The UK has activated a monitoring system supporting the NATO Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) to track potential threats to undersea infrastructure.

The system utilizes artificial intelligence for real-time monitoring and analysis of data from various sources, including an automatic identification system that broadcasts ships’ locations and assesses risks posed by vessels entering critical areas.

If a threat is detected in the English Channel, North Sea, or Baltic Sea, the system issues immediate warnings, which are shared with JEF member states and NATO allies for a coordinated response.

Ships identified as part of the so-called “Russia’s shadow fleet” — a group of vessels reportedly used to evade international sanctions — are flagged by the system. 

Nordic Warden and Joint Expeditionary Force

The UK’s monitoring system functions under the NATO Nordic Warden operation, which involves a series of protective military activities to boost security across Northern Europe’s undersea areas.

The operation was trialed last year during the JEF’s Exercise Joint Protector.

The drills involved deploying over 300 UK personnel to Latvia to rapidly establish an operational headquarters for the JEF in foreign locations.

The JEF coalition was founded in 2014 and is led by London.

It includes nine other nations: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

“The JEF by design is a high readiness, adaptable force which enhances the ability of the grouping to respond rapidly to threats, anywhere in the world,” stated the UK government.

Baltic Sea Cables

The initiative follows heightened tensions in the Baltic Sea.

It is in response to reports of damage to EstLink 2, a key power cable transmitting energy from Finland to Estonia, which occurred on Christmas Day last month.

Helsinki authorities suspect the Russian ship Eagle S may be responsible and allegedly be part of Moscow’s shadow fleet.