American and Portuguese submarines teamed up with an OPV and a frigate to experiment with uncrewed systems as part of the ongoing Dynamic Messenger/REPMUS 2025 exercise.
Virginia-class nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine USS New Mexico and diesel-electric Tridente-class sub NRP Tridente were the crewed underwater assets involved, assisted by Portuguese frigate NRP Dom Francisco de Almeida and Offshore Patrol Vessel NRP Setubal.
The recent tests were part of the month-long REPMUS (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping with Maritime Unmanned Systems) held annually by the Portuguese Navy.
This year REPMUS is being held in tandem alongside NATO’s Dynamic Messenger, the alliance’s own regular series of operational experiments intended to accelerate the adoption of new technologies.
As per an Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) press statement, as well as carrying out a series of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) drills, the four vessels conducted an operational experimentation exercise which involved a submarine-launched uncrewed aerial system (UAS) being launched from the USS New Mexico.
Commander of NATO Submarines Rear Admiral Brett Grabbe commented: “This training and the operational experimentation embody innovation and demonstrate how Allies can integrate submarines with unmanned platforms to achieve operational advantage.”
And Vice Admiral Robert Gaucher, Commander Submarine Force / Allied Submarine Command, added: “By demonstrating interoperability between our platforms, people, and robotic autonomous systems, we build the capability and capacity to share the burden of defending our critical undersea infrastructure.”
Fleet Commander of the Portuguese Navy Vice Admiral José Salvado de Figueiredo described the joint experiments as “…a relevant milestone in the already long history of the Portuguese Navy Submarine Service.”
- You can read more details on the MARCOM website