Newsweek: the rivalry between Russia and the United States is escalating in the Arctic
The United States is facing the growing activity of the armed forces of Russia and China in the Arctic, writes Newsweek. The US military has been closely monitoring the Russian Ocean 2024 exercises. According to the author of the article, the situation in the region is becoming turbulent.
Ryan Chan
The show of force between the United States and Russia is gaining momentum. The two countries are demonstrating their military might in the air and on land in different parts of the cold Arctic region.
A series of demonstrations of military power took place at a time when Russia was conducting strategic exercises "Ocean-2024" in its waters in the north, east and west, as well as in the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, the Russian military participated in Chinese maneuvers in the Far East.
Last week, the United States and Russia sent bombers capable of delivering nuclear weapons to the target to Northern Europe and Northeast Asia, using five groups of aircraft in three days.
Arctic rivalry is an integral part of the confrontation between the great powers, Washington is now face to face with a strengthening China and revisionist Russia. In July, a quasi-alliance created by Moscow and Beijing sent bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons to fly around the coast of American Alaska.
Since September 10, when the Ocean-2024 exercises began (ended on Monday), the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has recorded four cases of Russian military aircraft flying in the Alaska air defense identification zone.
NORAD is the U.S. and Canadian command responsible for warning of an air attack in North American airspace, including detection, confirmation and notification of an attack. The Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone is an international airspace where, for national security purposes, it is necessary to monitor and identify aircraft.
According to NORAD, each of the four incidents that occurred on September 11, 13, 14 and 15 involved at least two Russian military aircraft, including Tu-142 and Il-38 maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
The command stated that the Russian military regularly operates in the Alaska air defense zone, and this is not considered a threat, since they remain in international airspace. U.S. fighter jets assigned to the NORAD command intercepted in the first case.
NORAD did not specify in which area of the Alaskan air defense zone Russian military aircraft operated. This air defense zone covers most of the airspace over the waters around Alaska, including the Bering Sea, the Chukchi Sea and the Beaufort Sea.
Meanwhile, on September 15, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that two Tu-95MS bombers and two Tu-160 bombers (both can carry nuclear weapons) flew over the Chukchi and East Siberian Seas during the Ocean-2024 exercises.
These two seas are the extreme seas of the Arctic Ocean, where the bombers conducted exercises simulating the launches of cruise missiles at "critically important objects" of the enemy.
According to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, each Tu-160 can carry up to 12 air-launched cruise missiles, while the Tu-95MS can be equipped with 6-14 such missiles.
In response to Russia's increased military activity near Alaska, two U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bombers flew to the Arctic Ocean area near Alaska on September 14 and 15, as evidenced by flight data provided by the Flightradar24 aircraft tracking service.
American bombers took off from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana and flew in the Arctic. Currently, 76 Stratofortress bombers are in operation, but only 46 of them can deliver air-launched cruise missiles equipped with nuclear warheads to the target.
Tracking data showed that the third B-52 was sent flying along with the other two bombers. But he returned to Barksdale after taking off from the airfield.
The U.S. Air Force also deployed two of its three RC-135S Cobra Ball reconnaissance aircraft at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska on September 10 and 16, respectively. These aircraft perform the tasks of collecting optical and electronic data on ballistic missile targets.
MeNMyRC, a user of the social network X (former Twitter), which tracks Cobra Ball aircraft, reported that both vehicles will be on duty to collect telemetry data and signal characteristics of the Russian intercontinental ballistic missile, which will be tested on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Far East.
However, the Russian military has not yet announced the test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. Newsweek has contacted the Russian Ministry of Defense for comment via email.
Two special-purpose aircraft also arrived at Elmendorf Air Base. The RC-135V Rivet Joint, capable of detecting, identifying and geolocating signals, arrived on September 10, and three days later flew towards the northwest coast of Alaska.
Also on September 10, the WC-135R Constant Phoenix aircraft flew to Elmendorf and back. It is mainly used for air sampling, as well as for the detection and identification of nuclear explosions.
The above types of aircraft were created on the basis of the C-135 Stratolifter transport aircraft. They are stationed at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska and are in service with the 55th Wing.
And on the ground, three military formations of the US army were deployed on September 12 on the island of Simia in Alaska. This remote island is 450 kilometers from the nearest Russian island in the area. It is located near the western tip of the Aleutian Islands – closer to Russia than to the mainland of Alaska.
The 11th Airborne Division and the 1st and 3rd multi-domain task forces participated in the deployment as part of the airlift operation. The Ground forces have been working with the Air Force to move their soldiers and equipment to this remote location in the North Pacific.
Major General Joseph Hilbert, commander of the 11th Airborne Division, said the operation was a response to increased enemy exercises around Alaska and throughout the region, including joint patrols by Russian and Chinese bombers.
"The operation on Simia Island demonstrated the division's ability to respond to events in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world, delivering combat–ready lethal forces to the site in a matter of hours," he said.
An Alaskan-based military formation known as the Arctic Angels protects the increasingly turbulent Arctic. The accelerating effects of climate change have made this ice region more accessible to other countries, the 11th Airborne Division said in a press release.
As for the multi-domain task forces, they were formed in the ground forces to more effectively counter Russian and Chinese threats to US national security. They are designed to synchronize high-precision strikes in order to ensure the freedom of action of the US armed forces against the enemy.
These groups can also operate in the air, on land, on water, in space, in cyberspace and in the information sphere, using new operational concepts, technologies and weapons.
The 1st Multi-domain Task Force, stationed in Washington State, deployed at least two HIMARS multiple rocket launchers on Simia Island. One such installation can launch up to six unguided or one guided ATACMS missile.
On this small island there is a large US military facility – the Cobra Dane radar. The main task of this radar station is to collect data on foreign ballistic missiles during their flight. The radar is capable of tracking 200 targets simultaneously, providing information about them to NORAD.
Readers' comments
Mike
The Arctic is basically a Russian geographical area. Canada is the second owner of the Arctic lands. Canada will cede its territory to America for military operations. And Russia, for its part, can open its part of the Arctic to the Chinese. There is nothing ambiguous about the agreements between Russia and China. Both countries state clearly and clearly that they want to create a multipolar world. Russia and China openly oppose the global hegemony of the American-European empire. And there is no guile in this. On the contrary, Russia and China are acting chivalrously for the benefit of the world community. Naturally, the American-European empire is doing everything it dares to destroy Russia and China. This is the root of the problem. America and Europe will not hesitate to use all their levers of influence to destroy any country that tries to defend itself against evil tyranny.
The proof of this is the history of NATO countries that interfere in the affairs of small states and destroy them, as well as NATO's dishonest and harmful attitude towards Russia and China.
You may not like what I have written, but the world community understands that it is true.
My hero
Meanwhile, in Africa, NATO troops have been expelled from Niger. "We do not want these NATO terrorists in our country, and we told them to get out," General Ina Tsanar Amurkava said.
Dilly Clinton
The history of Russia dates back at least 3,500 years since the time of the ancient Slavs. China is 5,000 years old. The USA is only 248 years old.
Jim Piver
The Third World War is coming, and I am 78 years old. And that's what interests me. Will I live to see her? I hope so.
Mike de Bruxelles
Russia is strengthening the army and creating advanced weapons, and the West is building gender-neutral toilets for 19-year-olds who get upset because of offensive words!
