An ongoing game of hide-and-seek has silently transpired for nearly a year in regions of the North Atlantic, North Sea, and Baltic Sea involving NATO allies and a Russian surveillance vessel. This situation has raised concerns among European political and military leaders.
Simultaneously, incidents of subsea cable damage have occurred over the past two years, predominantly in the Baltic region, with a recent occurrence off Orkney and Banff in the U.K. The cause of these incidents, whether deliberate attacks or accidents, is under investigation. There is a growing consensus on the necessity to enhance protection for the undersea infrastructure, crucial to the global economy.
In efforts to address these challenges, Germany’s armament secretary and navy chief visited Ottawa last week to confer with Canadian navy and defense officials regarding the introduction of maritime drones, both surface and subsurface. Jens Plötner, the armament secretary, highlighted the potential for cooperation in this area.
Remotely piloted underwater vehicles are deemed essential for safeguarding subsea infrastructure, prompting active debates on implementation and accountability. The Russian research ship Yantar, suspected by Western intelligence of mapping undersea cables and infrastructure, has been spotted in various locations, notably near undersea cables in November and December 2024, drawing attention from Finnish and Swedish authorities.
Peter Sandwell, Sweden’s state secretary of defense, emphasized the importance of securing critical infrastructure above and below the surface following incidents in the Baltic Sea. NATO initiated the Baltic Sentry mission in January last year to bolster its military presence and monitor threats to underwater infrastructure, recently reinforced by the presence of the U.S. warship USS Bulkeley.
The conflict in Ukraine has spurred advances in drone technology, with the European Commissioner for Defense and Space acknowledging the need for the West to catch up with Ukraine and Russia in remote technology development. The Royal Canadian Navy is procuring autonomous subsurface drones for mine detection and destruction.
Several Canadian firms are at the forefront of marine drone technology, such as Seamor Marine Ltd., which manufactures drones for aquaculture, underwater inspections, and exploration. While Germany aims to develop its drone capabilities, there are concerns about the collaboration between defense and private sectors in protecting undersea cables and critical infrastructure.
Plötner emphasized the shared responsibility of governments and companies in securing undersea assets and advocated for closer civilian-military cooperation. A recent report by the U.K. Parliament’s joint committee on national security strategy highlighted skepticism within the cable industry regarding coordinated attacks but stressed the government’s duty to prepare for potential high-risk scenarios.
