Multinational search and rescue in the Arctic – findings from a concept development assessment game

The Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) facilitated a three-day concept development assessment game (CDAG) in Oslo, October 15–17, 2024. FFI conducted the game to support the multinational project Climate change in the Arctic: Security implications and consequences for military operations (CLIMARCSEC), which develops a conceptual framework to help military planners better conduct, align, and deploy resources in future multinational force operations in the Arctic.

The primary purpose of the Oslo CDAG was to provide results for a report on the implications of climate change for search and rescue (SAR). The game used scenarios which described hypo-thetical SAR missions in the Arctic. A total of 15 international participants took part in the game, playing as two operational teams which developed simple courses of action and plans for the possible SAR response within the scenarios. By comparing plans made by the two teams, the participants were able to identify several challenges that military planners must consider for missions in the Arctic.

Search and rescue in the Arctic may seem well regulated through international agreements, where SAR is treated as a national responsibility within pre-defined geographical regions. However, the Arctic is a huge area, and rescue resources are limited and thinly spread. Thus, the practical conduct of SAR will often be multinational, based on whatever resources are near the mission area. Participating units may be both civilian and military, which adds to the challenge of sharing information and coordinating operations.

Through plenary discussions, the participants identified possible recommendations and solutions to address some of the challenges. We have analysed these recommendations and grouped them into four categories:

1. ensuring international and civil-military collaboration

2. developing relevant multinational planning products and operational tools

3. conducting more multinational exercises and training

4. linking multinational SAR operations to guidance from higher-order military concepts

This report is not a comprehensive functional concept to guide multinational SAR in the Arctic. However, it provides relevant guidance if such a concept is to be developed. Additionally, the report gives valuable input to future scenario-based analyses of SAR capabilities and solutions through the description of courses of action, tasks, and challenges.