Locked Shields 2026 NATO Cyberdefence Exercise

Locked Shields 2026 international Exercise was conducted at the Central Library of the Politehnica University of Bucharest, over April 13-24, which is annually organized by the NATO Cooperative Cyber ​​Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE).

The scenarios developed by CCDCOE simulated large-scale cyber crisis situations, during which the technical, operational and decision-making capabilities of the participants are tested, under conditions of pressure and operational uncertainty.

In this year's edition, the Romanian team participated in a joint format, together with experts from Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, and strengthened regional cooperation in the field of defence and cybersecurity. Thus, specialists from the Ministry of National Defence, structures of the National Defence System, Public Order and National Security, the National Cyber ​​Security Directorate, academia and the private sector were involved in integrated defence, analysis and incident response activities.

The exercise integrated technical, legal and strategic communication components, aiming to develop a common approach to managing cyber incidents. The scenarios included the protection of critical infrastructures, such as 5G communication networks, energy systems, satellite systems such as military command and control platforms, all simulated under complex operational conditions.

The 16 participating teams acted as a multinational rapid reaction force, tasked with defending a simulated national infrastructure against approximately 8,000 real-time cyberattacks, while managing technical incidents, legal challenges and strategic communication requirements.

The 2026 edition brought together approximately 4,000 participants from over 40 countries, providing an extensive framework for cooperation, exchange of expertise and enhancing international interoperability.

Romania's participation in Locked Shields 2026 reconfirms its commitment to developing national cyber defence capabilities, strengthening the resilience of critical infrastructures, and enhancing cooperation with international partners in the field of cybersecurity. The Romanian team was coordinated by the MoND Cyber Defence Command.

The Press Office