NATO recently released an update to the Alliance maritime strategy that provides a framework for Allied maritime security across the Euro-Atlantic region. The strategy will help steer the transformation efforts of the Alliance with a renewed emphasis on collective defence.

On 26 October, the ships departed port and took part in a traditional photo exercise (PHOTEX) involving eleven naval units – a striking display of Allied cooperation at sea. Following the PHOTEX, SNMCMG2 minehunters carried out intensive mine countermeasures (MCM) operations, demonstrating exceptional professionalism, precision, and teamwork. Over the course of the exercise, seven dummy mines were successfully detected using Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and recovered by the task group, underscoring NATO’s advanced capabilities in ensuring maritime safety.

The Saab-led MANGROVE consortium has been selected by NATO to lead the Allied Underwater Battlespace Mission Network project (AUWB-MN). The project formally commenced 1 September 2025 and will deliver interoperability for Maritime Uncrewed Systems and conventional platforms across allied nations.

The exercise combines REPMUS (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping with Maritime Unmanned Systems) - the world’s premier event for maritime robotics and unmanned technologies - with Dynamic Messenger (DYMS), part of NATO’s continuous operational experimentation initiative.

ALSEAMAR is proud to announce its involvement in Task Force X Baltic (TFXB), currently deployed in the Baltic Sea. Coordinated by NATO's Allied Command Transformation (ACT), Task Force X Baltic aims to bring together a range of innovative uncrewed systems and assess their competitiveness in realistic operational environments.

From 10 to 13 June (2025), as part of its pioneering initiative Digital Ocean Vision, NATO offered participants the opportunity to test and compare next-generation systems alongside traditional naval platforms, in a digital wargame.

After some days of coordinated operations, Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) has successfully wrapped up a focused Historical Ordnance Disposal Operation (HODOPS) effort in the Bay of Riga. While continuing its Baltic Sentry mission, the multinational group concentrated on training procedures like detecting, classifying identifying, and disposing of historic sea mines and other unexploded ordnance (UXO) dating back to the First and Second World War.

NATO faces an evolving maritime security environment characterized by increased Russian aggression, including threats to critical undersea infrastructure. The threat has been underscored by the recent damage to undersea cables in the Baltic connecting NATO Allies. To counter these threats and deter any future attempts by state or non-state actors, Allied Command Transformation has worked with Allied Command Operations and NATO Headquarters to establish TASK FORCE X, a specialized initiative focused on delivering capabilities that exploit emerging and disruptive technologies, including autonomous systems and artificial intelligence into maritime operations in order to enhance the Alliance’s situational awareness of sea lines of communication and safeguard critical undersea infrastructure. The system will be tested in mid-February, 2025, as part of Baltic Sentry which aims to improve Allies’ ability to respond to destabilizing acts.

NATO is enhancing its military presence in the Baltic Sea with an emphasis on monitoring Critical Undersea Infrastructure (CUI). Baltic Sentry is a multi-domain vigilance activity aimed at increasing maritime situational awareness in the Baltic Sea to deter and defend against attacks on CUI. Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), under the direction of Joint Forces Command Brunssum (JFCBS), will play a central role in coordinating enduring presence operations throughout the region.

HonuWorx’s innovative subsea robotics technology has been chosen for NATO’s 2025 Defence Innovation Accelerator (DIANA) program. HonuWorx is one of only 71 companies to be selected for the 2025 DIANA program following 2600 submissions from across NATO’s 32 member nations.

JFD, part of James Fisher and Sons plc, participates in Dynamic Monarch 24 mobilising the NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS) as part of a multi-nation exercise to test and refine submarine intervention and rescue capabilities in some of the most challenging environments.

Exail Robotics Belgium is pleased to announce the order worth of nearly 60 million Euros for K-Ster C underwater mine disposal vehicles, K-Ster CT training vehicles and associated equipment to the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). These advanced systems are primarily intended for the Belgian and Royal Netherlands navies.

A new NATO-funded initiative aims to make the internet less vulnerable to disruption by rerouting the flow of information into space in the event that undersea cables are attacked or accidentally severed. The $2.5 million project, launched on 31 July 2024, was partially funded by NATO’s Science for Peace and Security programme (SPS).

SeeByte, the global leader in smart software solutions for robotic and autonomous systems, are pleased to announce the Belgian Navy have renewed their contract for SeeTrack v4 and Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) System licenses for their fleet of autonomous underwater vehicles.

NATO has established a new centre dedicated to the security of thousands of miles of undersea energy pipelines and cables, which are vulnerable to attacks aimed at disrupting energy supply, global communications and economic activity.

The Polish Naval Academy in Gdynia, Poland will host the 2024 Littoral OpTech workshop to explore the current trends regarding the operational, economic and geo-political environment in and around the Baltic Sea. The Polish Naval Academy was established in 1922, and has been in continuous operation since then, although it has had several different names over the years.

JFD Limited, part of James Fisher & Sons PLC, has once again showcased its leadership in submarine rescue by successfully completing the mobilisation of critical components of the NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS) during the Rescuex West 24 exercise.

Kraken Robotics is pleased to announce that it has received an order from NATO Science and Technology Organisation (STO) Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE) for a Miniature Synthetic Aperture Sonar (MINSAS) System from Kraken. The order followed an openly competed tender process and was delivered in Q4. Kraken’s MINSAS was selected having met CMRE’s rigorous requirements for a robust, broadband Synthetic Aperture Sonar. Kraken’s MINSAS will be integrated onto a NATO CMRE’s Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (UUV), where it will also support advanced Artificial Intelligence capabilities such as Automated Target Recognition (ATR).