UK Deploys Chinook Helicopters Inside Arctic Circle in Major NATO Winter Operation.

British Army soldiers and Royal Air Force Chinook helicopters were deployed to Bardufoss, Northern Norway, in January 2026 as part of Operation Clockwork, operating deep inside the Arctic Circle. The mission underscores the UK’s ability to sustain heavy lift aviation and joint forces in extreme cold while reinforcing NATO’s northern flank.

British Army personnel supported by Royal Air Force Chinook heavy lift helicopters were deployed to Bardufoss in Northern Norway in January 2026 under Operation Clockwork, one of the United Kingdom’s most demanding winter aviation missions in recent years. Directed by Joint Aviation Command, the deployment placed British rotary wing forces more than 200 nautical miles, roughly 370 km, inside the Arctic Circle, demonstrating the UK’s capacity to operate in some of Europe’s harshest environmental conditions while supporting NATO deterrence in the High North.
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A British Air Force CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter operates in sub-zero Arctic conditions near Bardufoss in Northern Norway during Operation Clockwork, demonstrating the aircraft’s ability to conduct heavy-lift and underslung-load missions in extreme cold alongside NATO allies. (Picture source: UK MoD)

Bardufoss sits at the heart of northern Scandinavia, a region of growing strategic importance for European and transatlantic security due to its proximity to the Norwegian Sea, Arctic approaches, and key reinforcement routes linking North America and Europe. The location offers an unforgiving training environment defined by persistent sub-zero temperatures, deep snowpack, frequent high winds, and severely limited daylight during winter months. British Army Chinook aircrews and ground engineers are operating side by side with Royal Norwegian Air Force personnel, integrating NATO-standard procedures while adapting to terrain and weather conditions that routinely push aircraft and human performance to their limits.

Several UK pilots involved in the deployment described northern Norway as a “full systems stress test,” where even routine lift missions demand meticulous planning. Ice accretion on rotor blades, sudden whiteout conditions, rapidly shifting winds in mountainous terrain, and extreme cold affecting aircraft systems all require constant reassessment before and during flight. In this environment, margins for error are virtually non-existent, making the region one of the most challenging rotary wing operating areas in Europe.

Training conducted under Operation Clockwork focuses on mountain flying in confined valleys, precision underslung load operations, and sustained aircraft engineering activity in temperatures that frequently fall below- 20 degrees Celsius. Snow depths can exceed one meter, and daylight may be limited to only a few hours, placing additional strain on flight crews and maintenance personnel. These skills are essential for supporting NATO land forces across northern Europe, where winter conditions can render roads impassable, leaving helicopters as the primary means of moving heavy equipment, ammunition, fuel, and troops.

A critical enabler of these operations is the Joint Helicopter Support Squadron. The JHSS is a specialist unit drawn from across the British armed forces that provides expert helicopter load handling capabilities, particularly for underslung loads carried beneath aircraft. Its personnel are trained to rig vehicles, artillery systems, engineering stores, and logistical pallets to exacting safety standards. In Arctic conditions, their role becomes even more vital, as frozen equipment, snow-covered surfaces, reduced visibility, and limited daylight significantly increase the risk during loading and unloading operations. The squadron’s expertise ensures that Chinook helicopter missions can be conducted safely and efficiently despite the severe environmental constraints.

At the center of Operation Clockwork is the Boeing CH-47 Chinook, the British Army’s primary heavy-lift helicopter and a critical enabler of UK land and joint operations. Easily identifiable by its tandem rotor configuration and twin-engine powerplant, the Chinook is capable of carrying more than 10 tonnes of cargo internally or externally, or transporting up to 55 fully equipped troops in a single lift. Within the British armed forces, the Chinook fulfills a wide range of missions, including battlefield resupply, air assault, troop insertion, casualty evacuation, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and support to special operations forces.

The aircraft’s ability to operate from austere landing zones, lift heavy payloads, and sustain high sortie rates makes it particularly valuable in harsh environments such as mountains, deserts, and the Arctic. Engineers supporting the deployment are required to maintain the Chinook fleet in extreme cold, where hydraulic systems, avionics, and structural components behave differently than in temperate climates. Joint Aviation Command considers this hands-on experience essential to maintaining real-world warfighting readiness rather than relying solely on simulated training.

Operation Clockwork ensures that Joint Aviation Command force elements held at high readiness remain capable of deploying rapidly across Europe in support of NATO operations. For alliance planners, Arctic aviation proficiency is no longer a niche capability but a core requirement as military activity and strategic competition in the High North continue to intensify. The regular presence of British Army aviation assets in Northern Norway also enhances interoperability with European allies that routinely operate in cold-weather environments.

Beyond its immediate training value, the deployment carries a clear strategic message. By sustaining a winter aviation presence deep within the Arctic Circle, the United Kingdom demonstrates it can project and sustain heavy-lift helicopter capability in one of Europe’s most demanding operational theaters. As attention increasingly shifts northward, Operation Clockwork continues to ensure that British Army Chinook forces remain a credible, deployable asset, ready to support allied operations where geography, climate, and strategic necessity converge.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.