JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — U.S. and Canadian forces conducted a joint maritime strike scenario in the Bering Sea, Sept. 18–22, 2026, as part of Operation TUNDRA MERLIN.
The scenario integrated aircraft, surface ships and a submarine under the command and control of U.S. Northern Command and Alaskan Command to validate the ability of the participating bi-national forces to find, fix, track, target, engage, and assess maritime threats.
In support of U.S. Northern Command, a Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora and the Royal Canadian Navy HMCS CORNER BROOK detected and tracked the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter ASPEN in the Bering Sea north of Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The Canadian crews relayed real-time data utilizing multiple communications pathways to enable a simulated strike on the ASPEN.
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter STRATTON supported the Royal Canadian Navy Frigate HMCS OTTAWA while conducting additional simulated strikes in coordination with U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II fighters from the 354th Fighter Wing at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.
A U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry from the 3d Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson provided Aerospace Warning and Control while an Alaska Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker from Eielson Air Force Base provided aerial refueling.
“This scenario showcases our ability to hold simulated adversarial maritime activity at risk through a seamless kill chain involving air and maritime forces,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert D. Davis, commander of Alaskan Command, the Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region and Eleventh Air Force. “Integrating operations from two Air Forces, the Royal Canadian Navy, and the U.S. Coast Guard demonstrates our collective capability and our will to defend the homelands in the Arctic.”
Operation TUNDRA MERLIN integrates forces to deter and posture to be able to defeat threats in the Alaskan Theater of Operations, strengthening homeland defense and protecting the northern approaches to North America.
Noah Note: It’s a little sad we always get this cool stuff from the American side of things, but rarely from ours. We're getting better in cases, and I think that deserves acknowledgement, but we still aint in the best place for highlighting what we're doing with partners, in this case the rare mention we get to make of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Joint Canada-US exercises continue to happen, and right now there is obviously a significant tie in to the North and Alaskan areas of operation. That is especially true of trying to build and train on multi-domain capabilities. The RCN especially is working really hard on building an all-domain capacity for Maritime Survelliance and Strike through initatives like Fight From The MOC and the Canadian Bastion and Net Concept.
These kinds of exercises allow us to trial that in a bi-national Continental enviornment, supported by similar, existing American concepts that we are trying to build in tamdem. On another note, I can't help but smile at seeing Corner Brook here. Anytime we get to see the Vicky doing cool stuff, I'm happy.
What a champion. ❤️
As Noah notes, HMCS Corner Brook is an RCN Victoria Class submarine.
While it has not received the complete Victoria Class Modernization project upgrades, the boat has been significantly upgraded from its IOC configuration. Specifically, it has received the AN/BQQ-10 sonar suite (replacing/upgrading the older Type 2040 processing architecture), the Mk 48 Mod 7AT (ADCAP) heavyweight torpedo capability, and the Protected Military Satellite Communications (PMSC) suite. It also apparently received an electronic-warfare system upgrade before RIMPAC 2026.
The BQQ-10 + Mk48 Mod 7AT combination fundamentally changes the capabilities of the class and brings it in line with the remaining Flight III 688i Los Angeles Class SSNs in the USN. It's a generation-plus behind the Seawolf and Virginia SSNs, but it's streets ahead of the IOC Victorias.