Earlier this year, Task Force X Baltic began as a bold demonstration of what rapid adoption can achieve. Coverage of Baltic Sea maritime vigilance and on NATO’s new approach to autonomous maritime dominance showed uncrewed systems operating in real-world conditions and streaming data to operators, demonstrating that off the shelf technology can deliver real value for awareness and deterrence. Those trials proved the concept. They showed that industry can deliver, nations can integrate quickly, and the Alliance can respond with speed when the situation demands it.
Task Force X Baltic Phase II now builds on that success, and, at this next stage places leadership with the nations themselves. Every Baltic Sea nation confirmed strong support for Phase II and expressed a shared interest in adopting tested uncrewed solutions at scale. Nations that participated heavily in Phase I noted that the early trials built solid understanding of capabilities, validated the approach of using uncrewed systems to enhance traditional platforms, and by gaining political support helped unlock national resources. Earlier reporting on Denmark and Finland advancing NATO maritime vigilance through innovation highlighted how this momentum was already taking shape.
Now, concrete national progress is visible. Sweden has established its own Task Force X programme. Latvia has created a national competence centre for autonomous systems. Denmark is standing up dedicated institutions for maritime uncrewed systems and a defence drone centre. These structures signal that Allies are moving from testing platforms to building long term capability foundations. The direction mirrors the practical lessons learned when uncrewed systems were trialed in Finnish waters under the Task Force X Baltic initiative.
Nations are also preparing to host the practical work that follows. Latvia and Denmark have offered sites where early experimental integration can take place. These locations will support the second stage of development as national systems begin to mature and the need for shared testing and coordination grows.
As nations move ahead, Allied Command Transformation (ACT) plays a different but essential role. In Phase II of Task Force X Baltic, ACT acts as facilitator and integrator, helping connect national efforts and ensuring they remain coherent across the region. The command is providing the shared data environment required for collaboration and is bringing together the insights gathered during one-on-one sessions with all eight Baltic Sea nations over the last two months. In the first quarter of 2026, this coordination will include a wargame that will explore how national capabilities might operate together as a regional solution.
Task Force X Baltic continues to advance the goals of the Rapid Adoption Action Plan. Phase I demonstrated that rapid adoption is feasible when industry and the Alliance work together. Allied Command Transformation is now coordinating with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) to explore a shared contracting approach that could help nations access qualified commercial solutions more quickly. While national procurement timelines remain a challenge, this work advances the goal of accelerating the delivery of maritime awareness capability.
Two milestones will shape the near-term path. In December, Allied Command Transformation will host a workshop with stakeholders from across the NATO enterprise to define the detailed way ahead. In January 2026, ACT will begin a regular rhythm of national point of contact meetings, starting in Denmark.
By the middle of 2026, regional operations centres will be established in Denmark and Sweden, supported by a broader regional framework in Germany. These centres would allow nations to integrate systems, share data, and plan regional surveillance on a common footing. At the same time, Allies are beginning to discuss more ambitious long-term possibilities, including a shared catalogue of qualified commercial options through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency and potential future financial commitments. These remain exploratory, but they show that nations are already thinking beyond the initial phase of operational integration.
As Bart Hollants, ACT’s Innovation Broker and outreach lead for Task Force X Baltic, explained, the value of uncrewed systems lies not only in the awareness they deliver but also in the freedom they create for commanders. “By rapidly fielding off the shelf solutions for Baltic Sea surveillance and deterrence, we free up larger maritime platforms, such as frigates, to be used elsewhere. This allows us to respond to acts of vandalism in the Baltic, while at the same time increasing Allied Command Operations’ access to the Standing NATO Maritime Groups.” In practice, these systems allow nations to cover critical sea routes and infrastructure while reserving their most capable ships for other missions, strengthening both regional vigilance and Alliance flexibility.
Task Force X Phase I proved the concept. Phase II is where nations turn that proof into delivery, investing their own resources in support of the capability and defence spending goals endorsed at the most recent NATO Summit, supported by Allied Command Transformation’s coordination and enterprise leadership. The momentum now sits within the Baltic region, and the work ahead will shape how maritime innovation supports Allied security in the years to come.