NATO’s first operational experimentation exercise was focused on maritime uncrewed systems. Maritime operational experimentation within NATO is designed to increase innovation, deliver capability and develop new ways of working together.
“We recognise that the introduction of maritime uncrewed systems presents challenges and opportunities for the Alliance, in all aspects of maritime warfare.” said Vice Admiral Keith Blount, Commander of Allied Maritime Command. “Dynamic Messenger 22 has significantly increased our capacity to employ current and future technologies. This is an important aspect of our vital work with maritime uncrewed systems to further increase NATO’s technological advantage.”
During the week-long exercise, 48 uncrewed assets operated underwater, on the surface and in the air. The drones then transmitted data to combat management systems of 18 participating NATO vessels and the exercise command centre, located at Troia. This supported tactical scenarios dealing with harbour and force protection, anti-submarine warfare, amphibious operations and naval mine warfare.
Dynamic Messenger 22 has significantly increased our capacity to employ current and future technologies. This is an important aspect of our vital work with maritime uncrewed systems to further increase NATO’s technological advantage
The observations, analysis and lessons learned from the execution of each scenario feeds into the development of NATO’s tactics, techniques and procedures in the use of uncrewed maritime systems, informing nations’, and the Alliance’s, capability development and digital transformation.
“We have now conducted the first operational experimentation phase of Dynamic Messenger,” said Vice Admiral Guy Robinson, Chief of Staff of Allied Command Transformation. “Now we must bring the data, the observations and the lessons learned forward to better define how those emerging disruptive technologies, particularly uncrewed maritime systems, can be brought into the operational sphere.”