ABOARD A ROYAL NAVY HELICOPTER — Fog hangs low over Norway’s jagged coastline as the British helicopter flies out over the frigid waters below. The days are growing colder, bringing worsening weather and decreased daylight to the High North.
The helicopter, a Merlink Mk4, lands on the flight deck of the HMS Prince of Wales, the Royal Navy’s flagship. Wind whips across the deck as sailors bundled in protective gear move F-35 stealth fighter jets into position.
By early afternoon, the sun is already sinking toward the horizon, complicating operations as the light fades away.
Business Insider visited the Prince of Wales, the lead ship for the UK’s carrier strike group, in early November while it was underway in the Norwegian Sea. The ship’s deployment is part of the second phase of Operation Firecrest, a deterrence mission in the Arctic and North Atlantic.
NATO is increasingly focused on reinforcing its northern flank amid growing Russian military activity in the region. But operating there, particularly during fall and into winter as the days become colder and shorter, presents formidable challenges for allied forces.
The High North is a “complex environment,” Capt. Ben Power, the Prince of Wales’ commanding officer, said during an interview on the ship’s bridge.
Winter brings ice, persistent low-pressure systems, and thick fog. The crew has to be ready for these and trained to operate without transmitting radar signals or using radio communications, skills Power said are critical to improving its “warfighting proficiency.”
“All of those things are complex when you do it in the High North, far more so than other parts of the world,” he said.
NATO has expanded its patrols and joint operations across the Arctic and North Atlantic to monitor Russian naval activity and signal deterrence.
Western officials have specifically stressed the importance of keeping tabs on Russian submarines, dozens of which are based in Murmansk on the Barents Sea.
To reach the Atlantic Ocean or the Mediterranean and Baltic seas, these submarines typically sail south through the North Sea, or between Greenland, Iceland, and the UK — a strategic chokepoint known as the GIUK gap. For NATO, a strong presence in this region is critical.
“It’s safe to say that we’ve seen an increase in Russian activity in all domains — so above, on, and particularly beneath the sea,” Power said. “In terms of an assessment of their capability,” he said, “I think Russia continues to pose a credible threat.”
Western naval officers who previously spoke with Business Insider aboard a Dutch frigate in the Arctic described how poor visibility, rough seas, and large swells, especially in the winter, can impact operations, particularly flight ops.
They said climate has a direct effect on operations, making it important to regularly train in locations that will test the crew.
Speaking aboard the Prince of Wales this week, Commodore Richard Hewitt, commander of the UK’s carrier strike group, acknowledged the challenges of operating in the High North but commended the crew for their ability to handle the conditions.
In the first phase of Operation Firecrest over the summer, the Prince of Wales supported Arctic Sentry, a NATO vigilance mission launched earlier this year to strengthen security in the High North through exercises and patrols.
“This year has been focused in the High North,” Hewitt said. “I can see that continuing within the North Atlantic — and quite rightly so.”
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