The NATO Centre of Excellence for Cold Weather Operations is a substantial force-multiplier for advancing NATO capabilities and interoperability in cold weather environments.
Throughout history, areas with extremely cold environments have hampered, and even halted, large military formations, be it on water, on land or in the air. In recent decades Climate Change has made areas of the world more accessible which were previously inaccessible for most commercial and military capabilities. However, cold weather will continue to be a dominating factor in these areas and the need for cold weather competence in the Alliance has subsequently increased. The challenges, and possibilities, for military forces that come with the cold weather environment is not new, but in the current geopolitical situation, it is more relevant than before. Simply put, the northern part of the globe is likely to face increased geopolitical competition in the future.
In 2023, the Cold Weather Operations Centre of Excellence hosted the biennial Cold Weather Operations Conference in Hamar, Norway. This event is the premier opportunity for in the Cold Weather Community of Interest to connect and to urge for more competencies regarding warfighting in the Arctic. The conference gathered over 400 scientists, military professionals and personnel from the cold weather enterprise from 18 nations for three days of knowledge sharing and network building. The theme of the 2023 conference was Warfare Development for the High North and highlighted current and future geopolitical, military strategic and environmental trends that have implications for development of operations in extremely cold environments.
Much of the information from the conference is later used by the Cold Weather Operations Centre of Excellence to develop guiding documents for the Alliance, such as a publication regarding Land Tactical operations in a Cold Weather Environment, and the upcoming Alliance Concept for Cold Weather Operations. These publications will establish new guidelines for NATO regarding warfighting in an environment that can become a second enemy without proper preparation.
During NATO’s largest military exercise since the Cold War (Steadfast Defender 24) the centre supported NATO’s Joint Force Command Norfolk and Joint Warfare Centre with Cold Weather subject matter expertise. At the same time, they also conducted a pilot experiment in order to validate the Alliance Concept for Cold Weather Operations. This will new concept will significantly enhance NATO’s understanding of operations in cold weather environments.
On an operational level, the severe cold of the past two winters in Ukraine has negatively impacted both Ukrainian and Russian forces. To help Ukraine better withstand these harsh conditions, the Cold Weather Operations Centre of Excellence has partnered with the Odessa Military Academy. They have provided training, translated manuals, and other educational materials to equip Ukrainian troops to fight effectively against both their enemies and the extreme weather. In return, the Centre is gaining valuable insights into the challenges of winter warfare, which will allow them to improve NATO’s abilities in such environments.
The Centre has contributed expertise to various research and development projects that will enhance NATO’s capabilities. One example is the development of an avalanche sensor for drones, which will improve the safety of individuals and units at risk of avalanches.
The Cold Weather Operations Centre of Excellence is dedicated to strengthening NATO by fostering cooperation among member and partner nations. By facilitating collaboration and knowledge-sharing, particularly among countries with Arctic expertise, they aim to equip NATO forces with the capabilities to operate effectively in any environment, regardless of conditions.
