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March 2014

Vol. 19, No. 9 Week of March 02, 2014

Navy publishes updated Arctic plan

Arctic Roadmap anticipates increased naval operations in the far north as sea ice recedes, sea routes open and activity increases

Alan Bailey

Petroleum News

The U.S. Navy has published an updated plan, setting out its future strategy for operations in the Arctic. The Navy says that the plan, its Arctic Roadmap, will prepare its forces for operations in the Arctic Ocean over the next 15 years. The original Arctic Roadmap dates from 2009.

The opening up of the Arctic Ocean as sea ice recedes may render accessible previously unreachable areas, a phenomenon with important national security implications requiring future naval capabilities, the Navy says.

“Our goal is to have the Arctic continue to unfold peaceably,” said Vice Adm. Michelle Howard, deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans and policy. “Working with our maritime and inter-agency partners, and by investing smartly in future capabilities, we can contribute to a secure and stable Arctic region.”

Three scenarios

The roadmap considers potential Arctic scenarios in the near-term up to 2020; in the mid-term from 2020 to 2030; and in the far-term from beyond 2030, with Arctic offshore activity being somewhat muted in the near future but increasing in scale and complexity in later years. And the roadmap says that, following the end of the Cold War, the navy sees little likelihood of an armed conflict in the Arctic region: The navy’s prime future role is likely to involve support for Coast Guard search and rescue operations, disaster relief, law enforcement and other civil support activities.

A national defense strategy published in November set objectives of ensuring national security, supporting safety and promoting defense cooperation, while also preparing for a wide range of challenges and contingencies. Under these broad objectives, the Navy’s Arctic Roadmap sets four strategic objectives:

• ensuring U.S. Arctic sovereignty and providing homeland defense

• providing naval forces, ready to respond to crises and contingencies

• preserving the freedom of the seas

• promoting partnerships, both within the U.S. government and with international allies and partners

Gradual expansion

In the near-term the Navy will meet these objectives primarily through the use of submarines and “air assets,” the roadmap says. Surface ships will only operate in open-water conditions.

But, in the mid-term, as the Arctic waters become increasingly ice free, there will be increased surface vessel operations, with the Navy participating in increasingly complex Arctic exercises and training with regional partners, the roadmap says. At this point, the Navy may become involved in operations to ensure freedom of navigation in the Arctic Ocean, rather than simply meeting the needs of disaster response and search missions. The Navy will take actions to transition from a periodic Arctic presence to operations extending over more sustained periods, the Arctic Roadmap says.

In the far-term, beyond 2030, the Navy expects to see a need to support sustained Arctic operations, with trained and equipped personnel, and with appropriate surface, subsurface and air capabilities. There is a high level of confidence that at that time diminished ice coverage and the existence of navigable Arctic waterways for much of the year will enable naval forces to respond to any potential threat to national security, and to manage an increased risk of search and rescue or defense support needs.

The roadmap outlines a series of specific actions needed in the next few years to implement the Navy’s plan.






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