Repelling drone attacks, engaging in combat using UAVs, and confrontations with ships belonging to the so-called shadow fleet – the recently concluded edition of Baltops was exceptional in many aspects.

Baltops is the most extensive and oldest NATO exercise in the Baltic Sea, dating back to the 1970s. However, this year’s edition, led by the US 6th Fleet and STRIKFORNATO (Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO), was organized at a very particular time – with the shadow fleet rampaging in the Baltic, mysterious incidents resulting in damage to underwater infrastructure crucial to the West, and large-scale maneuvers organized by the Russian Baltic Fleet almost at the same time. Faced with such circumstances, NATO was forced to demonstrate its presence with appropriate strength. At the same time, though, it had to be careful enough not to escalate the already tense situation.

Adversary from Below

Seventeen countries signed up to participate in Baltops 2025. They deployed a total of almost 9,000 sailors and soldiers of other military branches to the exercise, together with over 40 types of vessels, several dozen aircraft and helicopters. Individual episodes were played out in the vast areas of southern Baltic – from the Danish Straits and the Jutland Peninsula to the Gulf of Gdańsk area. A lot was also happening on land – near Ustka and Koszalin, among other places. The scenario of the exercise assumed a crisis had escalated in northeastern Europe between two blocks of fictional states. The growing tensions could not be resolved peacefully and they gradually escalated into an open conflict.

The Polish Navy sent four vessels to the Baltic. The Gardno-class minesweeper ORP Nakło and the Mamry-class minesweeper ORP Mamry of the 8th Coastal Defense Flotilla  joined a task force comprised of 8 ships, including vessels belonging to the Baltic Naval Squadron (Baltron). The first phase of the exercise was devoted to coordinating forces, and in the second phase crews removed training mines from selected shipping lanes and port access routes. “We executed the given tasks in the Danish Straits and in the vicinity of Rostock. My crew managed to locate nine anchor mines,” says LtCdr Rafał Duszewski, commander of ORP Nakło. Meanwhile, the ORP Gen. T. Kościuszko frigate and the ORP Kaszub corvette of the 3rd Ship Flotilla operated in a team of large combat vessels, led by the Danish HDMS Absalon frigate. “Initially, we were divided into two task forces. Alongside Kaszub and Kościuszko, our task force included the American USS Paul Ignatius destroyer and the Lithuanian LNS Dzukas patrol vessel, as well as the German Berlin-class FGS Frankfurt amMain replenishment ship. It played the role of a high importance vessel whose passage we were to protect,” explains LtCdr Grzegorz Galikowski, commander of ORP Kaszub. The role of the group’s adversary was played by a Swedish Södermanland-class submarine. “We fought in a large area, stretching from Bornholm to the central Baltic Sea. Shipping lanes leading from the Danish Straits to Sweden, Finland and the Baltic States run across this area,” points out LtCdr Galikowski. They play an important role in supplying NATO’s northeastern flank countries.

In the area of the team’s operation, the sea depth reached 100 m in some places, but usually did not exceed 60–70 m. Theoretically, it is not a lot. In practice, however, due to its specific hydrological conditions, the Baltic Sea provides a submarine with ample opportunities of operation. In layers of water with variable temperature and salinity levels sound travels irregularly, so a submarine is difficult to locate. “The chances improve when you work as a team, which happened in this case,” emphasizes LtCdr Galikowski. Additionally, the ship crews could count on support from the air. The SH-2G ship-based helicopter operated from the deck of ORP Kościuszko. Result? The enemy submarine was located several times and a simulated torpedo attack was launched against it.

“During the exercise, we also repelled attacks of combat aircraft and surface vessels, we carried out artillery shooting. My crew had a chance to practice refueling in the open sea. We also restocked our supplies twice, directly from the deck of the USNS William Mc Lean replenishment ship,” says Commander Mariusz Bojarski, commander of ORP Kościuszko. The list needs to be supplemented with fighting against drones, which was an important novelty – never before had drones been used to such an extent during Baltops.

