USAF expands drone operations to strengthen Arctic surveillance amid rising Russian activity

The U.S. Air Force is expanding its use of drones to improve surveillance in the Arctic, a region where increased Russian activity and NATO’s strategic presence demand enhanced monitoring. Air & Space Forces Magazine reports that at the Air, Space & Cyber Conference, USAFE commander Gen. James B. Hecker discussed several drone initiatives aimed at boosting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities in the Arctic.

• USAFE has been testing MQ-9 Reaper and RQ-4 Global Hawk drones to extend their ISR reach further north in the Arctic Circle, an area previously under-monitored by the U.S. Air Force.
• Hecker is exploring high-altitude balloons and experimental solar-powered drones to further enhance domain awareness in the region, a key area of interaction between NATO and Russia.
• The USAF is interested in adopting Ukraine’s “Sky Fortress” system, a cost-effective ISR tool that uses smartphone-connected acoustic sensors to detect and track drones. This system has shown promising results in tests conducted in Germany and Romania.
• Russian aircraft and naval presence in the Arctic has intensified, with regular interceptions by Norway and other Arctic nations, fueling the need for enhanced surveillance and defense mechanisms.
• With the recent additions of Sweden and Finland to NATO, the alliance’s Arctic surveillance capabilities have expanded. NATO is prioritizing information sharing among member nations to strengthen regional deterrence against Russia