The Navy to host NATO’s unmanned systems exercise in June

NATO’s Dynamic Messenger exercise activities will be conducted in Finland in June. The exercise will test the use of maritime unmanned systems in the conditions of the Finnish coast.

The activities will take place in the sea area west of Porkkalanniemi up to Hanko.

The vessels will be operated in the area between the archipelago and the limit of territorial waters.  As part of the activities, protecting harbour areas and critical underwater infra, for example, will be rehearsed.  The exercise areas will be monitored at sea.

NATO’s Dynamic Messenger exercise entity will involve conducting operational testing activities  in NATO’s area of responsibility.  Operating in the shallow and archipelago-type circumstances of the Finnish coast helps develop systems that can be used in the conditions of the Baltic Sea as well.

The Navy conducts cooperation with NATO in the utilisation of new technologies as part of developing naval defence. 

- Unmanned systems have enormous potential and can be used for many different purposes.  Intelligent and autonomous systems can be used, for example, for monitoring areas and assets, liberating valuable resources for other purposes,  Deputy Chief of Staff Navy Operations, Captain (N) Marko Laaksonen says.

For example different kinds saildrones will be tested in the Baltic Sea area. Image: Allied Maritime Command, NATO.