The Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) activated a UK-led reaction system using AI to track potential threats to undersea infrastructure and monitor the Russian shadow fleet.
The operation, activated last week and named Nordic Warden, harnesses AI to assess data from a range of sources, including the Automatic Identification System (AIS) ships use to broadcast their position, to calculate the risk posed by each vessel entering areas of interest. The JEF action reinforces existing and planned NATO responses.
Specific vessels identified as being part of Russia’s shadow fleet have been registered into the system so they can be closely monitored when approaching key areas of interest. Moreover, if a potential risk is assessed, the system will monitor the suspicious vessel in real time and immediately send out a warning, which will be shared with JEF participant nations as well as NATO Allies.
The “shadow fleet” refers to older tankers that often lack proper maintenance, inspections, and insurance coverage. These vessels are frequently operated under unclear ownership and attempt to evade sanctions by operating without their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) turned on. Between January and August 2024, CREA reported a 277% increase in “shadow” tanker activity in the Danish Straits compared to the same period in 2022.
Twenty two areas of interest, including parts of the English Channel, North Sea, Kattegat, and Baltic Sea, are currently being monitored from the JEF’s operational headquarters in Northwood, where personnel from all JEF nations work side by side.
This reaction system follows the reported damage on Christmas Day to the Estlink2 undersea cable in the Baltic, which authorities in Finland suggest may have been caused by a tanker which forms part of Russia’s shadow fleet of vessels it uses to attempt to bypass international sanctions.
The 10-nation Joint Expeditionary Force released a statement expressing concern at the damage caused to Estlink2 and highlighting the Alliance’s commitment to working together to safeguard shared interests.
Harnessing the power of AI, this UK-led system is a major innovation which allows us the unprecedented ability to monitor large areas of the sea with a comparatively small number of resources, helping us stay secure at home and strong abroad.
…said John Healey, UK’s Secretary of State for Defence.
