NATO exercise REPMUS 24.Photo: industry.eu
A breakthrough in unmanned technology
The Ukrainian Navy has taken an important step in the development of unmanned technology by participating in NATO’s largest exercise on unmanned systems in maritime operations, REPMUS 24. These manoeuvres, which took place from 9 to 27 September near the Troy Peninsula in Portugal, were the first experience of the Ukrainian military in the context of using unmanned vehicles in maritime conditions, the press service of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine reported.
Coordinated operation of drones
With the help of the innovative DELTA combat system, the Ukrainian military successfully coordinated the operation of more than 50 unmanned vehicles of various types, including underwater, maritime, ground and airborne drones. The system not only improved control efficiency, but also allowed for data integration with the German Robotics-L “robotic dog” developed by Rheinmetall. This four-legged robot is capable of performing complex tasks in hard-to-reach areas, protecting soldiers from mine threats.
Photo: rpas-drones.com
Integration and coordination of actions
DELTA has become an integral part of the exercise, integrating with other NATO combat systems. This allowed for data exchange and a clear distinction between “friend” and “foe” forces, which significantly increased the level of coordination and management capabilities. The successful implementation of such measures demonstrates the readiness of the Ukrainian military to meet modern defence challenges.
Implications for international cooperation
Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine Kateryna Chernogorenko stressed the importance of the Ukrainian Navy’ s participation in REPMUS 24. She noted that joint manoeuvres not only facilitate the exchange of experience, but also increase the level of interaction between Ukraine and its Western partners. This is a key step towards the technological improvement of the Ukrainian Defence Forces.
Background information
Exercise REPMUS 24 was organised by the NATO Joint Capabilities Group for Maritime Unmanned Systems (JCGMUS), the NATO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE), the University of Porto’s Faculty of Engineering and the European Defence Agency. The main objectives of the exercise were to integrate unmanned platforms, command and control (C2) systems and achieve interoperability with the command and control systems of NATO partner countries.
