Sea Shield Exercise
“Sea Shield”, the most complex multinational training event organised by the Romanian Naval Forces, has begun in southeastern Romania
Mihai Pelin, 01.04.2025, 13:50
“Sea Shield 25”, the largest multinational training exercise organised this year by the Romanian Navy, has begun in Constanta. A roughly 2,300 Romanian and foreign military personnel and dozens of ships are taking part in the drills. “Sea Shield 25” is primarily aimed at enhancing interoperability between the naval forces of Allied and partner countries, as well as optimising the efforts of institutions in the defence, public order and national security systems.
During the almost two weeks of training, combat sequences will be carried out in all action environments: sea, river, lagoon, underwater, land and air. The coordination and response capacities of the participating forces in highly complex scenarios will be tested and improved. The collaboration between naval, air and land forces will be tested by means of activities to defend critical coast infrastructure, to protect maritime communication lines and to support amphibious operations.
The drills conducted in districts of the Black Sea, on the Danube River and in the coastal area will improve the collective response capacity and will help boost NATO’s commitment to regional security.
The Romanian defence minister Angel Tîlvăr stated that “Sea Shield” proves Romania’s commitment to ensuring the security and stability of the Black Sea region. He announced that the procurement of a light corvette for the Romanian Navy will be submitted to Parliament for approval at the end of this week, after it has been approved by the Supreme Defence Council. The vessel should be part of the Romanian Navy equipment by the end of the year.
Angel Tîlvăr: “It is in Romania’s best interest to have an area in the Black Sea where trade can take place under good conditions. I believe that the special economic zone that Romania will develop deserves due attention in terms of protection as well. These are just some arguments that I believe justify our interest in acquiring military equipment. For the time being, we have found this item of equipment that also meets our urgent needs, and I am glad that we have had the endorsement of the Supreme Defence Council, just as I hope to have the approval of Parliament.”
The main missions for light corvettes include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, search and rescue, counter-terrorism, maritime interdiction operations and special ops. Other missions include air-naval operations, electronic and acoustic warfare, bombing of enemy territory, protection of sea traffic and support for other operations.
For more than ten years the defence ministry has tried and failed to buy 4 corvettes, with the procurement process blocked each time, although state-of-the-art ships are produced in Galați, Romania, including for NATO member states. (AMP)
