Persistent Systems has secured $29 million in contracts to implement coastline surveillance network systems across several Baltic states. This ambitious project aims to enhance regional security and operational efficiency through the deployment of the company’s cutting-edge Wave Relay MANET network system.
The Wave Relay system is designed to facilitate real-time communication and data sharing, thereby improving coordination and threat response among the participating nations. Covering an extensive 2,500 miles (4,023 kilometers) of the Baltic Sea coastline, the system will connect various assets, including vessels, aircraft, ground forces, coastal security units, and mobile operations centers.
At the core of this initiative is the Persistent MPU5 networking radio device, which enables robust peer-to-peer sharing of critical information such as voice, video, sensor, and GPS data, even in challenging and contested environments. This capability is especially vital for maintaining seamless operations and enhancing situational awareness among NATO partners in the region.
Tom Hanlon, Director of Business Development for Persistent Systems, highlighted the significance of this project by stating, “Interoperability in the Baltic Sea has long been a challenge to NATO integrated readiness.” The initiative also includes the deployment of tower-mounted integrated antenna solutions to broaden coverage across maritime and coastal areas.
Hanlon further emphasized the transformative nature of the network, describing it as a “groundbreaking leap forward for the Baltic Sea Region.” He noted that this network is the first of its kind in Europe at such a scale, set to provide NATO mission partners with an unprecedented level of connectivity and coordination.
The backdrop of this development lies in the geopolitical landscape of the region, particularly since the onset of the war in Ukraine. Baltic countries have been actively reinforcing their defense capabilities and increasingly relying on NATO to bolster security along the alliance’s eastern flank. In response to recent incidents damaging telecommunications and power infrastructure—events various European nations have attributed to Russian interference—NATO initiated a Baltic Sea monitoring mission in January.
The surge of tensions has been further exacerbated by allegations from European nations accusing Moscow of conducting hybrid operations and sabotage against underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea region since 2022, underscoring the importance of enhanced surveillance and defense measures in maintaining regional stability.
