allied sub-hunters are ready and able to search the deep, and find this danger before it finds them.
—TEXT ON SCREEN—
THE HUNTERS
—VOICEOVER—
“All skills take practice, and sub-hunting is no exception. NATO Allies practise sub-hunting three times a year, once in the Baltic Sea, once in the Mediterranean Sea, and once in the North Atlantic Ocean.. Each body of water presents its own challenges.
Here in the Mediterranean, the Turkish sub İnönü is getting underway.
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
GRAPHIC: Lieutenant Commander Orkun Turan, Turkish Navy
“The Turkish Navy operates in different maritime environments. Each provides valuable operational experience shared within NATO exercises.”
—VOICEOVER—
“Türkiye is one of 14 NATO nations with submarines, and during this military exercise, they’ll play cat-and-mouse with helicopters, patrol planes and surface ships searching for them.
Submarines are relative newcomers to naval warfare, first seeing widespread use in the early 20th century. During World War Two, Allied supply convoys carrying troops and equipment from North America to Europe were menaced by packs of attack submarines that ambushed cargo ships with little to no warning. The Battle of the Atlantic was the war’s longest fight, and one of its most brutal.
That’s because there’s really no good way to defend against a submarine. When submerged, they’re invisible to the eye. Warships can hunt for subs using sonar, a kind of sensor that uses sound to map out the world beneath the waves, but a clever sub captain has plenty of tricks up their sleeve.”
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
GRAPHIC: Lieutenant Commander Orkun Turan, Turkish Navy
“Submarines may exploit thermal or salinity layers to reduce detectability. They may also use seabed features or heavy maritime traffic to mask their presence.”
—VOICEOVER—
“If you don’t know what a salinity layer is, don’t worry. We’ll get to that.
The point is, submarines can be really hard to track, which makes them hard to predict. Which is a problem. Because you don’t want this much firepower showing up unannounced.
Submarine-launched torpedoes can explode under a ship, creating an air bubble so big it breaks the ship’s spine, all but guaranteeing sinking. Some subs can launch ballistic missiles, posing a serious threat to land forces.”
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
GRAPHIC: Rear Admiral Bret Grabbe, Commander, Submarines NATO
“One of the advantages of having a submarine in your military arsenal is the covert nature in which they operate. So a submarine can leave the pier, submerge and then oftentimes be difficult to track. And that allows it to move around the water anywhere, you know, on the surface of the Earth, and potentially pose a threat.”
—VOICEOVER—
“So, how does NATO defeat this threat?
First off, there’s no hunting submarines without teamwork. To find something you can’t see, you need sonar sensors, the more the better. Those can be dipped from helicopters, dropped from airplanes or pulled behind warships on the surface.”
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
GRAPHIC: Rear Admiral Bret Grabbe, Commander, Submarines NATO
“We use those assets to isolate where an enemy submarine could be. We want to be able to practise hunting submarines so that if we ever get into conflict with an adversary, NATO anti-submarine warfare capability can find, isolate, track and then, if necessary, neutralise an enemy submarine.”
—VOICEOVER—
“Allied warships equipped for anti-submarine combat have two kinds of sonar: passive and active. Passive sonar is like listening to the ocean with a very sensitive set of ears. The good news is, you can hear everything. The bad news is … you can hear everything. From colonies of shrimp, to pods of whales, to other ships, sonar technicians need to sort through the deafening wall of sound to hear the telltale sounds of a submarine underway.
NATO Allies are experimenting with using machine learning and artificial intelligence to help them tell a tuna from a torpedo. But if that’s not enough, there’s always another type of sonar: active pinging.
Active sonars send a loud signal racing through the water. Sound travels through water much faster and farther than it does through air, and when it hits something, it bounces back. The speed, direction and size of that echo can help you find what you’re looking for.
But even if detected, submarines have ways to avoid getting caught. As it turns out, the open ocean is a great place to hide. Because sound gets weird under water.”
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
GRAPHIC: Rear Admiral Bret Grabbe, Commander, Submarines NATO
“When you hear me talking right now, the sound is travelling quickly to your ears in a straight line. Beneath the surface of the ocean, the sound bends, and it can bend to make things seem very far away when actually they’re close, but it can also reflect off of different things, and it can also be absorbed by different bottom types in the ocean.”
