The United States and several allied nations gathered in March 2026 for Operation Ice Camp Boarfish, a three-week operation in the Arctic Ocean designed to test submarine capabilities, strengthen international partnerships and maintain stability in the increasingly strategic region.
The operation involved the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Delaware and the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Santa Fe. Royal Navy personnel and other allied forces, including those from Australia, Canada and France also joined. A temporary command center, Ice Camp Boarfish, operated on a drifting ice floe to support the multinational contingent. For more than six decades, the U.S. Navy Submarine Force has operated in the Arctic, displaying its ability to navigate for extended periods in the challenging under-ice environment. This operation is the 100th such iteration for the Submarine Force since the USS Nautilus first transited the Arctic in 1958. The 2026 camp is named after the USS Boarfish, a submarine that conducted the first exploration under the polar ice cap in 1947, demonstrating the feasibility of sustained under-ice operations.
Submarines offer an unparalleled strategic advantage of concealment, allowing them to project power and ensure national security interests are protected. This exercise, previously known as Ice Exercise, has been elevated to an operation to reflect the Navy’s heightened focus on the Arctic. The region’s diminishing sea ice has increased the potential for maritime activities like shipping and resource extraction, making a sustained and capable presence essential.
Boarfish events help assess operational readiness, advance understanding of the Arctic environment and test new technologies. Crews practiced navigating and tracking targets under the ice, as well as surfacing through the ice pack, a complex maneuver that requires specialized training and equipment. These exercises allowed participants to refine nautical tactics and procedures which present acoustic and navigational challenges unlike any other ocean.
The participation of allied nations is a cornerstone of the operation, underscoring the mutual benefits of international cooperation in the Arctic. Joint exercises like Ice Camp enhance interoperability, allowing partner nations to share best practices and integrate their forces. This collaboration is vital for collective defense and ensuring the region remains free and open. Strong partnerships, formalized through defense agreements, provide the U.S. and its Allies with greater access to strategic locations for basing and overflight, which is critical for the rapid deployment of forces, including both submarines and long-range bombers, to respond to any crisis. Maintaining a consistent presence through such cooperative efforts is fundamental to regional stability.
“Our strength in the Arctic is a testament to the skill and resilience of our sailors and partners,” said U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Richard Seif, commander of Submarine Forces. He noted that the operation allows the U.S. and its Allies to “project power and defend our nation’s interests in any environment, at any time” and ensures that allied forces are prepared to uphold security and stability in the High North.