UK-led Nordic Warden system activated to track threats after undersea cable damage

The UK-led Nordic Warden reaction system has been activated following reports of an Estlink2 undersea cable in the Baltic Sea being damaged.

The system, which was activated by the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), is designed to track potential threats to undersea infrastructure and monitor hostile war vessels including the Russian shadow fleet.

"The UK and JEF are leading the way in providing support to our allies to help safeguard the offshore infrastructure we all rely on against potential threats," Defence Secretary John Healey said.

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"Nordic Warden will help protect against both deliberate acts of sabotage as well as cases of extreme negligence which we have seen cause damage to underwater cables."

He added: "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."

Nordic Warden involves warships, military aircraft and JEF troops responding to threats from the North Atlantic Ocean through to the Baltic Sea, coordinated by Northwood Headquarters.  

The UK-led reaction system uses artificial intelligence to assess data to locate suspected threats, calculate the risk posed and enable the JEF to respond.

When a risk is detected, 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 Russian shadow fleet has been registered by the system before and will be closely monitored.

Twenty-two areas of interest will be covered, which include the English Channel, North Sea, Kattegat, and Baltic Sea.

Each area is currently being monitored from the JEF's operational headquarters in Northwood.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "Growth and national security are vital to our Plan for Change, which is why this government is working closely with our allies to protect critical national infrastructure, such as undersea cables.

"I am pleased we are launching this cutting-edge technology so soon after the JEF Summit to enhance European security and deliver on our Plan for Change."