REPMUS/DYMS 2025: Portugal hosts the world’s largest unmanned maritime systems exercise

From 1 to 21 September 2025, the Atlantic waters off Tróia and Sesimbra are hosting REPMUS/DYMS 2025, the world’s largest multinational experimentation exercise focused on unmanned maritime systems. The event brings together navies, industry leaders, and research institutions to test cutting-edge autonomous technologies in realistic naval scenarios.

Kamil Kusier executive editor 12.09.2025, 13:43 Reading time: 2 min

An unmanned quadcopter drone standing on a ship deck above a bay — fot. Marinha Portuguesa

In brief

Exercise REPMUS/DYMS 2025, the world's largest experimental manoeuvres with unmanned systems, runs from 1 to 21 September 2025 in the Tróia and Sesimbra area. The fifteenth edition of REPMUS brings together more than 2000 participants from navies, industry and academia from more than 20 NATO and partner nations, including Poland. Marinha Portuguesa dispatched the frigate NRP D. Francisco de Almeida and the ships NRP Setúbal and NRP Figueira da Foz from Base Naval de Lisboa on 7 September, and the vessels reached the exercise area on 11 September.

On 7 September, the Portuguese Navy deployed a task group from the Lisbon Naval Base (Alfeite), consisting of the frigate NRP D. Francisco de Almeida, the patrol vessel NRP Setúbal, and the offshore patrol vessel NRP Figueira da Foz, to actively join the exercise.

NATO allies driving the future of naval autonomy

This fifteenth edition of REPMUS involves over 2,000 participants from more than 20 NATO nations and partners, including Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. Conducted in parallel with NATO’s Dynamic Messenger (DYMS), the drills validate interoperability and operational application of unmanned systems alongside conventional fleets.

Poland’s rising role in unmanned systems

Poland is increasingly visible in the unmanned systems domain, with several companies and institutions contributing to NATO’s innovation ecosystem:

PGZ Stocznia Wojenna – integration of unmanned systems on naval platforms;
OBR CTM (PGZ) – sonar technologies, underwater warfare, and UUV/USV integration;
WB Group (including Flytronic) – UAV development, C4ISR systems, tactical and mini UAVs;
Advanced Protection Systems (APS) – counter-drone and radar technologies (SKYctrl, FIELDctrl) for critical infrastructure and naval bases;
RADMOR S.A. – naval radar, communications, and sensor integration for autonomous platforms;
Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation – UAV research, sensors, and control systems;
ITWL – projects in navigation, guidance, and unmanned operations;
Gdańsk University of Technology & Polish Naval Academy – R&D in maritime autonomy, hydrodynamics, and AI applications.

The Polish defense and technology sector, supported by a strong academic base, is positioning itself as an important contributor to NATO’s unmanned maritime initiatives.

Atlantic proving ground

REPMUS/DYMS 2025 reaffirms that unmanned maritime systems are no longer a futuristic concept but a rapidly maturing capability shaping NATO’s future naval operations. With Portugal at the center of innovation and allied navies – including Poland – bringing advanced technologies, the Atlantic becomes the proving ground of a new era in maritime security.

Source: Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Kamil Kusier