UK Armed Forces deploy to Arctic with Norwegian and US allies for Operation Atlantic City

Maritime September 7, 2026

Royal Marine Commandos and RAF personnel have deployed to Jan Mayen in the Arctic as part of Operation Atlantic City, a trilateral NATO exercise running from 26 August to 4 September 2026 alongside Norwegian and US forces. The deployment forms part of Arctic Sentry, NATO’s enhanced vigilance activity for the High North.

UK Armed Forces have deployed to Jan Mayen, a remote Arctic island in the Norwegian Sea approximately 620 miles from mainland Norway, as part of Operation Atlantic City. Personnel from LXX Squadron RAF and detachments from UK Commando Force participated in the trilateral exercise alongside the Royal Norwegian Navy, Norwegian Home Guard, and US Marine Corps units.

The island occupies a strategically significant position north of the Greenland-Iceland-UK gap, a body of water identified as vital to the defence of northern Europe and the wider Euro-Atlantic area. The operation tested NATO’s capacity to conduct joint operations in harsh Arctic conditions, where extreme weather, distance, limited infrastructure and rapidly changing terrain present substantial operational challenges.

Integrated sensor and communications systems

The trilateral force integrated various sensor and communications systems during the exercise, aimed at improving NATO’s preparedness for potential threats in the region. The deployment ran concurrently with Operation Northern Viking 26, naval manoeuvres that allowed the allied force to maximise the use of overlapping maritime and sensing resources across the European theatre while supporting broader Arctic Sentry activities.

The exercise built on similar allied training conducted around Jan Mayen in the previous year and provided UK forces with practical experience in maritime operations, surveillance, movement, survival and joint operations in some of the world’s most demanding weather conditions.

Defence Secretary statement

The Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, Defence Secretary, said: “The High North is vital to the security of the UK and our NATO Allies. This operation demonstrates the strength of our partnership with Norway and the United States, and the ability of our Armed Forces to operate together in even the most demanding Arctic conditions. It is a clear signal of our enduring commitment to NATO security and to defending our shared interests in the High North.”

For the UK Defence Supply Chain

Operation Atlantic City reflects the MOD’s sustained commitment to Arctic operational readiness and interoperability with NATO allies in a strategically contested region. The exercise signals continuing demand for Arctic-capable platforms, sensors and communications systems, as well as cold-weather logistics and survival equipment proven in extreme conditions. Suppliers seeking to support UK Arctic operations will need to demonstrate either existing capability in harsh-environment deployment, NATO interoperability standards, or technical accreditation for systems operating in extended darkness and sub-zero temperatures. The High North forms part of the UK’s broader strategic focus on NATO cohesion, territorial defence and maintaining deterrence against strategic competitors in the Euro-Atlantic space.

Image source: www.gov.uk