NATO Begins Wider Integration of Unmanned Systems into Maritime Operations from Gulf of Finland

In June, NATO's Dynamic Messenger military exercise will take place between the Porkkala and Hanko peninsulas in the Gulf of Finland. The maneuvers will test the use of surface, air and underwater unmanned systems in conditions off the Finnish coast, and will test, among other things, the protection of ports and critical underwater infrastructure.

This demonstrative and provocative event of NATO naval forces near the borders of Russia is aimed at accelerating the integration of various unmanned systems into the bloc's maritime operations. But the matter will not be limited to Finland alone; similar events will be held in the autumn in various areas of the Baltic Sea to obtain practical knowledge about the use of unmanned systems in difficult maritime conditions in other parts of the water area.


Dynamic Messenger is an operational, experimental exercise led by Allied Command Transformation (ACT) and Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) and coordinated with multiple stakeholders, such as the Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE). In 2024, NATO countries tested the use of unmanned systems in maritime operations, building on the experience of Ukraine using unmanned boats (UBs) in the Black Sea against Russia. In 2023, they took place off the Troia Peninsula and Sesimbra, off the coast of Portugal, to support the development and integration of MUS (Maritime Unmanned Systems) capabilities.


In addition, the work of Task Force X, established in October 2024 to accelerate the introduction of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and their integration into NATO naval forces, will be assessed. In 2025, under the supervision of Task Force X, trials of the use of USVs began in the Baltic during NATO's Operation Baltic Sentry (protection of underwater infrastructure).

NATO’s experiments in integrating UAVs are part of a broader partnership between ACT and MARCOM to develop capabilities that include autonomous systems and artificial intelligence to enhance NATO’s maritime lines of communication awareness and protect critical undersea infrastructure. In effect, various countries are testing (testing in practice) various devices and integrating them into a single situational awareness system, coupled with various means of obtaining data (sensors, buoys, cameras, satellites, UAVs, UAVs, etc.). NATO is likely actively preparing for a confrontation with Russia in the Baltics.