Three weeks of submarine drills in some of the most extreme conditions on Earth are wrapping up as Operation Ice Camp 2026 draws to a close.
Since March 8 a selection of assets and troops from NATO allies have come together to hone skills at Ice Camp Boarfish, set up on an ice floe in the Beaufort Sea, part of the Arctic Ocean above Alaska and sitting well inside the Arctic Circle.
Two U.S. Navy attack submarines, USS Delaware and USS Santa Fe, were joined by members of the U.S. Marine Corps, and personnel from the Royal Navy, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, and French Navy, among others.
Also attending the biennial event, this year significantly upgraded in size to better reflect the U.S. Navy’s strategic priorities in the Arctic, were representatives from America’s Arctic Submarine Laboratory, the Norwegian Defence Research Institute, and the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology.
The U.S. Navy’s Commander, Submarine Forces Vice Admiral Richard Seif commented: “The Arctic is a critical region for national security and global stability. Our commitment to a sustained presence and operational readiness here is unwavering.
“Ice Camp Boarfish allows us to test and refine our capabilities, deepen our interoperability with key allies, and ensure our Submarine Force can project power and defend our nation’s interests in any environment, at any time.”
Officer in Tactical Control Capt. David Nichols noted: “Leading this multinational team in such a demanding environment is a privilege. The complexity of establishing a fully functional base on a moving sheet of ice cannot be overstated.”
He added: “We are focused on executing our objectives safely and effectively, further enhancing our collective readiness for Arctic operations.”
- You can read more details on the U.S. Navy website