UK second only to US in Arctic NATO forces, MoD tells MPs

The Ministry of Defence has told the Defence Committee’s High North inquiry that the UK is currently the largest contributor to Arctic-capable NATO forces after the United States, warning that the post-Second World War Atlantic advantage is at risk and confirming that the first Atlantic Bastion sensors will be in the water in 2026.

Russia represents “the most acute near-term threat” to the region, the submission states, having re-established Cold War-era bases, expanded airfields, strengthened the Northern Fleet on the Kola Peninsula and introduced restrictive navigation measures along the Northern Sea Route contrary to international law. China is also identified as a long-term concern, with its investments in ports, undersea cables and dual-use scientific infrastructure combined with “an emerging nuclear icebreaker capability” carrying “intelligence and strategic implications.” Climate change is described as “the overarching global risk, reshaping maritime access, exposing natural resources, and increasing competition for hydrocarbons and critical minerals in newly accessible or disputed areas.”

Atlantic Bastion, Atlantic Shield and Atlantic Strike are described as forming “a coherent triad for the Euro-Atlantic”, with Bastion focused on protecting sensitive waters and NATO lines of communication with an undersea focus, Shield contributing to air defence from the UK’s north, and Strike assuring “the capacity to retaliate and generate advantage.” Bastion is described as “defined, near-term and resourced through novel partnering” with first sensors expected in the water this year, and options taken forward will be aligned to the Defence Investment Plan and deployable from Type 26. Uncrewed escorts operating alongside Royal Navy warships are expected within two years, adding “sensors, decoys and weapons capacity – scalable mass for sustained presence in the High North/North Atlantic.”

The Royal Navy acknowledges it is operating under increasing pressure, warning that “the post-WWII Atlantic advantage is at risk” and underlining the need to step up. Current strengths are identified as nuclear deterrence assurance, the Type 23’s anti-submarine warfare focus, maritime patrol aircraft and ISR in support of NATO, and the Commando Force’s position as “the Nation’s cold-weather experts; the only force able to operate at scale in the High North.”

The RAF’s contribution is detailed across a range of exercises and deployments. Typhoon trials in Finland tested the aircraft’s ability to operate from snow and ice-covered runways, building on earlier trials from Finnish roads in summer conditions. Chinook crews deployed to Bardufoss in January 2026 more than two hundred nautical miles inside the Arctic Circle, training in mountain flying, underslung load operations and engineering support in sub-zero temperatures. Later in 2026, Exercise Dynamic Mongoose, described as NATO’s largest annual anti-submarine warfare exercise, will take place in Iceland supported by P-8A Poseidon aircraft, while Exercise Ramstein Flag in Sweden, Norway and Finland will be supported by Typhoon, Voyager, A400M and signals units.

The UK will also fill the Director Operations role in the new NATO Combined Air Operations Centre North-West in Bodø, Norway, described as “vital to the UK’s role in Command and Control of the NATO Regional Plan North-West.”

The Lunna House agreement with Norway is described as “a transformational step” that expands the UK’s sensor-to-shooter coverage across the North Atlantic and reinforces a shared ability to monitor and counter Russian undersea activity, while also supporting high-skill UK shipbuilding. The MoD also notes it is “delighted to see companies like Saab collaborate with a host of UK Industry” on capabilities such as Gripen aircraft, as part of a broader commitment to supporting JEF nations with their future procurement needs.

The submission closes with a commitment to what it calls an always warm industrial base, saying investment in advanced exportable technologies including space systems, maritime surveillance, autonomous platforms, secure communications and cold-weather engineering had clear civilian and commercial uses alongside their defence applications, and that the UK’s approach in the High North was “an example of how defence investment can protect the country, support allies and help build a more productive, competitive UK economy.”