—VOICEOVER—
“When it comes to hiding in the open sea, two things give submarines excellent cover: water temperature, and salt. Water that is colder and saltier can slow sound waves, or even deflect them, creating a sort of invisibility shield for subs to hide beneath.”
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
GRAPHIC: Rear Admiral Bret Grabbe, Commander, Submarines NATO
“If you’re in a kind of worst-case scenario and you have a very quiet submarine you’re trying to hunt, that can seem like mission impossible, but in fact, we have a lot of capability inside of NATO.”
—VOICEOVER—
“The key to catching a submarine is casting a wide net. The sonar systems used by surface ships are sophisticated and strong, but they’re attached to a platform that’s relatively slow-moving. By using aircraft, a sub-hunter can cover more territory in less time.
Many Allies warships carry sub-hunting helicopters equipped with so-called “dipping sonar.” This sensor can slip between temperature and salinity layers to listen for subs lurking underneath. These helicopters can fly far ahead of the warships and scout out the waters ahead. But when it comes to long-range sub-hunting, nothing beats the maritime patrol aircraft, or MPAs.
Besides having more fuel, these aircraft have a secret weapon: sonar buoys. These disposable sensors start sending data back to the MPA moments after they hit the water. When dropped in a wide pattern, they create a sonar net that can catch submarines passing through.”
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
GRAPHIC: Rear Admiral Bret Grabbe, Commander, Submarines NATO
“So when you put all this together with NATO, mission impossible suddenly becomes mission possible. We practise these exercises to make sure that it’s skill, and deliberate, when we find the enemy submarine.”
—VOICEOVER—
“Anti-submarine warfare is a complex task with a lot of moving parts. This is a lot for one navy to manage, never mind several navies all trying to work together. It’s never easy, and it’s rarely perfect. But thanks to relentless practice, NATO’s navies are ready and able to counter the threat posed by submarines.
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
GRAPHIC: Rear Admiral Bret Grabbe, Commander, Submarines NATO
“We have quite an amazing group of people working together. When you have 32 nations of NATO working together on real-world operations, this is an impressive feat that we have learned over 75 years of working together.”
TEXT ON SCREEN
This video includes Getty Images’ and its third parties’ and third-party contributors’ copyrighted material licensed by NATO, which cannot be used as part of a new production without Getty Images’ consent. For any use, please contact Getty Images: service.gi.bnl@gettyimages.com. This video also contains Thomson Reuters copyrighted library material licensed by NATO, which cannot be used as part of a new production without consent of the copyright holder. Please contact Thomson Reuters to clear this material.
END
Usage rights
CLOSE
This media asset is free for editorial broadcast, print, online and radio use. It is restricted for use for other purposes. This video includes Getty Images’ and its third parties’ and third-party contributors’ copyrighted material licensed by NATO, which cannot be used as part of a new production without Getty Images’ consent. For any use, please contact Getty Images: service.gi.bnl@gettyimages.com. This video also contains Thomson Reuters copyrighted library material licensed by NATO, which cannot be used as part of a new production without consent of the copyright holder. Please contact Thomson Reuters to clear this material.
The hunters: NATO’s anti-submarine capability
With their ability to cruise beneath the waves unseen, carrying a belly full of torpedoes and missiles, submarines pose a serious threat to Allied security. But that’s where the sub hunters come in.
Assets Details
- Publication date 15 September 2026
- Version International
- Themes Deterrence and defence , Exercises
- Music “On the Edge (Underscore)” by Bamforth and Bradley; “Prime Suspects (Underscore)” by Price; “Reset Pulse” by Whitfield
Synopsis
The scariest weapon facing NATO Allies isn’t necessarily an elite Special Forces operator, nor a stealth fighter: it’s a submarine cruising beneath the ocean’s surface, hidden from view, carrying a belly full of torpedoes and ballistic missiles.
Between their stealth and their firepower, submarines present a uniquely serious threat to NATO’s security. But Allies have an answer: a combination of sub-hunting ships, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft that use sonar sensors to find submarines, and if necessary, neutralise them.
