Arctic

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Russia has said that it conducted the long-awaited test of its mysterious Burevestnik cruise missile last week, claiming that it flew for 8,700 miles. The missile, claimed to be nuclear-powered, is said to have remained in the air for around 15 hours. For the time being, we don’t know if those statements are factually accurate and, moreover, details about how the missile actually works remain very scarce. However, the claimed test has led to boasts about the missile’s performance from Russian President Vladimir Putin, while his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, called upon Putin to end the war in Ukraine “instead of testing missiles.”

Skyfall Nuclear-Powered Cruise Missile Long-Range Test Claimed By Russia

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 27, 2025

A LC-130 "Skibird" assigned to the 109th Airlift Wing, New York Air National Guard, operates in Antarctica in 2022.

Funds Shifted To Develop New LC-130J “Ski Bird” Polar Airlifters

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 1, 2025

F-22s over alaska

Homeland Needs To Be Able To Survive A “Punch In The Nose” According To Former NORAD Chief

Howard Altman Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 5, 2025

The U.S. is monitoring five Chinese icebreakers in the Arctic near Alaska..

Unprecedented Chinese Icebreaker Deployment Off Alaska Being Monitored By U.S.

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 8, 2025

The Los Angeles class fast attack submarine USS Newport News made a historic visit to Iceland, marking the first time a nuclear-powered submarine made a visit to the island nation.

U.S. Navy Nuclear Submarine Has Docked In Iceland For The First Time Ever

By Howard Altman

Updated on Jul 9, 2025

A top U.S. general testified before Congress that Greenland is hugely important to U.S. national security because it is a key landmass for tracking Russian nuclear submarines.

Greenland “Absolutely Critical” For Hunting Russian Submarines: Top U.S. General In Europe

By Howard Altman

Posted on Apr 3, 2025

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

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.

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.

New Coast Guard Heavy Icebreaker Construction Finally Underway

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 24, 2024

NORAD F-16 and SU-35

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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

Russian’s New Combat Icebreaker Starts Sea Trials

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 28, 2024