Arctic

Latest in Arctic

Denmark will spend more than $2 billion on new ships, aircraft and drones to patrol Greenland.
News & Features

Denmark To Boost Greenland Military Presence Amid Trump’s Quest To Obtain Island

By Howard Altman

Updated on Jan 28, 2025

Donald Trump has refused to rule out using the U.S. military to seize Greenland, citing economic security as a driving factor, saying that America needs it — as well as the Panama Canal — for “economic security.” Amid predictable kickback from Denmark — of which Greenland is an autonomous territory — it’s worth looking in more detail at the enormous significance of one of the world's largest islands, in economic, geostrategic and, above all, military terms.
News & Features

Why Greenland Is Of Growing Strategic Significance

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 9, 2025

The construction of the first Polar Security Cutter (PSC) heavy icebreaker for the U.S. Coast Guard is now formally proceeding. Though the milestone is important, it also underscores the PSC program's already massive delays.
Sea

New Coast Guard Heavy Icebreaker Construction Finally Underway

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 24, 2024

NORAD F-16 and SU-35
Air

Russian Su-35 Shown ‘Headbutting’ American F-16 At Very Close Range Off Alaska

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Sep 30, 2024

In a cloud of smoke the Russian destroyer Admiral Levchenko leaves Portsmouth for operation FRUKUS.
Sea

Russian Destroyer Fired Warning Shots At Norwegian Fishing Boat: Report

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 24, 2024

The U.S. Coast Guard's heavy icebreaker USCGC Polar Star has returned to its home port of Seattle, Washington, after a major service life-extending overhaul – and not a moment too soon.
News & Features

U.S. Coast Guard Has A Working Heavy Icebreaker Again

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 29, 2024

The U.S. Coast Guard Healy Class Icebreaker HEALY (WAGB 20) sits in the ice, about 100 miles north of Barrow, Alaska, in order to allow scientists onboard to take core samples from the floor of the Arctic Ocean on June 18, 2005. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Public Affairs Specialist 2nd Class NyxoLyno Cangemi) (Released)
Sea

On Thin Ice: Another Fire Aboard A Coast Guard Icebreaker Underscores Glaring Capability Gap

By Oliver Parken

Posted on Aug 15, 2024

Chinese H-6-series aircraft have flown off the coast of Alaska for what appears to be the first time in an important show of force along with Russian Tu-95 Bear bombers.
Air

Chinese H-6 Missile Carrier Jets Appear For The First Time Off Alaska (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 25, 2024

The U.S., Canada and Finland announced a plan to create an icebreaker shipbuilding program to compete with China and Russia.
Sea

Allied Pact Aims To Close Yawning Icebreaker Gap With Adversaries

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jul 12, 2024

The Russian Navy’s first new Project 23550 combat icebreaker has made an important step toward service entry. The Unusually for an icebreaker, the Ivan Papanin is armed, with the option to further increase its firepower in the future, a reflection of Russia’s preparations for a potential future confrontations in the increasingly strategic Arctic region.
News & Features

Russian’s New Combat Icebreaker Starts Sea Trials

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 28, 2024

The US Army's elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment has been testing Arctic and desert camouflage options on top of a now well-known multi-tone blue scheme.
Air

160th SOAR Night Stalkers Testing Arctic, Desert Vinyl Camo Wraps As Global Missions Evolve

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 28, 2024

A conventionally powered Portuguese attack submarine has completed a rare voyage under the Arctic ice. As well as being a first-of-its-kind mission for the Portuguese Navy, the deployment underlines the importance of the Arctic theater to NATO’s submarine fleet, although it’s nuclear-powered boats that traditionally dominate in this challenging area of operations.
News & Features

Portuguese Diesel-Electric AIP Submarine Just Patrolled Under The Arctic Ice

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 26, 2024

NOMADS will provide short-range air defenses including in contested areas.
Land

Norway’s NOMADS Armored Short Range Air Defense System Unveiled

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 19, 2024

The US Coast Guard says it plans to award a sole source contract to buy an existing commercial icebreaker.
Sea

Coast Guard Poised To Buy Badly Needed Private Icebreaker

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 5, 2024

US Army officials say the service faces unique challenges just in surviving in and around the Arctic, let alone operating in that region.
Land

Army Faces Fight Just To Survive In the Arctic

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 17, 2023

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a test of his country's nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, which he said was successful.
News & Features

Russia’s Nuclear-Powered Cruise Missile Successfully Tested, Putin Says

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 5, 2023