NATO Dynamic Messenger Exercise Showcases Key Capability

A multinational maritime exercise involving unmanned systems concluded off the Atlantic coast of Portugal on September 29, 2025, according to a recent statement from Allied Maritime Command. The exercise, known as REPMUS/Dynamic Messenger 25, combined the Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping with Maritime Unmanned Systems (REPMUS) component with the annual Dynamic Messenger LlVEX.

Dynamic Messenger is specifically designed to test, exercise, and experiment with all types of unmanned systems capable of supporting maritime operations. This year’s iteration, held in the areas of Troia and Sesimbra, focused on allied experimentation and driving maritime innovation, NATO officials stated.

The exercise involved multiple nations and a range of unmanned technologies. Details regarding the specific technologies demonstrated and the nations participating beyond Portugal were not immediately released. However, a YouTube video documenting REPMUS 2025 highlights participation from companies including AICEP Portugal Global, CEOM, UAVision, Critical Software, and CEIIA.

NATO has increasingly emphasized the importance of unmanned systems in maintaining maritime security and advancing technological capabilities. Dynamic Messenger serves as a key venue for evaluating these systems in a realistic operational environment. The exercise is an annual event, suggesting a continuing commitment to this area of development.

As of Tuesday, March 24, 2026, NATO has not publicly released a comprehensive report detailing the outcomes of Dynamic Messenger 25, nor have they announced specific plans for future exercises beyond the continuation of the annual Dynamic Messenger program.