Enhancing Maritime Situational Awareness to Outpace Evolving Threats

In this exclusive Defence iQ interview, Commodore (Ret.) Jüri Saska, former Commander of the Estonian Navy, shares unique insights on the demands of maritime ISR in the Baltic region. He reflects on capability gaps facing smaller navies, the lessons learned from integrating Estonia’s naval and border guard fleets, and the future of mine warfare in contested waters.

In our latest infographic, we highlight the top five reasons why Maritime Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) has become essential to global maritime security in 2025. As threats develop and change - from grey zone drone attacks to undersea sabotage and illicit trafficking - ISR is now a critical first line of defence. Today’s capabilities are not just about surveillance but about delivering real-time insights across sea, air, and space to protect vital infrastructure, shipping lanes, and global stability.

This infographic offers a visual breakdown of how today’s maritime ISR operations are conducted across space, surface, and subsurface domains. From satellites and submarines to unmanned surface vessels and advanced sensor networks, it illustrates how integrated platforms and real-time data sharing support effective command and control.
Designed to showcase the complexity and connectivity of modern maritime defence, this resource highlights the importance of interoperability in achieving mission success.

Maritime theatres are becoming more contested and technologically advanced. Nations across the globe are stepping up investment in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) to maintain situational awareness, secure territorial waters, and deter emerging threats. The Roundup 2025 provides a curated summary of the most significant ISR-related developments from the past 12 months, drawing on open-source news and government announcements from more than 25 countries.