U.S. Navy expeditionary forces have been operating in the High North to deploy and test advanced robotics and autonomous systems during a bilateral unmanned systems and explosive ordnance disposal exercise with Norway, the UK Defence Journal understands.
The exercise, running from 4 to 24 May at Ramsund, Norway, brings together Commander Task Force 66 and Commander Task Force 68 to validate a range of defensive capabilities including mine countermeasures, protection of critical undersea infrastructure, and maritime domain awareness. The training leverages Norwegian geographic expertise in the High North, an environment that presents distinct challenges for autonomous systems operations.
Vice Admiral J.T. Anderson, commander of U.S. 6th Fleet, described the deployment as “a landmark moment,” saying forces are “pushing the boundaries of innovation in the most challenging environmental conditions, proving these technologies can provide a critical defensive edge anywhere in the world.”
Assets being employed during the exercise include the high-speed Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft and the long-endurance Lightfish unmanned surface vessel, both operated by personnel from CTF 66 and Unmanned Surface Vessel Squadron 3, Division 32. The vessels are being used to validate their contribution to maritime domain awareness, particularly in operationally complex areas including fjords.
Captain Jeremy Wheat, commander of Task Force 68, said the exercise represented “a critical step in developing our unmanned capabilities in the Arctic,” adding that “the lessons learned here will define how we operate in the High North for years to come.”
Commodore Kyrre Haugen, Chief of the Fleet of the Royal Norwegian Navy, said the exercise is “strengthening the security and surveillance in the Arctic and High North,” noting that combining autonomous systems with Norwegian environmental experience enhances both situational awareness and the ability to protect critical maritime infrastructure.
Alongside the unmanned surface and underwater vehicle work, CTF 68 expeditionary personnel are working directly with Norwegian explosive ordnance disposal divers on the neutralisation of explosive hazards, including historical ordnance from the First and Second World Wars. Such remnants remain a persistent hazard across Scandinavian waters and pose a risk to vessels of all nations.
CTF 66 was established in May 2024 to accelerate the integration of robotic and autonomous systems with manned platforms, focusing on maritime domain awareness, counter-unmanned system operations and asymmetric warfighting across the European and African theatres. CTF 68, headquartered in Rota, Spain, commands all Naval Expeditionary Combat Forces in U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility.
