Arctic Warrior Experiment 2027
The Arctic Warrior Experiment (AWE) is the Norwegian Special Operations Command’s (NORSOCOM) primary venue for evaluating cold‑weather equipment in demanding terrain and extreme Arctic conditions.
The 2027 edition of AWE will feature a focused effort to test and assess emerging technologies designed to enhance Arctic mobility. Industry partners are invited to submit relevant concepts and systems for consideration.
Key Dates
- 1 May 2026, 13:59 CEST: Deadline for industry to nominate technologies.
Submissions must be entered via the Vulcan platform. Companies must first create an account at: https://vulcan-sof.com/
After registering, search for the call titled «Arctic Mobility Enhancements.» - January/February 2027: Selected vendors will be invited to Norway to participate in AWE for operator‑led assessment.
Arctic Mobility Enhancements
For interested companies, the call that is available within the Vulcan platform under «Arctic Mobility Enhancements» is as follows:
Problem Statement
The High North Capability Working Group (HN CDWG) consists of the US, UK, Nor and SWE; focused on Capability Development for the SOF Operator in the demanding environment of the High North. The HN CDWG is interested in the following areas, all are to be integrated with in-service over snow vehicles:
- CASEVAC solutions
- Enhanced situation awareness in white-out conditions
- Wet gap/over the beach solutions
- Arctic Signature Management
The linked video (100 dager. Alene. Sammen), illustrates some of the challenges faced when operating in this environment.
Successful venders will be invited to attend a Tech Experimentation Event in Norway, Jan 2027 for operator assessment.
Short listing and invitations anticipated to be complete by June 26.
1. CASEVAC
Context: High North Operations will inevitably test existing casualty management timelines. They are characterized by extended Lines of communication, inaccessible terrain, and some of the hardest conditions in which to operate. High North patrols must balance the requirement to carry supplies to sustain operations with the necessary equipment to use in the event of a casualty. CASEVAC is the first step in this chain: taking a casualty from point of injury to the first line of medical care.
Solutions Desired: Bespoke, lightweight and robust CASEVAC solutions that can be towed behind in-service over snow vehicles. Solutions must consume the minimum amount of space and payload when not in use but be able to be put into action rapidly. Solutions must not injure the casualty further, so must be appropriately rigid and robust, with consideration given to vibration and environmental insulation, when in use.
Alternatively, kits that utilize the in-service sleds. Providing the required material to turn a sled prepared for carriage of supplies to one that can sustain a casualty in extremis. The same constraints apply.
2. Enhanced situation awareness in white-out conditions
Context: In the modern battlespace, sensors are prolific. To the Special User the storm is a vital ally, covering movements and tracks. In whiteout conditions light is flat and visibility is measured in inches. The terrain is unforgiving, cliff edges and crevasses, impossible to see.
Solutions Desired: Sensor, radar, obstacle recognition or visual ground indicator systems that may be integrated onto in service over snow vehicles to provide operators with early warning or better situational awareness of the terrain to their front in low visibility and flat light conditions. Consideration must be given to signature management. Solutions should not sacrifice the advantage of the storm by increasing visibility of the operator to the adversary, signature management across the entirety of the EM spectrum remains key.
3. Wet gap/over the beach solutions
Context: The High North is not just snow. Rivers run, water features remain in place. Particularly in the shoulder and summer seasons. Additionally access into the High North may be from the Maritime. Traditional military bridging and littoral solutions are not viable for small units operating over extended ranges.
Solutions Desired: Bespoke, lightweight and robust solutions that consume the minimum payload and space, but be brought into action rapidly. Solutions must have organic propulsion or take parasitic drive from the in service ATVs. Solutions should remain viable in the surf zone. Ideally, the solution should be configurable or presented as a family of solutions that allow the optimising of the trade off of packed size and payload; with stability and survivability in higher sea states. Priority is finding solutions for wet gap gap crossing. Secondary is extending this capability into the littoral. Solutions must carry the in service ATVs, with trailers.
4. Arctic Signature Management for Ground Mobility Operations
Context. The High North Winter seasons provide a unique problem for thermal signature management. Small units maneuver utilizing snowmobiles or other small ground platforms. The disturbance of fresh snow caused by snowmobiles transversing may provide a unique thermal signature from the snow track that persists for several hours or even days, which can expose the small unit to an adversary.
Solutions Desired. Materiel and non-materiel solutions to mitigate the lasting thermal signature of a snowmobile tracks left in the snow or icy terrain. Materiel solutions need to be organically employable from the snowmobile with limited space, power and weight constraints placed on the machine. The solutions shall not negatively impact the maneuverability of the snowmobile in any terrains. Solutions can reduce the duration of the thermal signature of a snowmobile track left in the snow, or eliminate it completely.
