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Royal Marines ramp up Arctic operations ahead of NATO drills
3 February 2026
Royal Marines operations in the Arctic Circle are ramping up as commandos prepare for major mission rehearsals alongside NATO allies.
Around 1,500 of the UK’s elite commandos have arrived in Northern Norway with the aim of sharpening their extreme cold weather warfare skills as part of bolstered efforts on the alliance’s northern flank.
Over the next two months the marines will hone specialist tactics and operate new kit and technology, including drones and snowmobiles, as they underscore the UK’s commitment to Arctic security after the signing of the new Lunna House agreement – which ties Britain and Norway closely together on matters of defence and security.
The UK Commando Force laid on a demonstration near Harstad of the skills they continue to nurture and the technology they are developing to show the importance of the High North to UK national security, and how the UK is contributing NATO and Joint Expeditionary Force efforts in the region.
Royal Navy seniors, including Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Steve Moorhouse, and Director Force Generation, Rear Admiral Anthony Rimington, were joined at the demo by Norwegian counterparts, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Admiral Bjorn Marthinsen, Fleet Commander, Commodore Kyrre Haygen and Chief of Staff, Commodore Kjell Knut Aabrek as well as NATO colleagues Deputy Commander Joint Force Command Norfolk, Vice Admiral James Morley, and Deputy Commander Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, Rear Admiral Craig Wood.
Various commanding officers, commanders, diplomats and other dignitaries also attended as UK Commandos and Norwegian Coastal Ranger Commandos (Kystjegerkommandoen) demonstrated the breadth and quality of training needed to operate in such a climate and terrain.
Head of the UK Commando Force, Brigadier Jaimie Norman, who hosted the guests, said: “The security of the UK depends on the High North and Atlantic. It is the only place where our food, energy and data interests converge and can be threatened by Russia.
“Working shoulder-to-shoulder with our closest allies, we are operationalising 50 years of experience to respond decisively to these threats. Mission rehearsals start now.”
Under the Lunna House agreement, the UK and Norway are developing their combined military clout, including investment in weapons and programmes for uncrewed mine-hunting and undersea warfare systems, as well as autonomous vehicles for patrolling the depths up to an interchangeable fleet of Type 26 anti-submarine frigates.
The recent agreement also commits the UK to defending their close NATO ally and the requirement to be ready for potential combat in the one of the world’s most inhospitable environments – the Norwegian Arctic.
For the UK’s Commando Force – led by the Royal Marines – it means an increase in operations in Norway and further development of weaponry and kit to support extreme cold weather missions across fjords and mountains.
This reinforced commitment has led to 40 Commando returning for a winter Arctic deployment for the first time in six years.
The Taunton-based marines will be conducting the arduous Cold Weather Warfare course run by hardy Arctic operators, known as Mountain Leaders – who teach new generations of commandos critical skills in survival, skiing and combat skills to maintain a force capable of deploying to the Arctic at a moment’s notice.
Intensive training in various specialist combat skills – including fjord reconnaissance and raiding – will lead into Operation Cold Response, the largest NATO military drills in the Arctic this year.
Some 25,000 troops from 14 nations are due to operate together across northern Norway focused on the defence of the region in the event of an invasion.