NATO sub hunters in Baltic exercise to face drone attacks

NATO scheduled Exercise Dynamic Merlin 26 from 9 to 13 November 2026 off Sweden, combining anti-submarine warfare training with live counter-drone activity and simulated missile threats. German and Swedish submarines are participating alongside Allied surface ships and maritime patrol aircraft, with the Dutch support ship HNLMS Den Helder serving as flagship for Standing NATO Maritime Group One. The exercise brings together naval and aviation units to practise detecting and tracking submarines in the Baltic. Commanders also plan to use the drone scenarios to assess the performance of equipment already fitted to participating ships.