A massive United States Navy submarine tore through thick Arctic ice after completing a high-risk underwater mission, offering a dramatic reminder of American naval power at a time when great-power competition in the Arctic is accelerating.

Footage shows the submarine’s sail forcing its way up through a solid layer of frozen sea ice—an operation that demands extreme precision, technical mastery, and a highly trained crew. These maneuvers are a hallmark of the Navy’s long tradition of operating under the polar ice cap, a capability dating back to the Cold War when the United States routinely used the Arctic as a stealth approach corridor to monitor Soviet movements.

The recent operation forms part of the Navy’s ongoing **ICEX** (Ice Exercise) program, where submarines train beneath the Arctic to test classified navigation systems, rehearse under-ice combat scenarios, and practice breakthrough techniques in ice conditions that can exceed several feet in thickness. These exercises are crucial for maintaining American dominance in a region where Russia and China are both expanding military footprints.

In addition to submarine maneuvers, the mission included coordinated support from Coast Guard buoy tenders and Arctic dive teams conducting torpedo recovery operations—another Cold War-era skill set that remains vital for modern warfare readiness. Recovering torpedoes beneath shifting ice shelves requires divers to operate in pitch-black, freezing conditions where even slight miscalculations can be fatal.

ICEX missions test everything from sonar performance under ice sheets to communication methods in an environment where traditional radio signals cannot penetrate the frozen surface. The breakthrough moment captured on video is the culmination of weeks of underwater transit, navigation through unpredictable ice keels, and tactical drills conducted entirely beneath the frozen Arctic.

At a moment when adversaries are probing for weaknesses and expanding influence across the High North, the U.S. Navy’s dramatic surfacing sends a clear strategic message: America still leads the world in under-ice warfare, and its submarine force remains unmatched in capability, endurance, and technological superiority.

It is a powerful demonstration of strength—and a reminder that the United States will not yield the Arctic to any rival.