BlackSea Technologies Takes Part in BALTOPS 25 Exercise Alongside U.S. Navy and NATO Partners
Personnel Deliver Training, Logistics, Operations Planning and Execution Support for Company’s Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft
BALTIMORE, MD, July 9, 2025 – BlackSea Technologies (“BlackSea”), a leader in the development of innovative maritime systems, mission solutions, and advanced technologies for the defense and intelligence communities, today announced its participation in the Baltic Operations 2025 (BALTOPS 25) exercise last month in the Baltic Sea.
BALTOPS 25 is an annual maritime-focused exercise designed to enhance flexibility and interoperability among allied and partner nations. It provides the U.S. Navy and its NATO allies and partners an opportunity to test and refine joint warfighting capabilities in a dynamic environment. Now in its 54th iteration, the exercise strengthens regional security and demonstrates NATO’s commitment to collective defense.
BlackSea sent a team of experts to work alongside Commander, Task Force 66 (CTF 66) and NATO partners. CTF 66 is the U.S. Navy 6th Fleet’s purpose-built, all-domain group with the mission to integrate robotic and autonomous systems into fleet operations. BlackSea personnel supported all aspects of the exercise, from on-site training and logistics to mission and operations planning, execution, and oversight.
According to CTF 66 lead Rear Admiral Michael Mattis, the Navy used at least 10 of BlackSea’s Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC), a low-cost, attritable small, unmanned surface vehicle (sUSV). In the 6th Fleet’s press release on BALTOPS 25, Mattis stated, “We must seek out creative solutions to rapidly field and develop new technology, with a focus on software and low-cost platforms, to inform our approach to future maritime security operations.”
GARC played an integral role in BALTOPS 25. All GARCs maintained mission-capable status throughout the entire event, with multiple GARCs operational simultaneously. Several GARCS travelled over 120 nautical miles in a single day working in tandem with NATO allied assets.
“BALTOPS 25 represents yet another example of GARC’s durability, reliability, and performance in the field,” said Jason Lamb, BlackSea’s Chief Strategy Officer. “GARC continues to demonstrate its value and readiness for operational deployment. With a GARC a day rolling off the production line, BlackSea stands ready to meet the Navy’s growing need for sUSVs with our high-rate, high-quality manufacturing, at scale and on budget.”
About BlackSea Technologies
BlackSea Technologies is a premier naval technology firm enabling new asymmetric strategies so U.S. Naval and military forces can prevail over the next several decades in multi-dimensional conflicts. We deliver innovative maritime systems and mission solutions to our nation’s warfighters from the ocean surface to the seabed.
Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, we produce our Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC) sUSV and other vessels at the former Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard in Baltimore where Liberty Ships were built during World War II. For more information about BlackSea, please visit our web site and follow us on LinkedIn.
Media Contact
Alan Gilbert
BlackSea Technologies
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