Time for UAVs

This is one of the results of the war in Ukraine, which has brought about a real drone revolution. UAVs are used extensively both on land and at sea, as they allow for effective reconnaissance and striking enemy forces, even far beyond the front line. Due to the use of drones, Ukrainians, who have virtually no navy, have been able to repel the Russian Black Sea Fleet from their shores. The organizers of Baltops could not ignore these experiences.

“We fought flying drones at the shooting range located in the Danish Straits,” says Commander Bojarski. “There were moments when we were attacked by several UAVs at once. We monitored their movements so that we could open fire from the deck at the right moment,” recalls the officer. The drones also operated at sea. GARC (Greenough Advanced Rescue Craft) unmanned surface vehicles were used to simulate attacks on the USS Mount Whitney and the USS Paul Ignatius command ships. GARC USVs belong to CTF 66 – a command task force of the US Navy that deals with testing and introducing naval drones into service. “We are closely watching the fight that is currently ongoing in the Black Sea. It is an opportunity to learn about the nature and character of modern military conflicts and adapt the gained knowledge to our needs,” explains Rear-Admiral Michael Mattis, commander of CTF 66.

Americans brought several types of UAVs to Baltops. The GARC itself, depending on configuration, can serve as a reconnaissance, combat or transport drone. The solar-powered Rampage, on the other hand, allows for monitoring the situation on the sea surface, as well as transporting supplies, while Lightfish helps to monitor critical underwater infrastructure, among other things. “One advantage of such devices is the low production cost. Drones can also replace people in particularly dangerous places,” lists Lt Jesse Faylo of CTF 66.

Shadow Fleet & Special Ops

The scenario during Baltops referred to current events also in another aspect. In one episode, a command ship, USS Mount Whitney, played the role of a shadow fleet vessel (more on this subject on pp. 96–99). Recently, shadow fleet ships have damaged critical underwater infrastructure on several occasions, which, according to experts, might have been a deliberate operation. After these incidents, NATO launched Operation Baltic Sentry, and hypothetical scenarios involving the shadow fleet have become part of various types of exercises.

During Baltops, a shadow fleet vessel was seized by Polish operators of JW Formoza and the US Navy SEALs. The special operations soldiers approached USS Mount Whitney in three helicopters: two Mi-17s of the Special Operations Air Unit and the SH-60 of the US Navy. After reaching their destination, they lowered themselves onto the deck using ropes and quickly immobilized the vessel, taking control of the bridge and the engine room. Later, they searched the premises.

In practice, boarding a ship suspected of belonging to the shadow fleet is extremely difficult. Its crew can hide behind regulations that guarantee freedom of navigation. However, it can be done in exceptional circumstances, and NATO is preparing for all possibilities.

In Our Own Backyard

“This year’s edition of Baltops is more than just exercise. It’s a firm expression of our determination as an alliance, our ability to adapt and our strength at sea,” emphasized Vice-Admiral Jeffrey T. Anderson, commander of the US 6th Fleet. Similar opinions were expressed by commanders of Polish ships: “The scenarios of individual editions are generally similar, but differ when it comes to details. This enables us, as ship commanders, to face new challenges every time. It’s a priceless lesson,” admits LtCdr Galikowski. “The fact that Baltops takes place in our own backyard is particularly important for me. We have an opportunity to cooperate closely with our allies who share responsibility for this region. This way, we protect our common interests,” adds Commander Bojarski.

The exercise concluded on June 20, but NATO planners are probably already thinking about the next edition. Although some experts have hailed the Baltic Sea as the internal sea of the Alliance after Sweden and Finland joined NATO, the importance of such initiatives as Baltops is possibly greater than ever since the end of the Cold War. Russia’s actions vividly show that it is not going to come to terms with the fact that the geopolitical situation in this part of the continent has recently shifted significantly to its disadvantage.