Via Satellite archive photo

U.S. security in the Arctic will require a range of expanded capabilities including improved domain awareness, positioning and communications, more Coast Guard icebreakers and investing in maritime transportation infrastructure, the Biden administration says in a new strategy for the polar region. The updated Arctic strategy could lead to an increase in investments in satellite communications and Earth observation capabilities in the region. 

The 15-page National Strategy for the Arctic Region released Oct. 7 outlines a 10-year agenda for the U.S. in the region and updates the 2013 Obama administration strategy. The new strategy highlights the urgent need to address the climate crisis, and help people in the region through conservation and investments in sustainable development.

The strategy highlights the need to maintain, refine, and advance “military presence in the Arctic in support of our homeland defense, global military and power projection, and deterrence goals.” This includes routine training and exercises, independent and allied “episodic deployments,” and “combined exercises and training” with allies and partners to improve “operational familiarity with the Arctic region, including cold weather operations and interoperability.”

The new strategy also highlights greater strategic competition in the Arctic from Russia and China, worsened by Russia’s war against Ukraine, likely ending near-term cooperation with Russia regarding Arctic issues.

“Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine has rendered government-to-government cooperation with Russia in the Arctic virtually impossible,” the strategy says. “Over the coming decade, it may be possible to resume cooperation under certain conditions. Russia’s continued aggression makes most cooperation unlikely for the foreseeable future.”

Still, the U.S. vision for the Arctic is “peaceful, stable, prosperous, and cooperative,” the document says.

The four pillars of the strategy include security, contending with climate change, sustainable economic development, and international cooperation and governance.

The security pillar includes the strategic objective to improve understanding of the Arctic environment, including “improving communications and positioning, navigation, and timing capabilities by developing communications and data networks capable of operating in the northern latitudes.” It also specifies the need to improve Arctic mapping and weather forecasting and satellite coverage for commerce and maritime and air safety. 

The Arctic is a particular area of focus for Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite operators SpaceX and OneWeb. SpaceX has launched a number of satellites to Polar Orbit to bolster U.S. military communications in the Arctic and hopes to have more to achieve persistent communications in the region. 

OneWeb, which has 648 satellites in Polar Orbits, is focusing on the Arctic and Northern latitudes as its initial service area and large opportunity for the constellation. The company, along with Hughes Network Systems, previously demonstrated managed LEO satellite communications services in the Arctic region between U.S. Northern Command locations under a contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory. 

Communications are also part of the pillar regarding economic development, which includes the objective to invest in telecommunications infrastructure in Alaska. The strategy specifies this includes broadband and 5G for Alaska Native and rural communities as a platform to expand the knowledge economy, remote education, and telemedicine. 

“We’ll pursue sustainable development,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a video announcing the strategy. “We’ll expand economic opportunity for local residents including Indigenous communities — by investing in physical infrastructure like transportation and the internet and improve access to services like education and housing.” 

OneWeb is targeting broadband in Alaska through agreements with distribution partners Alaska Communications and Pacific Dataport. Pacific Dataport also has exclusive rights to the capacity on the first Astranis micro-GEO satellite to serve Alaska with broadband.

The government pledged to be “proactive” in long-term investments to realize the strategy. “Among other investments, we will procure additional icebreakers, enhance communications and maritime transportation infrastructure, support communities to build climate resilience, and invest in scientific research,” the strategy says. 

A version of this story was first published by Defense Daily.