Navy eyes return to Adak amid Arctic security concerns

The U.S. Navy is looking at bringing operations back to Adak Island as China and Russia increase military activity near Alaska, a senior Navy official told state lawmakers.

Rear Admiral John Townsend said the Navy has gathered information to assess operations from Adak, though no formal decisions have been made. The assessment comes as the Department of Defense identifies the Arctic region as its top homeland defense priority.

"There are ongoing high-level discussions with military leadership across the Department of Defense about reestablishing a presence on Adak," Townsend said during a Joint Armed Services Committee hearing in Juneau. "As far as I know, no formal decisions have been made yet, but the Navy has gathered information to assess the idea of potentially conducting a more specific series of operations from Adak."

Adak hosted a major Naval Air Facility during the Cold War before the base closed in the 1990s. Its strategic location has drawn renewed attention as joint Russian-Chinese military aircraft and vessels have entered the U.S. Arctic Air Defense Identification Zone near Alaska dozens of times in recent months, according to Sen. Dan Sullivan. The Senate Commerce subcommittee recently secured $25 billion in Coast Guard funding that includes Arctic icebreakers and Nome port infrastructure.

The Navy's renewed interest in Adak follows years of military statements and exercises focused on Arctic defense. U.S. Northern Command in 2019 highlighted Russian submarines with cruise missiles as Arctic security threats, calling for enhanced regional exercises and capabilities. The military has since conducted large-scale Northern Edge and Arctic Edge exercises across Alaska sites including Nome and Dutch Harbor to counter threats from Russia and China.

Brigadier General Matthew Komatsu told lawmakers that while Russia continues Cold War patterns of activity, China's arrival in the Alaska Theater of Operations represents a new development.

"What has been most worrisome in addition to that is the arrival of the Chinese adversary activity within the AKTO," Komatsu said. "It's our job to make sure that we tell them that that is not okay."

The Navy maintains a small but significant presence in Alaska through Reserve Centers, personnel at Joint Alaska Command, training operations at Kodiak and in the Gulf of Alaska, and the Southeast Alaska Acoustic Measurement Facility near Ketchikan. Townsend said the Navy regularly visits Alaska for training activities and participates in the biennial Northern Edge exercise, next scheduled for 2027.

Townsend said the Navy also has site restoration and cleanup work occurring at several former Navy sites in Alaska.

Townsend highlighted the Navy's community engagement efforts in Alaska, including participation in symposiums and conventions such as the Alaska Forum on the Environment, Alaska Marine Science Symposium, KOMFISH Alaska, Alaska Federation of Natives Convention, Cordova Sobriety Celebration and the Juneau Maritime Festival. The Navy Band Northwest will perform at this year's maritime festival.