US Arctic war machine readies as commander warns of new reality on Russia’s doorstep

U.S. and Canadian forces are conducting the 'Tundra Merlin' operation in remote and frigid parts of Alaska, practicing combat operations across land, sea, and air. The operation involves the rapid deployment of HIMARS rocket systems, the dispatch of F-35 and F-16 fighters, and the coordination of warships in the Bering Sea. The campaign aims to prove that allied forces can rapidly assemble combat power in extreme Arctic conditions to defend northern approaches to the homeland.

Lt. Gen. Robert Davis, commander of Alaskan Command, told Fox News that melting sea ice has made the Arctic more accessible, noting that Russia and China are continuously advancing their military capabilities in the region to demonstrate their reach. The Pentagon’s 2024 Arctic Strategy has similarly warned that growing Russia-China cooperation could alter the stability of the Arctic, calling for a greater U.S. presence and preparedness.

Alaska serves as a critical hub for homeland defense and power projection toward the Indo-Pacific. At their closest points across the Bering Strait, the Russian and American mainlands are only about 55 miles apart. Lt. Gen. Davis emphasized that U.S. forces positioned in Alaska can project power from the Arctic to almost anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere within 10 hours of flight time.

During the operation, U.S. and Canadian forces utilized a C-17 transport aircraft to rapidly move HIMARS mobile rocket systems and advanced radar into western Alaska. These ground forces synchronized with F-35 and F-16 fighters to engage simulated targets. In September, a joint maritime strike scenario was also conducted, integrating the U.S. Coast Guard and the Royal Canadian Navy to test the ability to track and engage potential threats.

These exercises follow a July 2024 incident where the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) intercepted Russian and Chinese bombers flying together in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone for the first time. While the aircraft remained in international airspace, the flight highlighted the level of military cooperation that U.S. defense planners are closely monitoring.