Just days before hosting an important meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the war in Ukraine and its possible outcome, the state of Alaska is now the venue for Exercise Northern Edge 2025, in which U.S. and Canadian troops will participate. In particular, the activities will take place on a notable scale, with the involvement of more than 6,000 personnel, 100 aircraft, and even a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
Expanding on the details, the exercises will be coordinated by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, with the main objective of preparing units for joint multidomain operations with the highest degree of realism possible, especially focusing on conducting simulated air and maritime combat.
Addressing this, U.S. Air Force Brigadier General and exercise director Rick Goodman stated: “Northern Edge 2025 brings together multidomain capabilities in high-end combat to ensure readiness to deter and, if necessary, defeat any adversary (…) One of the key goals [of the exercise] is intercombatant command coordination between INDOPACOM and NORTHCOM. This highlights the importance of Alaska as a key strategic geographic location for national defense, as well as for power projection in the event of conflict in the Indo-Pacific.”
In terms of the main assets deployed for the occasion, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), a Nimitz-class carrier, stands out, accompanied by elements of the U.S. Navy’s Carrier Strike Group 3, namely: the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS O’Kane (DDG 77), USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112), and USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121); as well as the nine squadrons of aircraft operating under Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 and F-22 stealth fighters. From Canada, the country has deployed its Halifax-class frigate HMCS Regina (FFH 334), as well as an Airbus CC-150 Polaris refueling aircraft.
It should also be mentioned that, simultaneously with these activities, the U.S. will also conduct Exercise Arctic Edge 2025 in Alaska. This is an annual activity led by the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, and this marks the first time it has been planned to take place at the same time as Northern Edge. Differentiating the two, General Goodman stated: “Arctic Edge focuses on homeland defense here in Alaska, and Northern Edge will add a very specific level of power projection and high-end combat capability.”
Cover image: Airman 1st Class David S. Calcote
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