The United States Navy officially launched Operation ICE CAMP Boarfish on March 7, 2026, a complex military and scientific mission carried out in the Beaufort Sea, within the Arctic Circle.
The operation began after the construction of a camp on a massive floating ice sheet and the arrival of two U.S. Navy fast-attack submarines: USS Delaware (SSN-791) and USS Santa Fe (SSN-763).
The initiative is expected to last three weeks and aims to research, test, and evaluate operational capabilities in the extreme Arctic environment, a region becoming increasingly strategic due to climate change and the growth of maritime activities.
Operation brings together military forces and scientists from several countries
In addition to the United States Navy, the operation includes participation from several international military and scientific organizations. Participants include:
- U.S. Marine Corps
- Air National Guard
- Royal Australian Navy
- Royal Canadian Navy
- Royal Canadian Air Force
- French Navy
- Royal Navy of the United Kingdom
- Norwegian Defence Research Institute
- Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
The exercise takes place every two years and is conducted in partnership with the Arctic Submarine Laboratory (ASL). In this edition, the training was officially elevated from an exercise to an operation, reflecting the growing strategic priority the Arctic has gained for the U.S. Navy.
According to Vice Admiral Richard Seif, commander of U.S. Submarine Forces, military presence in the region is essential.
“The Arctic is a critical region for national security and global stability. ICE CAMP Boarfish allows us to test and improve our capabilities, strengthen interoperability with allies, and ensure our submarine forces can operate in any environment,” he said.
Military base built on moving ice
The Ice Camp Boarfish serves as the command center for the operation and was built directly on a floating ice sheet in the Arctic Ocean. The site includes:
- shelters for multinational teams
- a command center
- communications infrastructure
- logistics support facilities
The entire base slowly drifts along with the ice, increasing the operational challenge.
Captain David Nichols, responsible for tactical control of the mission, highlighted the complexity of the project.
“Establishing a fully functional base on a moving sheet of ice is a massive challenge. The professionalism of everyone involved makes it possible to accomplish this critical mission,” he explained.
Operation name honors historic World War II submarine
The camp is named Boarfish in honor of the USS Boarfish (SS-327), a Balao-class submarine commissioned in 1944 during World War II. The vessel earned a battle star after sinking two Japanese ships in the South China Sea.
In 1947, Boarfish also led the historic Operation Blue Nose, the first submarine exploration beneath the Arctic polar ice cap, where new sonar technologies were tested for under-ice navigation.
More than 60 years of Arctic submarine operations
Submarine operations under Arctic ice have a long tradition in the U.S. Navy. Key historical milestones include:
- 1958 – the USS Nautilus (SSN-571) completed the first submarine transit beneath the North Pole
- 1959 – the USS Skate (SSN-578) became the first submarine to surface at the North Pole through the ice
Since then, the U.S. submarine force has conducted 99 operations of this kind, making ICE CAMP Boarfish the 100th under-ice mission in the Navy’s history.
Arctic gains global strategic importance
With the progressive melting of sea ice, the Arctic region is becoming increasingly important for maritime trade and natural resource exploration.
This raises the possibility of new transoceanic shipping routes and energy exploration, while also increasing military interest from several global powers.
In this scenario, submarines continue to be considered the main strategic tool for presence and deterrence in the underwater environment, thanks to their ability to operate stealthily in extreme conditions.
According to the U.S. Navythese forces represent “the tip of the spear in the undersea domain,” capable of ensuring surveillance, deterrence, and combat power anywhere in the world — including beneath the Arctic ice.
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Source and images: Department of War. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
