HIMARS Deploys to Arctic under Operation TUNDRA MERLIN

American Press Release + Noah Note

NOME, Alaska — U.S. Northern Command deployed an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System to Nome, Alaska on July 31, 2026, in support of Operation TUNDRA MERLIN.

The 17th Field Artillery Brigade, I Corps, deployed the HIMARS from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, to Nome aboard a Royal Canadian Air Force C-17 Globemaster III. En route to Nome, the aircraft also stopped at Fort Wainwright, Alaska to transport Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Mobile Brigade Combat Team (Air Assault), 11th Airborne Division who are also participating in Operation TUNDRA MERLIN.

The deployment brings mobile, long-range precision fires to the Alaskan theater of operations and demonstrates U.S. and Canadian forces’ capabilities to rapidly move combat equipment and personnel across the Arctic in defense of the Homeland and its approaches.

“This deployment under Operation TUNDRA MERLIN demonstrates our ability to rapidly deploy forces and seamlessly integrate joint capabilities across the Arctic,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John Cogbill, 11th Airborne Division commander. “By deploying alongside the HIMARS, we are proving our readiness to deter adversaries by demonstrating lethal, long-range precision capabilities that can hold their assets at risk.”

Operation TUNDRA MERLIN integrates assigned forces and prepares them to deter potential threats and defeat them in the Alaskan theater of operations.

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Noah Note: Usually I wouldn't count this as meeting our standards, however, because of the inclusion of a CC-177 (and the fact it's a sweet as hell picture) I decided to throw it in.