How Sweden’s Baltic submarine expertise supports NATO’s undersea defence capabilities
Sweden is sharing Baltic submarine-operating expertise with NATO through exercises and allied cooperation, with the Swedish Armed Forces emphasizing its value for surveillance and protection of underwater infrastructure. Shallow water, an uneven seabed, dense shipping and variations in temperature and salinity complicate acoustic detection and demand detailed local knowledge. Crews from the First Submarine Flotilla in Karlskrona use passive sonar and environmental experience to conduct concealed intelligence collection and prepare for engagements against ships or submarines. Annual Dynamic Merlin exercises support knowledge-sharing, while the future Blekinge-class A26 submarines are being developed for coastal, deeper-water and seabed operations.