10 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 4
In Alaska, troops hauled 300-pound sleds packed with tents, fuel, shovels and stoves to prepare for temperatures of 40 below or colder.
The exercise tests how soldiers can survive and fight in severe cold, including keeping shelters standing in high winds and preventing deadly accidents such as tent fires.
The training comes as Washington sees the Arctic as a growing arena of competition, with new sea lanes, mineral access and concerns about Russia and China.
As U.S. soldiers learn to survive the Arctic, can new tech close the massive capability gap with a militarized Russia?
With the U.S. seeking Greenland's rare minerals, will environmental hurdles render the strategic prize unattainable?
Does America's push for open Arctic sea routes inadvertently pave a 'Polar Silk Road' for its main rival, China?
Arctic Edge 2026 and ATP 3-90.96: Advancing U.S. Army Readiness for Extreme Cold Warfare
Overview
In early 2026, the U.S. Army intensified Arctic readiness through demanding training of Green Berets in Alaska and the multinational Arctic Edge exercise spanning Alaska and Greenland. These efforts sharpened cold-weather survival skills, tested advanced drone and electronic warfare technologies, and rehearsed defense against low-flying cruise missile threats. The 2025 Arctic doctrine formalized the need for extended timelines, resilient logistics, and strong partnerships, including Indigenous communities and NATO allies. Meanwhile, Russia and China’s growing Arctic military and resource activities have heightened geopolitical tensions, prompting NATO to strengthen its Arctic posture. Together, these developments underscore a strategic shift toward sustained, multinational Arctic defense and operational excellence in extreme conditions.