NATO Allies train to hunt subs three times a year. Each body of water has its own unique characteristics, so Allies need to stay ready to tackle threats wherever they might surface.
This video peeks inside exercise Dynamic Manta 26, hosted by NATO Allied Maritime Command and the Italian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea. Follow along as Allied ships and aircraft try to pin down submarines lurking in the depths below.
Transcript
—VOICEOVER—
“This may look peaceful, but trust us, it’s terrifying.
It’s scarier than this …
or this…
or this.
Not because of what’s there, but because of what might be there.
Submarines are one of the most serious threats to Allied security. They can travel thousands of kilometres undetected, carrying bellies full of torpedoes or ballistic missiles. By the time you see them, it might already be too late.
But NATO is not helpless against this threat. Thanks to cutting-edge technology and constant training, Allied sub-hunters are ready and able to search the deep, and find this danger before it finds them.
—TEXT ON SCREEN—
THE HUNTERS
—VOICEOVER—
“All skills take practice, and sub-hunting is no exception. NATO Allies practise sub-hunting three times a year, once in the Baltic Sea, once in the Mediterranean Sea, and once in the North Atlantic Ocean.. Each body of water presents its own challenges.
Here in the Mediterranean, the Turkish sub İnönü is getting underway.
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
GRAPHIC: Lieutenant Commander Orkun Turan, Turkish Navy
“The Turkish Navy operates in different maritime environments. Each provides valuable operational experience shared within NATO exercises.”
—VOICEOVER—
“Türkiye is one of 14 NATO nations with submarines, and during this military exercise, they’ll play cat-and-mouse with helicopters, patrol planes and surface ships searching for them.
Submarines are relative newcomers to naval warfare, first seeing widespread use in the early 20th century. During World War Two, Allied supply convoys carrying troops and equipment from North America to Europe were menaced by packs of attack submarines that ambushed cargo ships with little to no warning. The Battle of the Atlantic was the war’s longest fight, and one of its most brutal.
That’s because there’s really no good way to defend against a submarine. When submerged, they’re invisible to the eye. Warships can hunt for subs using sonar, a kind of sensor that uses sound to map out the world beneath the waves, but a clever sub captain has plenty of tricks up their sleeve.”
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
GRAPHIC: Lieutenant Commander Orkun Turan, Turkish Navy
“Submarines may exploit thermal or salinity layers to reduce detectability. They may also use seabed features or heavy maritime traffic to mask their presence.”
—VOICEOVER—
“If you don’t know what a salinity layer is, don’t worry. We’ll get to that.
The point is, submarines can be really hard to track, which makes them hard to predict. Which is a problem. Because you don’t want this much firepower showing up unannounced.
Submarine-launched torpedoes can explode under a ship, creating an air bubble so big it breaks the ship’s spine, all but guaranteeing sinking. Some subs can launch ballistic missiles, posing a serious threat to land forces.”
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
GRAPHIC: Rear Admiral Bret Grabbe, Commander, Submarines NATO
“One of the advantages of having a submarine in your military arsenal is the covert nature in which they operate. So a submarine can leave the pier, submerge and then oftentimes be difficult to track. And that allows it to move around the water anywhere, you know, on the surface of the Earth, and potentially pose a threat.”
—VOICEOVER—
“So, how does NATO defeat this threat?
First off, there’s no hunting submarines without teamwork. To find something you can’t see, you need sonar sensors, the more the better. Those can be dipped from helicopters, dropped from airplanes or pulled behind warships on the surface.”
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
GRAPHIC: Rear Admiral Bret Grabbe, Commander, Submarines NATO
“We use those assets to isolate where an enemy submarine could be. We want to be able to practise hunting submarines so that if we ever get into conflict with an adversary, NATO anti-submarine warfare capability can find, isolate, track and then, if necessary, neutralise an enemy submarine.”
—VOICEOVER—
“Allied warships equipped for anti-submarine combat have two kinds of sonar: passive and active. Passive sonar is like listening to the ocean with a very sensitive set of ears. The good news is, you can hear everything. The bad news is … you can hear everything. From colonies of shrimp, to pods of whales, to other ships, sonar technicians need to sort through the deafening wall of sound to hear the telltale sounds of a submarine underway.
