Chapter V: Russian Land and Amphibious Capabilities in the Arctic

Abstract

The maritime nature of the theatre has seen the prominence of air and naval power in Russia’s Arctic build-up. Nonetheless, Russia does have an increasingly credible, though still limited, suite of rapidly deployable ground and amphibious capabilities in the region. Large portions of the Russian force structure not held within Russia’s Arctic-facing commands, including the air force, have been practising regional missions since 2014 and, as air-mobile forces, could likely be rapidly deployed there. NATO forces are also permanently present in the High North – built around the Norwegian army’s Brigade Nord – but are limited. However, Norway is likely to be reinforced in a conflict. Frameworks such as the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force might be mobilised in a crisis scenario, with the Royal Marines having a major role in High North operations. Exercises such as Trident Juncture and Amphibious Leaders Expeditionary Symposium wargames also suggest European rapid reaction forces flowing into Norway as part of a US-led Marine Expeditionary Unit. The modelling from previous chapters suggests that in wartime, Russian anti-access capabilities could slow this flow of forces if they are not attritted.