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U.S. Army Enhances Arctic Warfare Capabilities of AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopters in Alaska.
On February 13, 2026, soldiers from Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment under the U.S. Army launched AH-64E Apache Guardians from snow-covered pads at Fort Wainwright during Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center rotation 26-02. The drills underscore how the Army is sharpening Arctic combat aviation capabilities as strategic competition intensifies across the high north.
On February 13, 2026, U.S. Soldiers from Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment of the 11th Airborne Division lifted off in AH-64E Apache Guardians from snow-covered pads at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, during the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center rotation 26-02. The images and details, released through the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS), show attack aviation crews conducting safety checks and launch procedures ahead of air assault training in extreme cold. In a region increasingly contested by major powers, these scenes illustrate how the U.S. Army is turning Alaska into a live laboratory for large-scale combat operations in the Arctic. By combining a dedicated Arctic division with its most modern attack helicopter, the service signals that high-latitude deterrence is now backed by credible, cold-weather-proven firepower.
U.S. Army soldiers launched AH-64E Apache helicopters from snow-covered pads in Alaska during JPMRC 26-02, showcasing expanded Arctic combat aviation capabilities under extreme cold conditions (Picture Source: DVIDS)
The JPMRC 26-02 rotation at the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center is described by the Army as its premier Arctic-focused training event, designed to certify units for large-scale combat operations in some of the harshest conditions on earth. At Fort Wainwright, the exercise brings together aviation, airborne and air assault units to rehearse rapid concentration of combat power across frozen terrain, in low visibility and extreme cold. The AH-64E sorties captured by DVIDS are not isolated training flights; they are part of a force-on-force scenario in which attack helicopters provide reconnaissance, escort and precision fires for Arctic infantry brigades advancing on dispersed objectives. This setting allows Apache crews to test navigation, targeting and command-and-control procedures under the same environmental constraints they would face in a real contingency north of the Arctic Circle.
The AH-64E Apache Guardian represents the most modern iteration of the Apache family, combining uprated engines, advanced sensors and a fully networked mission system optimized for high-intensity combat. Its integrated sensor suite, mast-mounted radar and electro-optical/infrared systems allow crews to detect, classify and prioritize multiple targets at long range, even in low light and degraded visual environments typical of Arctic winters. The helicopter can exchange data in real time with ground units and other aircraft via digital links, and it has the ability to control unmanned aerial systems directly from the cockpit, extending the division’s reconnaissance and target acquisition reach without exposing the helicopter to unnecessary risk. These features, originally designed for complex battlefields in other theaters, translate directly into an ability to find and engage concealed vehicles, command posts or missile launchers across vast, snow-covered areas while maintaining standoff from enemy air defenses.
Decades of operational use give the Apache platform a significant combat pedigree, from its first employment in the late Cold War to extensive use in Iraq, Afghanistan and other campaigns. Over time, continuous upgrades have kept the type relevant in network-centric warfare, with the AH-64E now serving as the standard for U.S. attack aviation and being adopted by several allied air forces. In parallel, the 11th Airborne Division was reactivated in 2022 and reoriented as an Arctic-focused formation, bringing together light infantry, airborne and aviation assets under the “Arctic Angels” banner to specialize in cold-weather operations. The combination of a battle-proven, modernized attack helicopter with a division purpose-built for Arctic operations is therefore not a coincidence: it reflects a deliberate effort to ensure that lessons learned over decades of expeditionary warfare are adapted to high-latitude scenarios.
At the tactical level, the AH-64E plays a central role in how the Arctic Angels intend to fight. In a typical JPMRC scenario, attack helicopters provide armed reconnaissance ahead of air assault insertions, identify enemy defensive belts and deliver precision fires to open corridors for assaulting infantry and supporting armor. From concealed hull-down positions behind terrain features or tree lines, Apaches can use their sensors to scan for enemy movement over frozen rivers, valleys and road networks, guiding artillery fires or directing ground units around stronger positions. During JPMRC 26-02, aviation units are also rehearsing integration of attack helicopters with airborne forces, testing how quickly they can respond to calls for fire, re-task between axes of advance and sustain operations through prolonged cold nights. This level of integration is essential for large-scale combat operations, where the tempo of maneuver and the density of threats require attack aviation to act as both shield and spear for ground formations.
Beyond immediate training objectives, the exercise carries clear strategic implications. The Arctic is emerging as a zone of competition, with increased military activity and interest in new sea routes, undersea resources and polar approaches to North America and Europe. The reorganization of forces in Alaska under an Arctic-designated division, combined with the establishment of JPMRC-Alaska as a full-fledged combat training center, reflects a recognition that this environment demands tailored doctrine, equipment and readiness cycles. By demonstrating that attack aviation can generate sustained combat power in this theater, the U.S. sends a signal to potential adversaries that any attempt to threaten its northern approaches or to coerce allies in the High North would face a force capable of operating effectively in deep cold, over distance and at scale. This message is particularly relevant at a time when Arctic activity by states such as Russia and China is under close scrutiny.
Military planners also view Alaska as a bridge between the polar region and the wider Indo-Pacific region. From bases such as Fort Wainwright and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, forces can project either toward the Arctic or across the Pacific, making the state a strategic hub for multi-theater operations. Integrating the AH-64E into JPMRC 26-02 scenarios ensures that crews are not only proficient in cold-weather flight, but also ready to plug into joint and multinational command architectures, share targeting data with allied forces and support operations ranging from deterrence patrols to rapid reinforcement missions. This dual-role posture, Arctic defense and Pacific contingency support, reinforces the helicopter’s value as a flexible instrument of deterrence, able to shift rapidly between theaters while maintaining a consistent standard of readiness.
The effort invested in JPMRC 26-02 shows that Arctic attack aviation is no longer a niche capability but a core component of U.S. defense posture at high latitudes. The images of AH-64E crews conducting meticulous safety checks, lifting off in sub-zero conditions and supporting air assault training underscore a broader transformation: Alaska is being treated as an operational proving ground, not a remote outpost. By pairing the 11th Airborne Division’s Arctic specialization with the firepower and networking capabilities of the Apache Guardian, the U.S. Army is building a credible combat team designed to deter, and if necessary fight, in one of the world’s most demanding environments.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.