NATO Allies are experimenting with using machine learning and artificial intelligence to help them tell a tuna from a torpedo. But if that’s not enough, there’s always another type of sonar: active pinging.
Active sonars send a loud signal racing through the water. Sound travels through water much faster and farther than it does through air, and when it hits something, it bounces back. The speed, direction and size of that echo can help you find what you’re looking for.
But even if detected, submarines have ways to avoid getting caught. As it turns out, the open ocean is a great place to hide. Because sound gets weird under water.”
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
GRAPHIC: Rear Admiral Bret Grabbe, Commander, Submarines NATO
“When you hear me talking right now, the sound is travelling quickly to your ears in a straight line. Beneath the surface of the ocean, the sound bends, and it can bend to make things seem very far away when actually they’re close, but it can also reflect off of different things, and it can also be absorbed by different bottom types in the ocean.”
—VOICEOVER—
“When it comes to hiding in the open sea, two things give submarines excellent cover: water temperature, and salt. Water that is colder and saltier can slow sound waves, or even deflect them, creating a sort of invisibility shield for subs to hide beneath.”
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
GRAPHIC: Rear Admiral Bret Grabbe, Commander, Submarines NATO
“If you’re in a kind of worst-case scenario and you have a very quiet submarine you’re trying to hunt, that can seem like mission impossible, but in fact, we have a lot of capability inside of NATO.”
—VOICEOVER—
“The key to catching a submarine is casting a wide net. The sonar systems used by surface ships are sophisticated and strong, but they’re attached to a platform that’s relatively slow-moving. By using aircraft, a sub-hunter can cover more territory in less time.
Many Allies warships carry sub-hunting helicopters equipped with so-called “dipping sonar.” This sensor can slip between temperature and salinity layers to listen for subs lurking underneath. These helicopters can fly far ahead of the warships and scout out the waters ahead. But when it comes to long-range sub-hunting, nothing beats the maritime patrol aircraft, or MPAs.
Besides having more fuel, these aircraft have a secret weapon: sonar buoys. These disposable sensors start sending data back to the MPA moments after they hit the water. When dropped in a wide pattern, they create a sonar net that can catch submarines passing through.”
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
GRAPHIC: Rear Admiral Bret Grabbe, Commander, Submarines NATO
“So when you put all this together with NATO, mission impossible suddenly becomes mission possible. We practise these exercises to make sure that it’s skill, and deliberate, when we find the enemy submarine.”
—VOICEOVER—
“Anti-submarine warfare is a complex task with a lot of moving parts. This is a lot for one navy to manage, never mind several navies all trying to work together. It’s never easy, and it’s rarely perfect. But thanks to relentless practice, NATO’s navies are ready and able to counter the threat posed by submarines.
—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH —
GRAPHIC: Rear Admiral Bret Grabbe, Commander, Submarines NATO
“We have quite an amazing group of people working together. When you have 32 nations of NATO working together on real-world operations, this is an impressive feat that we have learned over 75 years of working together.”
TEXT ON SCREEN
This video includes Getty Images’ and its third parties’ and third-party contributors’ copyrighted material licensed by NATO, which cannot be used as part of a new production without Getty Images’ consent. For any use, please contact Getty Images: service.gi.bnl@gettyimages.com. This video also contains Thomson Reuters copyrighted library material licensed by NATO, which cannot be used as part of a new production without consent of the copyright holder. Please contact Thomson Reuters to clear this material.
END
Usage rights
CLOSE
This media asset is free for editorial broadcast, print, online and radio use. It is restricted for use for other purposes. This video includes Getty Images’ and its third parties’ and third-party contributors’ copyrighted material licensed by NATO, which cannot be used as part of a new production without Getty Images’ consent. For any use, please contact Getty Images: service.gi.bnl@gettyimages.com. This video also contains Thomson Reuters copyrighted library material licensed by NATO, which cannot be used as part of a new production without consent of the copyright holder. Please contact Thomson Reuters to clear this material.