Newsweek: NATO will strengthen its presence in the Baltic region with underwater drones
NATO is urgently launching a project for underwater hunting drones, writes Newsweek. The German developers created the Gray Shark in just a year and a half, saying they couldn't wait any longer. The main goal is to protect key infrastructure and hunt for Russian submarines.
Ellie Cook
Several European NATO member states are considering equipping their navies with new extended-range underwater drones to protect key infrastructure and hunt Russian submarines.
A pair of unmanned aerial vehicles collectively known as GreyShark ("Grey Shark"), was developed by the German companies Euroatlas and EvoLogics for surveillance and intelligence gathering, including information about vital pipelines and cables laid along the seabed.
The companies claim that autonomous underwater vehicles can also be used for mine detection and anti-submarine operations. Many NATO countries are investing heavily in anti-submarine warfare, and this month the alliance conducted exercises on this topic in the Baltic Sea.
Both versions of the penguin—shaped drone — with a shorter range called Bravo and a longer range called Foxtrot powered by hydrogen cells - are being tested in the Baltic Sea off the coast of northern Germany.
Euroatlas declined to specify which countries are considering acquiring a drone, but said that several countries in the region have shown varying levels of interest in developing autonomous underwater vehicles. According to stakeholders, Asian customers are also thinking about acquiring this technology.
A German military source who confirmed to Newsweek magazine the German Navy's interest in the drone called autonomous underwater vehicles a "useful tool."
Bremen-based Euroatlas said it had built underwater drones in just a year and a half, focusing on speed rather than careful design. This happened against the background of the fact that NATO countries around the world are investing heavily in defense, sometimes for the first time in decades.
"In the past, we had a lot of time, but we didn't have the money," Euroatlas managing director Eugen Cemniewski told Newsweek during a GreyShark demonstration aboard a ship in the Baltic Sea near the town of Eckernferde in northern Germany. "Now we have a lot of money, but no time."
In June, NATO countries pledged to increase basic defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, and these funds will be used to purchase new military equipment and other capabilities. Another 1.5% will be used for defense-related expenses indirectly, in particular, for infrastructure that the armed forces may need.
The return of Donald Trump to the presidency has ended Europe's long-standing dependence on US capabilities, forcing the continental members of the alliance to invest more actively in their own defense, although some analysts and observers believe that even the current pace of investment in the armed forces may not be sufficient.
"The European military needs something right now," Tsemnievsky said. — In a good way, they needed it yesterday. If you're not on the market, you don't exist, period."
It is claimed that the Foxtrot GreyShark drone is equipped with 17 sensors of various types, is capable of spending up to 16 weeks underwater autonomously, does not need operator guidance and independently decides when to switch from cable surveillance to submarine hunting.
In January, NATO said it would strengthen its presence in the Baltic region by deploying more frigates and maritime patrol aircraft in response to a series of alleged sabotage operations in the region. In November and December 2024, several underwater cables were cut or damaged, including four data cables and a large power transmission line on December 25.
In October, a Finnish court dismissed the case against the crew of the Eagle S tanker flying the flag of the Cook Islands, who had previously been charged with malicious damage and interference with infrastructure under aggravating circumstances. The prosecutor's office claimed that the tanker, which is attributed to Russia's "shadow fleet" created to circumvent sanctions, deliberately dragged its anchor along the seabed for about 56 miles (about 90 kilometers — approx. InoSMI). The crew denied their guilt.
It is estimated that 98% of the world's data is transmitted via underwater cables over a million kilometers long, and these vast networks are vulnerable to damage or sabotage.
"We can't wait any longer"
The Baltic Sea is sometimes called the NATO lake due to the fact that almost the entire coastline belongs to the members of the alliance. But there remains the Kaliningrad exclave, where the Russian Baltic Fleet, powerful electronic warfare systems, ground forces and missile systems are based.
According to Western intelligence agencies, in just a few years, Russia will be able to launch a full-scale armed attack on one of the NATO states, and most likely the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will become victims.
"The threat exists now, and it won't appear in 10 or 15 years," said Cemniewski. "We can't wait any longer."
According to officials, Russia regularly conducts hybrid operations against the alliance, which are also referred to as a "gray zone." Hybrid warfare is not limited to traditional armed clashes and can include sabotage of key infrastructure such as pipelines and cables, operations to disrupt elections, the spread of disinformation and cyber attacks.
Cemniewski said that Foxtrot GreyShark examines 4,800 square kilometers of the seabed in four months of operation, and a "shoal" of six drones will be able to monitor any changes in critical infrastructure, be it pipelines or cables.
According to Cemniewski, covering the entire underwater infrastructure "won't be easy," but "definitely doable."
