Polish Navy’s ORP Kontradmirał Xawery Czernicki conducts PASSEX with Finnish and Estonian units ahead of BALTOPS26

Following its departure from the Finnish port of Hanko, the Polish Navy support vessel ORP Kontradmirał Xawery Czernicki, operating within NATO’s Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1), conducted a PASSEX exercise alongside Estonia’s ENS Ugandi and Finland’s FNS Vahterpää. The drill focused on enhancing operational interoperability and coordination among allied naval units operating in the Baltic Sea region.

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01 june 2026   |   15:23   |   Source: Gazeta Morska   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

fot. Marynarka Wojenna RP

NATO mine countermeasures group continues to strengthen interoperability and regional maritime security in the Baltic Sea

PASSEX, or Passing Exercise, is a standard yet strategically important naval training activity carried out when allied vessels meet at sea. Such drills typically include tactical maneuvering, communication procedures, command coordination, and operational synchronization designed to ensure seamless multinational cooperation during real-world missions.

The latest exercise highlighted the growing level of naval integration among Baltic and Nordic NATO members. Since Finland joined the Alliance, cooperation across the northern flank has intensified significantly, particularly in the Baltic Sea, where NATO has expanded its operational presence in response to the evolving regional security environment.

SNMCMG1 remains a critical NATO maritime capability

ORP Kontradmirał Xawery Czernicki is currently deployed as part of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One, one of NATO’s permanent maritime formations tasked with mine warfare operations, maritime security, and protection of critical sea lines of communication.

Mine countermeasure capabilities remain highly relevant in the Baltic Sea due to the large number of unexploded ordnance and historical naval mines still present on the seabed from the Second World War. At the same time, NATO navies are increasingly focused on safeguarding critical underwater infrastructure, including energy pipelines, subsea cables, and offshore energy assets.

The operational tempo of NATO naval formations in the Baltic has increased markedly over recent years. Allied commanders continue to emphasize readiness, rapid response capability, and multinational interoperability as central pillars of deterrence and regional stability.

Preparation phase for BALTOPS26

For the crew of ORP Kontradmirał Xawery Czernicki, the PASSEX also represents another phase of preparations for BALTOPS26, one of NATO’s largest annual maritime exercises conducted in the Baltic region.

BALTOPS traditionally gathers dozens of naval vessels, aircraft, amphibious units, and thousands of military personnel from allied and partner nations. Exercise scenarios include mine warfare, anti-submarine operations, amphibious landings, air defense, maritime interdiction, and protection of critical infrastructure.

The Polish Navy has remained an active participant in BALTOPS for many years, using the exercise to strengthen operational integration with allied maritime forces. Due to its command-and-support capabilities, ORP Kontradmirał Xawery Czernicki has frequently played an important role during NATO maritime deployments and multinational exercises.

Baltic Sea gains further strategic importance

Security analysts increasingly describe the Baltic Sea as one of NATO’s most strategically significant maritime theaters. The accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO, combined with heightened concerns regarding regional security and infrastructure protection, has accelerated allied naval cooperation throughout Northern Europe.

The joint PASSEX involving Polish, Estonian, and Finnish naval units reflects NATO’s broader effort to maintain persistent maritime presence and ensure operational cohesion across allied fleets. For regional navies, such exercises are no longer routine diplomatic activities but essential elements of collective defense and deterrence architecture in the Baltic Sea.

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ORP Kontradmirał Xawery Czernicki Marynarka Wojenna RP NATO na Bałtyku ćwiczenia BALTOPS 26 SNMCMG1

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