Royal Marines Commandos conduct Arctic mortar training before NATO Cold Response and Lion Protector drills

The Commandos’ 81mm mortars are capable of firing up to 15 shells a minute, with rounds travelling at about 500mph and striking targets up to three and a half miles away. Troops operated from Viking and BV206 all-terrain vehicles, practising combat skills in temperatures close to minus 20 degrees Celsius as part of preparations for Exercise Cold Response 26, NATO’s largest Arctic drill this year, which will involve about 25,000 personnel from 14 nations across northern Norway and Finland between 9 and 19 March.

The Arctic deployment forms part of wider plans to strengthen security in the High North in response to increased Russian military activity. The UK is also expected to contribute to NATO’s Arctic Sentry mission, while the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force has confirmed Exercise Lion Protector in September 2026, which will bring together air, land and naval forces to protect critical national infrastructure and improve joint command and control.

John Healey said: “Demands on defence are rising, and Russia poses the greatest threat to Arctic and High North security that we have seen since the Cold War. We see Putin rapidly re-establishing military presence in the region, including reopening old Cold War bases.”

“The UK is stepping up to protect the Arctic and High North – doubling the number of troops we have in Norway and scaling up joint exercises with NATO allies.”

“Cold Response and Lion Protector will this year see thousands of troops deploy across the Arctic and North Atlantic – with the UK leading the way. We train together, we deter together, and if necessary, we will fight together.”

During a week of day-and-night firing, mortar teams used their vehicles not only as launch platforms but also to move rapidly across deep snow, reducing the risk of detection by enemy radar systems capable of tracking static firing positions. The approach allows Commandos to continue providing fire support to advancing troops while quickly relocating to avoid counter-barrage, maintaining mobility in one of the world’s most demanding operational environments.