U.S. Army Paratroopers Fire 600 Artillery Rounds in Alaska to Prepare for High-Intensity Arctic War.

The U.S. Army's 11th Airborne Division has completed its first battalion-level artillery live-fire evaluation in Alaska, testing whether airborne forces can deliver coordinated fire support under extreme winter conditions. The exercise involved more than 400 paratroopers and over 600 artillery rounds near Delta Junction, preparing American forces for high-intensity combat in the increasingly contested Arctic region.

U.S. Army howitzers from the 11th Airborne Division's 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, concealed under snow camouflage netting at Donnelly Training Area, Alaska, during an October 2026 exercise involving more than 600 artillery rounds fired in extreme Arctic conditions. (Picture source: U.S. Army)

The operation marks an important development for the 11th Airborne Division, known as the Arctic Angels, which specializes in warfare across Alaska and other northern environments. Rather than concentrating on conventional artillery qualification alone, the exercise examined whether dispersed firing batteries could sustain operations against an enemy capable of launching counterbattery strikes, conducting raids, and disrupting communications. The training also tested how quickly artillery crews could reposition their weapons before opposing forces could engage them.

According to information reported on October 29, 2026, the evaluation involved the 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment. The battalion deployed approximately 350 miles north from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson with 100 tactical vehicles for a 16-day exercise. Temperatures fell to around minus 18 degrees Celsius, winds reached approximately 64 km/h, and snowfall accumulated to between 30 and 46 centimeters. These conditions complicated artillery movement, equipment maintenance, and the coordination of firing missions across remote positions.

U.S. Artillery Crews Prepare for High-Intensity Combat in Alaska

The evaluation followed the U.S. Army's Artillery Table XVIII qualification framework, designed to assess a battalion's ability to coordinate multiple firing batteries while supporting maneuver forces. Individual batteries first completed their own live-fire evaluations before participating in a larger scenario combining fire direction, communications, movement, and simulated enemy engagements. Artillery crews were required to operate as an integrated combat formation rather than independent gun sections.

The battalion's artillery inventory includes the M119A3 105mm light towed howitzer and M777A2 155mm towed howitzer. Weighing approximately 2.1 tonnes, the M119A3 can fire conventional ammunition to around 14 kilometers and rocket-assisted projectiles to 19.5 kilometers. Its relatively low weight allows helicopter transport and airborne deployment, offering greater flexibility than heavier artillery systems when roads are inaccessible. The weapon can operate at temperatures down to approximately minus 32 degrees Celsius, while its digital fire-control system is rated to around minus 43 degrees Celsius, although extreme cold can still affect reliability.

The M777A2 provides heavier firepower through its 155mm ammunition, reaching approximately 24 kilometers with conventional projectiles and farther with compatible precision-guided rounds. Its titanium-intensive construction reduces weight compared with traditional 155mm howitzers, facilitating air transport into remote areas. However, Arctic conditions impose limitations on both weapons. Frozen ground complicates the emplacement and stabilization of the M777A2, while deep snow restricts towing vehicles. The M119A3's smaller footprint and easier air deployment make it particularly useful for rapidly establishing firing positions, while the M777A2 offers greater range and destructive effect against enemy concentrations and fortified positions.

The central challenge during the evaluation was survivability. American artillery crews faced simulated enemy counterbattery fire and hit-and-run attacks intended to reproduce threats encountered during conventional warfare. Instead of remaining in established positions after firing, the paratroopers had to displace their howitzers, establish new firing points, and resume missions while maintaining coordination with other batteries. This ability to fire and relocate is particularly important against opponents equipped with counterbattery radars, reconnaissance drones and long-range precision weapons, although the time required to move artillery across snow-covered terrain remains a critical limitation.

Arctic Division Prepares New Artillery Command Structure for 2027

The exercise also tested the ability of airborne artillery units to support dispersed formations without relying on permanently established firebases. Coordinating batteries across remote positions allows commanders to concentrate indirect fire against selected targets while reducing exposure to enemy counterbattery strikes. However, limited road access, ammunition resupply difficulties, and the need to maintain equipment in extreme cold can directly affect the pace of operations. During prolonged engagements, these logistical constraints become particularly demanding as artillery units must repeatedly change positions without interrupting fire support.

The evaluation contributes to the division's planned establishment of a dedicated Division Artillery headquarters in 2027. Such a structure would provide greater capacity to supervise artillery training, coordinate fire-support units, and integrate indirect fires across divisional operations. It would also strengthen the division's ability to coordinate artillery assets during larger engagements, where multiple airborne formations may require simultaneous support over considerable distances.

The exercise comes as NATO expands its military posture across the Arctic, particularly in Norway, Finland and Sweden, where northern territory and proximity to Russia create direct defense requirements. Denmark, through Greenland, and Canada also have interests in protecting Arctic approaches, surveillance infrastructure and emerging maritime routes. Russia's Northern Fleet operates from the Kola Peninsula, close to northern Norway and Finland, while the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom gap remains essential for monitoring submarine movements and securing Atlantic reinforcement routes. With Finland and Sweden now integrated into NATO, the ability to deploy artillery and sustain ground combat in extreme cold has become increasingly relevant to the Alliance's northern defense planning.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests include security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.

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