The United States and Denmark plan to deploy a fleet of Voyager autonomous sea drones off the coast of Estonia in June 2025 to monitor the maritime situation in the Baltic Sea, Defense News reported, citing NATO sources. The program, implemented as part of NATO's Operation Baltic Sentry, is aimed at strengthening control over the strategically important region amid growing tensions with Russia.

Voyager drones, developed by the American company Saildrone, are unmanned sailing vessels equipped with solar panels, allowing them to operate autonomously for up to 12 months without having to return to port. They collect data on the maritime situation, including vessel movements, the state of underwater infrastructure and potential threats such as sabotage. The information is processed using artificial intelligence, which ensures high accuracy and speed of analysis. According to The Defense Post, Voyager is capable of carrying up to 250 kg of equipment, including sonars, cameras and sensors for detecting chemicals, making it a versatile reconnaissance platform.

The deployment of drones is linked to a series of incidents in the Baltic Sea. In December 2024, underwater communications cables between Estonia and Finland were damaged, which Finland and Estonia called "possible sabotage." According to Reuters, suspicion fell on the Chinese vessel Yi Peng 3, which was near the cables. In March 2025, the Associated Press reported that 40 U.S. Marines with drones were sent to Finland to take part in "Baltic Sentry," and now the American and Danish Voyagers are joining the program.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, located on NATO's eastern flank, are actively supporting initiatives to strengthen security in the Baltic Sea. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, commenting on the program, said that "protecting critical infrastructure is a priority for countries in the region." According to Business Insider, the Baltic states are building up their navies: Lithuania is buying two attack boats, Poland is building frigates, and Estonia is planning to buy up to 12 new ships.