Naval exercise Fearless Shark-25. Safeguarding Baltic Sea shipping routes and critical infrastructure

On 12 September, the Polish Navy launched its major exercise Fearless Shark-25 in the Baltic Sea. The drills, running until 26 September, aim to test the Navy’s ability to conduct defensive operations in the maritime domain. The exercise forms part of the wider training federation Iron Defender-25 – one of the largest planned military undertakings of the Polish Armed Forces in 2025.

Kamil Kusier executive editor 22.09.2025, 14:06 Reading time: 2 min

Sailors in black uniforms and berets lined up on the deck of a warship — fot. Centrum Operacji Morskich ? Dowództwo Komponentu Morskiego

In brief

The Polish Navy began the exercise Nieustraszony Rekin-25 on the Baltic Sea on 12 September; the manoeuvres run until 26 September and test the capability to conduct defensive operations on the maritime axis. The exercise involves forces of the 3rd Flotilla of Ships, the 8th Coastal Defence Flotilla and the Naval Aviation Brigade, including a missile frigate, an ASW corvette, a minehunter, minesweepers, Bryza aircraft and AW101 helicopters. The manoeuvres form the maritime component of the Żelazny Obrońca-25 federation, which involves about 30 thousand troops and about 600 pieces of equipment. Polish ports handle nearly 140 million tonnes of cargo a year.

Comprehensive maritime defense

The exercise brings together units from the 3rd Ship Flotilla, 8th Coastal Defense Flotilla, and the Naval Aviation Brigade, under the command of the Maritime Operations Centre – Maritime Component Command in Gdynia.

Scenarios include a broad spectrum of modern maritime threats, with naval assets ranging from a guided-missile frigate, an anti-submarine warfare corvette, landing ships and minehunters, to auxiliary and rescue vessels, supported by coastal missile batteries, patrol aircraft Bryza and AW101 and W-3WARM helicopters.

Naval crews are conducting live torpedo and artillery firings, air defense drills, strategic sealift protection, mine countermeasure operations, and search and rescue actions, as well as responses to asymmetric threats and chemical incidents.

Protecting sea lines of communication

A key focus of Fearless Shark-25 is the protection of sea lines of communication (SLOCs) and the prevention of maritime blockades. Disruptions in seaborne trade – whether energy, industrial inputs, or consumer goods – directly impact national economies.

The Baltic Sea hosts around 3,000 vessels daily. Polish ports handle nearly 140 million tons of cargo annually, including crude oil and LNG. Customs duties, excise, and tax revenues from port operations account for up to 10% of the national budget.

With LNG terminals, oil terminals, pipelines, subsea power and telecom cables, and future offshore wind farms, the Baltic has become a linchpin for Poland’s and the region’s energy and economic security. Safeguarding this infrastructure against potential sabotage is increasingly integrated into NATO and Polish naval training.

Part of Iron Defender-25

Fearless Shark-25 represents the maritime component of Iron Defender-25, involving around 30,000 troops from the Polish Armed Forces and NATO allies, supported by about 600 military assets.

The federation’s overarching goal is to test interoperability in a multi-domain environment and demonstrate credible deterrence. At sea, this translates into maintaining maritime dominance, protecting critical infrastructure, and ensuring uninterrupted trade and energy supply routes.

Source: Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Kamil Kusier