UK and Norwegian navies strengthen drone warfare in Arctic waters

May 26, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

The UK and Norwegian navies have conducted Exercise Tamber Shield 2026 in the fjords around Bergen, testing advanced drone integration, missile evasion tactics, and counter-fast attack operations in a demanding Arctic environment.

As informed, the three-week exercise brought together Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters, Norwegian Skjold-class corvettes, uncrewed Puma drones and RAF electronic warfare specialists to refine tactics against evolving maritime and aerial threats.

Known as Tamber Shield, the exercise has been run for several years under the banner of the Joint Expeditionary Force, the UK-led coalition of northern European nations committed to regional security.

The aim of the exercise has remained constant: developing the tactics of Royal and Royal Norwegian Navies to deal with fast, agile threats in narrow waters, with new systems, additional vessels and different scenarios introduced each year.

This year, RAF electronic warfare specialists simulated infrared and radar-guided missile threats, allowing Royal Navy Wildcat crews to rehearse live countermeasure deployments using chaff and flares.

Meanwhile, 700X Squadron’s Puma drones scouted ahead of the helicopters, feeding real-time target and threat data directly into Wildcat cockpits to improve survivability and strike effectiveness.

Armed with Martlet missiles, 815 Naval Air Squadron Wildcats operated from Haakonsvern and the destroyer HMS Duncan to counter fast attack craft and aerial drone threats.

The Royal Navy patrol boats HMS Archer, HMS Biter and HMS Example operated alongside Norway’s Skjold-class corvettes during the exercise, conducting coordinated manoeuvres and simulated engagements against air assets in the fjord environment.

“Hiding in a fjord when we successfully spotted a Wildcat helicopter and were able to ‘kill’ it by simulating a surface-to-air missile attack was particularly enjoyable,” said Able Seaman Rob ‘Scotty’ Scott on his first deployment in the Royal Navy with patrol boat HMS Biter.

“Tamber Shield has been extremely beneficial,” said pilot Lt Hal Wotton of 815 Naval Air Squadron.

“It’s allowed us to refine our tactical development, using the challenging environment of the fjords to simulate realistic threat scenarios, including ambushes and counter-fast-patrol-boat engagements.”

Beyond the high-octane combat elements of the three-week workout, there were opportunities to conduct more general training, such as winching crew onto and off the tiny deck spaces on the P2000 patrol boats.

Back at 815 Squadron’s home at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset, a second exercise was run side-by-side, testing the ‘mesh’ network, which will increasingly be a key part of not just future Tamber Shields but front-line operations, seamlessly sharing data between drones, helicopters, and headquarters, to speed up decision making so Martlet operators can take out more targets, according to the navy.