The Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) has initiated a sophisticated command system designed to surveil underwater infrastructure threats and keep tabs on Russia’s covert maritime assets.
This move comes in the wake of reported disruptions to a critical subsea cable in the Baltic Sea region.
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In a collective statement, the JEF voiced its alarm over the damage inflicted upon the Estlink2 cable system and reaffirmed its dedication to collective defence and security.
Dubbed Operation Nordic Warden, this initiative commenced last week and employs artificial intelligence to analyse diverse data streams.
One such stream is the Automatic Identification System (AIS), which vessels use for positional broadcasting. The AI evaluates the threat level of ships entering sensitive zones. This operation bolsters NATO’s ongoing and future strategies for regional stability.
The action plan includes cataloguing Russian vessels believed to be part of an elusive maritime group into this surveillance framework to ensure vigilant tracking when these ships near areas of strategic interest.
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By GlobalDataShould the system flag any ship as a potential hazard, it will maintain real-time observation and swiftly disseminate an alert across the JEF network and NATO member states.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey said: “Nordic Warden will help protect against both deliberate acts of sabotage as well as cases of extreme negligence which we have seen cause damage to underwater cables.
“Harnessing the power of AI, this UK-led system is a major innovation which allows us the unprecedented ability to monitor large areas of the sea with a comparatively small number of resources, helping us stay secure at home and strong abroad.”
Nordic Warden is designed to enhance the security of 22 key maritime areas, including regions in the English Channel, North Sea, Kattegat, and Baltic Sea.
It was initially tested in the summer of 2024 and later during the JEF’s Exercise Joint Protector, where more than 300 UK personnel were deployed to Latvia.
In July 2024, Ukrainian president Zelensky joined UK Cabinet in London to discuss measures against Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Growth and national security are vital to our Plan for Change, which is why this government is working closely with our allies to protect critical national infrastructure, such as undersea cables.
“I am pleased we are launching this cutting-edge technology so soon after the JEF Summit to enhance European security and deliver on our Plan for Change.”
The JEF consists of ten nations including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the UK as the Framework Nation.
The latest announcement comes after the agreement among UK, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Finland, and Estonia to demand proof of insurance from suspected vessels in the Baltic route in December 2024.
