Saildrone has demonstrated the capabilities of its autonomous systems by identifying Russian “shadow fleet” vessels in the Baltic Sea during NATO operations.
From June 16 to 27, four Saildrone Voyager unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) patrolled the Gulf of Finland and the western Baltic Sea as part of the NATO Task Force X Baltic initiative. The operation, conducted by NATO Allied Command Transformation in coordination with NATO Maritime Command and the Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation, aims to integrate unmanned systems into active allied maritime operations.
The USVs provided 24/7 real-time monitoring and maritime domain awareness, operating through challenging weather conditions and high waves. Voyager units tracked hundreds of vessels daily, successfully monitoring exercise “red forces” and identifying real targets, including Russian “shadow fleet” vessels and military ships operating in the region.
The deployment demonstrated how Saildrone’s long-range radar and persistent surveillance capabilities can effectively integrate with high-speed unmanned maritime assets, creating a layered real-time response system. Voyager units identified contacts of interest at long distances, allowing faster USVs to conduct immediate investigations.
“It is an honor for us to participate in NATO’s Baltic initiative,” said Saildrone founder Richard Jenkins. “After years of operating our USVs in the Bering Sea, we were well prepared for the similar conditions of the Baltic.”
The Task Force X initiative was launched by NATO in response to increasing regional security threats and attacks on critical underwater infrastructure. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized that the program includes the deployment of a small fleet of unmanned systems to enhance monitoring and deterrence.
Admiral Pierre Vandier highlighted that the rapid launch of the program enables allies to immediately deploy commercially available dual-use technologies alongside advanced AI-based platforms to establish layered persistent monitoring.
Saildrone operates under a “data-as-a-service” model, enabling rapid deployment of USVs while reducing the burden on government and commercial partners. The successful deployment in the Baltic Sea further confirmed the effectiveness of the Voyager unmanned platforms for defense and security missions, even under harsh maritime conditions.
