Ships taking part in Breeze 2026 exercise head out to sea

The sea phase of the multinational naval exercise Breeze 2026 has begun and will continue until July 19, Bulgaria's Defence Ministry said. Warships taking part in the exercise left the naval base and port of Burgas to begin operations in the Black Sea.

The participating forces carried out mine countermeasure operations using autonomous underwater vehicles, escorted ships through a channel cleared of naval mines, conducted anti-submarine warfare drills and practised countering asymmetric threats posed by fast attack craft.

Personnel from NATO's Centre of Excellence for Maritime Interdiction Operational Training and boarding teams from the participating warships also carried out joint vessel boarding and detention exercises.

During the sea phase of the exercise, the warships will operate alongside maritime patrol aircraft from Türkiye and France, as well as a helicopter from the Bulgarian Navy.

Editor: Diana Tsankova