Ukrainian sailors lead enemy team in NATO exercises for the first time ever
Photo: Ukrainian sailors led the enemy team in NATO exercises (mod.gov.ua)
For the first time in NATO history, the Ukrainian Navy led, planned, coordinated, and managed the forces of the simulated enemy during the REPMUS/Dynamic Messenger 25 exercises held in Portugal, according to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
Ukraine's participation in NATO exercises
The involvement of the Ukrainian Navy was supported by NATO's Allied Maritime Command, the Portuguese Navy, and the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Center (JATEC) to test the capabilities of around twenty NATO member states.
The exercises reflected modern trends in naval warfare, including the use of unmanned systems for coordinated strikes and rapid threat response. The operational staff of the Ukrainian Navy organized joint planning and management of simulated enemy forces together with partners participating in OPFOR operations. The joint drills with the Ukrainian Navy were successfully completed.
Innovation and partner evaluation
This year's exercises combined REPMUS — the world's leading event in maritime robotics and unmanned technologies — with Dynamic Messenger (DYMS), part of NATO's series of operational drills.
"By leading the opposing forces team, Ukraine became not just a participant but a driving force for innovation, directly strengthening NATO's maritime resilience and shaping the future of collective security. JATEC is proud to contribute to this important progress," emphasized Brigadier General Wojciech Ozga, Commander of the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Center.
The DELTA system
During the exercises, unmanned platforms were integrated into the DELTA combat management system used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The integration followed NATO's new STANAG 4817 standard, the testing of which was one of the key objectives of the exercises.
"Ukraine’s participation in these exercises is a unique opportunity to showcase the key trends of modern naval warfare. We bring the realism of modern combat into NATO drills, further encouraging the Alliance to implement innovative changes and tactics in maritime operations," said Colonel Valerii Vyshnivskyi, JATEC's Director of Program Implementation.
Alongside Ukraine, REPMUS/DYMS-2025 involved naval forces, companies, and research centers from 26 partner nations, as well as representatives from NATO's Northwood Maritime Command, the NATO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE), the Laboratory for Underwater Systems and Technologies at the University of Porto (LSTS), and the NATO Maritime Unmanned Systems Initiative (MUSI).
Earlier, Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that Ukraine’s DELTA combat system became the main command platform for the multinational team at NATO's REPMUS 2025 drills, coordinating over 100 maritime, underwater, ground, and aerial drones.
