Photo: bukvy
For the first time in NATO’s history, the Ukrainian Navy took the lead in planning, coordinating, and managing the opposing forces (OPFOR) during the REPMUS/Dynamic Messenger 25 exercises in Portugal.
The exercises reflected modern naval warfare trends, including the use of unmanned systems for coordinated strikes and rapid threat response. The Ukrainian Navy worked closely with partner nations to plan and manage OPFOR operations, successfully integrating their efforts.
This year’s exercises combined REPMUS, a leading global event in naval robotics and unmanned technologies, with Dynamic Messenger (DYMS), part of NATO’s operational exercise series.
Brigadier General Wojciech Ozga, head of the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Center (JATEC), emphasized that by leading the opposing forces, Ukraine became not just a participant but a driving force for innovation, strengthening NATO’s maritime resilience and shaping the future of collective security.
During the exercises, unmanned platforms were integrated into the DELTA combat system used by the Ukrainian Navy, following the new NATO STANAG 4817 standard. This included testing interoperability, unmanned systems performance under various conditions, electronic warfare scenarios, and operator training.
Colonel Valeriy Vyshnivskyi, Director of Program Implementation at JATEC, noted that Ukraine’s participation offered a unique opportunity to showcase key trends in modern naval warfare, enhancing realism and promoting innovative tactics within NATO operations.
REPMUS/DYMS 2025 involved naval forces, research centers, and institutions from 26 partner countries, as well as NATO Maritime Command “Northwood,” the Center for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE), the Underwater Systems and Technologies Lab at the University of Porto (LSTS), and NATO’s Maritime Unmanned Systems Initiative (MUSI).
