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UK Brings Carrier, Jets And Warships To Arctic Front As Russia Tests NATO Waters
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The United Kingdom will deploy a Carrier Strike Group to the North Atlantic and High North in 2026 under Operation Firecrest, in a move described as a major demonstration of deterrence against Russia.
According to the UK Defence Journal, the deployment will be led by HMS Prince of Wales and will include warships, F-35 aircraft and helicopters.
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The Ministry of Defense (MOD) said the operation is intended to deter Russian aggression and protect critical undersea infrastructure, amid what it described as a “30% increase in Russian navy vessels threatening UK waters” over the past two years.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that the Carrier Strike Group will operate alongside the United States, Canada and other NATO allies. He described the mission as “a powerful show of our commitment to Euro-Atlantic security,” according to the UK Defence Journal.
The MOD stated that the deployment comes amid growing concern over increased Russian naval activity in the North Atlantic, including in the Greenland-Iceland-UK (GIUK) gap. The government also cited risks to undersea cables and pipelines, as well as the strategic implications of melting Arctic sea ice opening new maritime routes.
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Operation Firecrest will contribute to NATO’s newly launched Arctic Sentry mission. Parts of the deployment will fall under NATO command, including cooperation with Joint Force Command Norfolk, which the government said is expected to be led by a British officer for the first time.
The Carrier Strike Group is expected to operate closely with US forces, including activity off the North American East Coast and a port visit in the United States. The MOD said American aircraft are also expected to operate from the flight deck of HMS Prince of Wales during the deployment.
Defense Secretary John Healey said the operation would strengthen Britain’s role in regional security. “I’m proud that we’re stepping up UK leadership on High North and Atlantic security,” Healey said, according to the UK Defence Journal.
“This deployment will help make Britain warfighting ready, boost our contribution to NATO, and strengthen our operations with key allies, keeping the UK secure at home and strong abroad.”
The MOD said the operation will involve thousands of personnel across the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. The Carrier Strike Group will also exercise alongside NATO’s Standing Naval Maritime Group 1, which will be led by the UK throughout 2026, with HMS Dragon serving as the command ship.
HMS Prince of Wales, commissioned in 2019, is one of two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers in Royal Navy service. The vessel can operate an air wing of up to 24 F-35B Lightning II aircraft, alongside helicopters including Merlin, Chinook, Apache and Wildcat.
Earlier on February 10, Norway’s Chief of Defense Gen. Eirik Kristoffersen told The Guardian that Oslo cannot rule out a potential Russian ground operation in the Arctic to secure nuclear assets on the Kola Peninsula. He said Norway does not exclude “a land grab from Russia as part of their plan to protect their own nuclear capabilities,” calling it a scenario the military plans for in the High North.
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