Analysis of organizational capability of NATO naval forces in Arctic

INTRODUCTION. The article reviews features of provision, force composition and capabilities, medical support, options for medical evacuation measures of NATO Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) in the Arctic region, in the Arctic theater of operations.

OBJECTIVE. To analyze the model force structure and medical support of NATO CMF in the Arctic region, ability to carry out medical evacuation measures in the conduct of hostilities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. There was analysis of Russian and foreign sources for 2013–2023, characterizing the provision of medical support of NATO CMF in the Arctic, including the use of eLIBRARY and PubMed scientometric databases. The search was conducted for the keywords: maritime medicine, Arctic, medical service, medical evacuation measures, NATO Combined Maritime Forces, US Navy, warships, hospital ships, NATO medical doctrine.

RESULTS. Analysis of available literature sources allowed to determine a probable plan of the provision of medical support of NATO CMF, which is caused by capabilities of the forces and means of medical support with an increasing complex of medical evacuation measures, performed at every level of medical assistance.

DISCUSSION. The provision of medical support of NATO CMF in the conduct of hostilities in the Arctic will be built on the principle of in-depth medical care and compliance with its levels, while there will be interaction of medical services of the coalition group with the Norwegian system of civil healthcare. It is envisaged that escalation of medical service of the naval group will be at the expense of medical service reinforcement teams and hospital; ships.

CONCLUSION. The existing system of NATO CMF medical support can pursue the mission of the armed forces (troops) with the present capability package in joint maritime operations in the Arctic theater of military action.

marine medicine, Arctic, medical service, medical evacuation measures, medical and evacuation support, medical support, military medicine, NATO Combined Maritime Forces

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