Image reproduced from 中時新聞網

In response to recent changes in the security landscape, NATO has decided to enhance its patrols in the Baltic Sea, and the Royal Danish Navy has deployed four unmanned boats named "Navigator." These vessels were designed and manufactured by the American company Saildrone, utilizing wind and solar power as their primary energy sources, along with backup diesel engines for emergencies.

According to Jenkins, the CEO of Saildrone, these unmanned boats have superior detection capabilities, integrating advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence to create a complete picture of both above and below the water. The boats are equipped with radar, optical and infrared cameras, as well as radio and underwater sonar devices, which allow them to expand their monitoring range to between 232 and 48 kilometers.

On June 6, two of these boats joined NATO patrol tests, and on June 16, an additional two were handed over to the Danish Navy to serve in the strategically important area of Køge, located on the maritime route from the Baltic Sea to the North Atlantic. For NATO, this location serves as a crucial point for monitoring Russian naval and civilian vessels.

Past incidents, including the destruction of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline and the 2024 destruction of the Baltic Sea underwater cable, have heightened NATO's demand for monitoring Russian naval and civilian activity. While there is currently no direct evidence linking these incidents to Russia, NATO coastal nations claim involvement from Russian entities.

Jackson, an assistant professor at the Royal Danish Defense College, commented, "Tracking each Russian vessel is incredibly costly, whether military or civilian, so we need to find 'cheaper' ways to monitor them." This necessity has placed a spotlight on the extended endurance capabilities of unmanned boats.

Furthermore, Denmark is considering expanding the operational range of these unmanned boats to Greenland, which exists under Danish sovereign territory, raising questions about Denmark's relations with the United States. However, representatives from Saildrone emphasize that this expansion was decided well before Trump's return to the White House, asserting that there is no direct correlation.