U.S. and Canadian forces hold maritime strike exercise in the Bering Sea

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — U.S. and Canadian forces carried out a joint maritime strike scenario in the Bering Sea from Sept. 18–22, 2026, as part of Operation TUNDRA MERLIN, integrating aircraft, surface ships and a submarine under U.S. Northern Command and Alaskan Command.

The scenario was designed to validate the ability of the bi-national team to find, fix, track, target, engage and assess maritime threats. In support of U.S. Northern Command, a Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora and the Royal Canadian Navy HMCS CORNER BROOK detected and tracked the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter ASPEN north of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and relayed real-time data over multiple communications pathways to enable a simulated strike.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter STRATTON supported the Royal Canadian Navy Frigate HMCS OTTAWA while conducting additional simulated strikes alongside U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II fighters from the 354th Fighter Wing at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. An E-3 Sentry from the 3d Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson provided Aerospace Warning and Control, and an Alaska Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker from Eielson Air Force Base conducted aerial refueling.

“This scenario showcases our ability to hold simulated adversarial maritime activity at risk through a seamless kill chain involving air and maritime forces,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert D. Davis, commander of Alaskan Command, the Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region and Eleventh Air Force. “Integrating operations from two Air Forces, the Royal Canadian Navy, and the U.S. Coast Guard demonstrates our collective capability and our will to defend the homelands in the Arctic.”

Operation TUNDRA MERLIN brings together forces to deter and posture to defeat threats in the Alaskan Theater of Operations, strengthening homeland defense and protecting the northern approaches to North America.