Task Force X-Arctic falls under NATO’s Rapid Adoption Action Plan, which was approved at the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague. The plan is aimed at accelerating the adoption of innovation and its integration into military operations.
The initiative builds on experience from Task Force X-Baltic, which was launched in January 2025. That effort was designed to enhance the security of critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea region.
Led by Allied Command Transformation, Task Force X-Arctic is intended to demonstrate how networked uncrewed systems can deliver persistent multi-domain situational awareness. NATO said the systems will remain under ultimate human control and will be tested across the North Atlantic, the Arctic and the High North.
“Task Force X-Arctic is about testing and integrating new technology in one of the most demanding operational environments on the planet,” said Admiral Pierre Vandier, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation. “It will help Allies define the standards of the future and maintain the fighting edge required to operate, adapt and prevail in the High North.”
The NATO Research Vessel Alliance is due to stop off the shore of Iceland for the first phase of an 18-month experimentation programme. For three weeks, the vessel will serve as a platform for testing autonomous systems and technologies.
The vessel is crewed and operated by the Italian Navy. The technologies to be tested come from innovative companies selected through NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic.
NATO’s Science & Technology Organization’s Centre for Maritime Research & Experimentation is the technical lead for the mission. CMRE is responsible for delivery of the experimentation activity.
“CMRE has been leading the development of autonomous capabilities for the most challenging maritime environments,” said Dr Eric Pouliquen, CMRE Director. “Task Force X-Arctic puts that experience to work for the Alliance, delivering real capability in real Arctic conditions.”
Testing of technologies, inter-connectivity and data-sharing in Arctic conditions will continue through 2026 and into next year. NATO said a full-scale demonstration is planned for the summer of 2027.
Allied Maritime Command will oversee the integration of assets and technologies into maritime operations. Task Force X-Arctic also supports Arctic Sentry, NATO’s enhanced vigilance activity in the Arctic and the High North under Joint Force Command Norfolk.
