Frontline innovations: Introducing the Black Sea battle lab

The Black Sea Battle Lab is a new initiative launched by the Ukrainian and Norwegian armed forces amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Set to begin in July 2025, it aims to create a hub for innovation, leadership development, and policy engagement in maritime operations. Head of the Department of Tactics, Ukrainian Naval Forces Institute, Pavlo Rud, explains

As Russia’s illegal full-scale attack on Ukraine continues to reshape the security dynamics of Europe, a new initiative is setting sail for Ukrainian victory. The Black Sea Battle Lab, a joint research team of the Ukrainian and Norwegian armed forces, is poised to become a vital hub for innovation, leadership development, and policy engagement.

Launching in July 2025 under the backing of the Norwegian Defence University College’s Total Defence Project, and in close cooperation with the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy (RNNA), National Defence University of Ukraine (NDUU), and the Maritime Institute in Odessa (MIO), the lab aims to deepen expertise in maritime operations amid the ongoing conflict in the Black Sea. Its mission is clear: to convert operational experience into academic insight, providing foundations for informed decision-making and effective governance.

“The knowledge we are gaining will help align Ukraine’s military education system with international standards,” says commandant of MIO, Navy Captain Maksym Kiriakidi. “Our collaborative effort aims to improve scientific approaches and strengthen partnerships with NATO Member States.”

A lab anchored in collaboration

The lab is structured as a bilateral military research team, with Ukrainian scholars working alongside Norwegian scholars. The team will also collaborate closely with the Maritime Capability Coalition, ⁽¹⁾ focusing on strengthening Ukraine’s security along its coastline and to the sea.

The team’s integrated approach includes:

• Virtual research platforms for real-time collaboration and data sharing.
• Specialized working groups addressing key challenges in maritime operations and leadership.
• Operational support and physical meetings, including short-term deployments and in-person workshops to strengthen cohesion and practical application.

Innovative combat technologies

The Black Sea Battle Lab will prioritize the integration and evaluation of cutting-edge combat technologies specifically designed for maritime warfare. Key focus areas will include the deployment of unmanned surface and underwater vehicles, AI-driven situational awareness tools, and advanced electronic warfare systems. These innovations aim to improve real-time decision-making, enhance force protection, and increase operational precision. This approach highlights the necessity of adapting to evolving threats, as emphasized in recent studies on autonomous systems in contested environments. ⁽²⁾

Through collaborative testing and analysis, the lab will assist in aligning Ukraine’s naval capabilities with NATO standards, while deepening understanding about the unique challenges of hybrid and asymmetric threats in the Black Sea region. This technological emphasis supports the goals of effective leadership and strategic planning within the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as aligning Ukraine’s naval modernization with NATO’s ⁽³⁾ Maritime Unmanned Systems initiative.

From operational lessons to lasting impact

The conflict in Ukraine has highlighted the importance of the human domain and institutional agility. ⁽⁴⁾ The lab’s research will dissect determinants of effective command, from technological integration to multinational coordination, and embed these insights into joint training programs. Captain Kiriakidi notes that the initiative will “serve as a foundation for adopting methods and equipment that align Ukraine’s naval forces with leading NATO fleets.”

Funding from Norway ́s Operation Ellisiv ⁽⁵⁾ for personnel, equipment, and open access research dissemination ensures that findings transcend academia, directly shaping defense policy. For example, workshops on crisis leadership and societal resilience can draw on Ukraine’s real-time adaptations, offering NATO partners practical models for enhancing national preparedness.

A strategic signal

The launch of the Black Sea Battle Lab sends a powerful and timely message: Norway and Ukraine are united in building a robust, interoperable defense architecture aligned with NATO doctrines. By connecting key military educational institutions – RNNA, NDUU, and MIO – this initiative fosters a shared research agenda that reinforces collective deterrence and operational readiness.

Martha Hess, Commandant of the RNNA, describes the lab as “a platform for shared learning and strategic foresight,” underscoring its role in shaping NATO’s future operational concepts. This collaboration reflects a broader evolution in defense planning, toward ecosystems where military organizations and educational institutions co-develop solutions to complex security challenges. ⁽⁶⁾

Implications for stakeholders

By uniting experts in defense research, the lab enhances collaboration and innovation in addressing security challenges, impacting various stakeholders:

1. The Ukrainian-Norwegian model shows how countries can work together to strengthen their defense and academic capabilities. This approach could be used in other regions, pairing NATO members with partner nations in joint research endeavors.
2. Secure data sharing: The lab emphasizes secure digital platforms for data exchange, facilitating global collaboration while protecting sensitive information. This shift promotes collaborative knowledge production, strengthening defense strategies and effectively addressing security threats.
3. Modernizing Educational Programs: The lab advocates for updating military and civilian curricula to reflect contemporary issues, such as drone defense and hybrid warfare. This modernization better prepares government officials for today’s operational environment.

As Ukraine remains at the heart of geopolitical tensions, this initiative demonstrates how international partnerships can turn adversity into opportunity. By fusing hard-won frontline experience with academic rigor, Ukraine is not only confronting today’s security threats but also shaping the frameworks that will guide 21st-century defense policy and maritime strategy. The Black Sea Battle Lab exemplifies how nations can unite – through professionalism, mutual trust, and a shared sense of purpose – to address evolving security challenges. In a time of uncertainty, it offers more than a response to crisis – it presents a vision for shaping the future of defense cooperation and operational innovation.

References

1. Regjeringen. United Kingdom and Norway will support Ukraine in building coastal and maritime defence. 2023 [cited 2025 23.05]; Available from: https://www.regjeringen.no/en/aktuelt/storbritannia-og-noreg-skal-hjelpe-ukraina-med-a-byggje-kyst-og-sjoforsvar/id3017863/.
2. Gallup, S.P., Future War at Sea: The US Navy, Autonomy in War at Sea and Emergent Behaviors, in Emergent Behavior in System of Systems Engineering, L.B. Rainey and O.T. Holland, Editors. 2022, CRC Press. p. 65-92.
3. NATO. Maritime Unmanned Systems (MUS). 2020 [cited 2025 20.05]; Available from: https://www.nato.int/nato_static_fl2014/assets/pdf/2020/10/pdf/2010-factsheet-mus.pdf.
4. Sanders, D., Ukraine’s third wave of military reform 2016–2022–building a military able to defend Ukraine against the Russian invasion. Defense & Security Analysis, 2023. 39(3): p. 312-328.
5. Forsvaret. The Norwegian Armed Forces and the War in Ukraine. 2025 [cited 2025 23.05]; Available from: https://www.forsvaret.no/en/news/articles/ukraine?q=ellisiv.
6. Soare, S.R. Innovation as Adaptation: NATO and Emerging Technologies. 2022 [cited 2025 19.05]; Available from: https://www.gmfus.org/sites/default/files/Soare%2520-%2520NATO%2520emerging%2520tech.pdf.