On May 21, 2025, the French naval reconnaissance ship Dupuy de Lôme entered the Baltic Sea, passing through the Danish Straits and arriving near Helsinki. This specialized maritime intelligence vessel, operated by the French Military Intelligence Directorate (DRM), conducts signals intelligence (SIGINT) missions to monitor electromagnetic emissions such as radio waves and radar signatures. Dupuy de Lôme’s mission is to detect and analyze covert Russian naval activities under the so-called shadow fleet and shadow army operating in the Baltic Sea. Equipped with advanced sensors including two DRBN-38 radars and an ARBR-21 electronic warfare detector, the ship acts as a floating surveillance platform for NATO’s Baltic Guardian initiative, enhancing monitoring of strategic sea lanes and enforcement of sanctions. While lightly armed (two 12.7mm machine guns), its principal strength lies in electronic reconnaissance. The deployment also responds to difficulties in previously assessing the shadow fleet’s operational capabilities and intelligence systems, marking a significant NATO intelligence boost amidst rising regional tensions.
Category: Military & Paramilitary Operations
Subcategory: Unknown
Incident Type: Unknown
Country: Finland
Source report: www.linkedin.com/posts/yur…
