NATO expands Baltic vigilance presence to deter UAS threat

The German Navy frigate FGS Hamburg (left), currently operating with NATO's SNMG1, is being deployed to bring air-defence capability to the alliance's ‘Baltic Sentry' vigilance activity. (NATO Allied Maritime Command)

NATO is enhancing and expanding the vigilance output of its ‘Baltic Sentry' maritime presence, surveillance, and deterrence mission in response to an emerging risk posed by unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) to airports and airspace in the Baltic region, notably in Denmark.

Last week, several Danish airports were forced to close following air-based UAS activity in close proximity. NATO also has a significant maritime deterrence presence in close proximity under its ‘Baltic Sentry' enhanced vigilance activity (EVA).

The consequent shift in focus of NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM)-co-ordinated ‘Baltic Sentry' EVA to deal with this emergent threat was demonstrated on 28 September with a port call to Copenhagen, Denmark, by the German Navy's Type 124 Sachsen-class frigate FGS Hamburg .

“The presence of Hamburg operating near Denmark for ‘Baltic Sentry' sends a message of assurance and cohesion within the alliance,” Commander Arlo Abrahamson, MARCOM chief spokesperson, told Janes . “Following recent drone incidents in Denmark, NATO will conduct even more enhanced vigilance with new multidomain assets in the Baltic Sea region, including Denmark, under ‘Baltic Sentry'. These assets include multiple intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms and air-defence frigates.

“These actions demonstrate the flexibility and agility of this EVA,” Cdr Abrahamson added.