NATO’s Arctic Artillery Forces Are Learning to Dig, Hide, and Maneuver to Dodge #drones.

Business Insider
Business InsiderMar 17, 2026

Why It Matters

Drone dominance reshapes artillery tactics, ensuring NATO can deter Russian and Chinese moves in the Arctic while maintaining combat relevance.

Key Takeaways

  • NATO artillery trains to conceal positions from drone detection.
  • Units practice digging, heat reduction, and low‑signature communications.
  • Arctic drills respond to rising Russian and Chinese activity.
  • Lessons from Ukraine show drones deliver 80% of strikes.
  • Undetectability may outweigh traditional shoot‑and‑scoot tactics in Arctic warfare.

Summary

NATO’s Arctic artillery units are undergoing a doctrinal shift, training in Norway to evade increasingly lethal drone threats that now dominate modern battlefields.

The drills focus on digging concealed firing positions, masking heat signatures, and limiting radio emissions, moving away from the classic “shoot‑and‑scoot” model that relied on speed alone. The emphasis reflects heightened concerns over Russian and Chinese activity in the High North and incorporates hard‑won lessons from Ukraine, where drones accounted for roughly 80 % of strikes on Russian targets.

Soldiers practice low‑profile communications and rapid camouflage techniques, while commanders stress that being invisible to aerial sensors may be more decisive than rapid relocation. The program, highlighted by Business Insider, underscores a broader NATO pivot toward counter‑drone capabilities.

If successful, these adaptations will preserve artillery effectiveness in the Arctic, reinforce NATO’s deterrence posture, and signal to adversaries that the alliance can operate undetected in contested environments.

Original Description

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