Navy
US Navy conducts under-ice operations in the Arctic
Stars and Stripes
March 10, 2026
Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Delaware emerges from the ice after performing a vertical surfacing to kick off Operation ICE CAMP 2026, March 7, 2026. (Jacob D. Bergh/U.S. Navy)
The U.S. Navy started Operation ICE CAMP Boarfish in the Arctic Ocean on Saturday in the latest U.S. exercise to train service members for operations in the strategically important Arctic region.
The three-week operation began after a temporary ice camp was built and two fast-attack submarines, USS Delaware and USS Sante Fe, arrived, according to a service news release.
“The Arctic is a critical region for national security and global stability. Our commitment to a sustained presence and operational readiness here is unwavering,” said Vice Adm. Richard Seif, Commander, Submarine Forces, according to the release.
Along with the U.S. Navy, participants include the U.S. Marine Corps, Air National Guard, the Canadian navy and air force, the Australian, French and British navies, the Norwegian Defence Research Institute and the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology.
The Navy’s Arctic Submarine Laboratory is the lead organization for planning the operation, which is held biennially. Submarines have conducted under-ice operations in the Arctic for more than 60 years.
“ICE CAMP Boarfish allows us to test and refine our capabilities, deepen our interoperability with key allies, and ensure our Submarine Force can project power and defend our nation’s interests in any environment, at any time,” Seif said. “Our strength in the Arctic is a testament to the skill and resilience of our sailors and partners.”