USS Gerald R. Ford vs "Ash Trees": how NATO hunted for a Russian submarine in the Arctic

 

Why did Ford go to the Norwegian Sea

At the end of August 2025, the US aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, the most expensive and technologically advanced ship in the world, entered the waters north of Norway. His strike group was part of a multinational NATO force, including ships from Britain, France, Germany and Norway. It was not just a visit: Ford became the center of the largest anti-submarine operation since the Cold War.

The main goal is to demonstrate the US presence in the Arctic and to test the allies' readiness to act in extreme conditions. But soon things got more serious: signs of Russian submarine activity appeared in the depths of the Norwegian Sea.

Three Ash trees in the open sea — a signal or a threat?

The intelligence information was alarming: all three nuclear submarines of the Yasen project — Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk and Kazan — left their base on the Kola Peninsula. These boats are among the most dangerous in the Northern Fleet. They can launch Kalibr cruise missiles and Zircon hypersonic missiles capable of hitting targets at a distance of more than 1,000 km.

For NATO, the fact of their going to sea is already a challenge. Especially if they are approaching the area where Gerald R. Ford is located. A strike on an aircraft carrier, even a simulated one, would have given Russia a huge propaganda gain.

Aerial Hunting: P-8 Poseidon and Hammer Tactics

The NATO response was instant. P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft from the United States, Great Britain and Norway began a massive patrol near the Lofoten Islands. In 48 hours, more than 27 sorties were flown. The machines dropped hundreds of radiosondes, listened to the bottom and searched for the slightest acoustic anomalies.

If there was a target, the "hammering" tactic was used: continuous sonar pulses and dense buoy fields. This long-standing Cold War practice puts the submarine's crew in a stressful state, makes it difficult to hide, and may force them to retreat. In fact, this is psychological and technical suppression.

Why the Arctic has become a battlefield again

The Norwegian Sea is a key passage between the Atlantic and the Arctic. Controlling it means controlling the reinforcement routes for Europe. Russia has been strengthening the Northern Fleet for a long time, and the melting of the ice opens up new ways for warships.

This incident is not an isolated incident. He is part of a new reality: the competition of the great powers is going underwater again. Submarines monitor each other, planes patrol, and surface ships demonstrate strength. At the same time, both sides comply with the rules (for example, the INCSEA agreement) in order to avoid accidental collisions.

But the tension is growing. And each such episode reminds us that a real war can begin not with a shot, but with a signal on the sonar screen.

Sources

1. Defence Security Asia — NATO’s high-intensity hunt for a Russian Yasen boat threatening USS Gerald R. Ford; strategic Arctic showdown
2. Army Recognition — Large-scale ASW operation in Norwegian Sea with P-8A Poseidon & multi-national forces
3. Arctic Today — All three Northern Fleet Yasen-class subs at sea during Allied carrier exercise
4. Yahoo News UK — Analysis of U.S. carrier group vs Russian submarine stand-off
5. High North News — U.S. destroyers & Norwegian frigate patrol Arctic as NATO forces search for Russian attack boat
6. Responsible Statecraft — Strategic threat assessment of Yasen-class boats and their modern weapons
7. Newsweek — Photos of Russian units shadowing U.S./NATI strike group off northern Norway

China to strengthen Northern Fleet: two new 052DM destroyers commissioned

Heze (tail number 126)

The Chinese shipbuilding company Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company (DSIC) has officially handed over two new advanced guided missile destroyers, Type 052DM, to the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy. These ships are assigned to the Northern Theater of Operations Command.

The new destroyers were named Heze (tail number 126) and Zhumadian (tail number 127). Both vessels were built at DSIC's first assembly plant in Dalian. Their official commissioning took place in July 2025, which will significantly strengthen the combat power of the North Sea Fleet.

The construction of these ships proceeded rapidly: the Heze was launched on March 10, 2023, and the Zhumadian on August 28 of the same year. After completion and testing, they were assigned to their permanent duty stations: Heze was assigned to the 10th destroyer detachment, and Zhumadian to the 1st detachment of the North Sea Fleet.

The Type 052DM destroyers are upgraded versions of the well-established 052D class, equipped with improved radars, electronic warfare systems, and possibly updated vertical launchers. Their appearance is another evidence of the large—scale and continuous modernization program of the Chinese Navy.