Air and Missile Defense in the High North: Strategic Importance, Technological Advancements, and Security Challenges

Aaron Ayeta Mulyanyuma

doi:doi:10.11648/j.scif.20260202.15

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Air and Missile Defense in the High North: Strategic Importance, Technological Advancements, and Security Challenges

Aaron Ayeta Mulyanyuma^*

Published in Science Futures (Volume 2, Issue 2)

Received: 12 June 2025 Accepted: 5 July 2025 Published: 30 January 2026

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Abstract

This study discusses the evolving features of air and missile defense in the High North, highlighting the strategic significance of the region, new technologies, and new security threats. Climate change is profoundly reshaping Arctic security dynamics by accelerating ice melting, opening new sea routes, and expanding access to untapped natural resources-factors that are escalating geopolitical competition in the region. In turn, defense pacts and global cooperation, such as North American Aerospace Defense Command and North Atlantic Treaty Organization, have increasingly become part of the equation in forging a unified and strong Arctic defense policy. These cooperative arrangements are paramount in the solution of shared security issues and in ensuring a common deterrent position. Next-generation radar technologies, hypersonic interceptors, and autonomous surveillance systems are constructing defenses against advanced threats such as hypersonic missiles, drone swarms, and cruise missiles. However, extreme environmental conditions of High North, inadequacies of infrastructure in it, and dynamic environments of modern warfare also continue to pose substantive operational and strategic challenges. This study shows the need for adaptive responses, ongoing innovation, and greater global collaboration to effectively realize the strategic interests of the Arctic.

Published in	Science Futures (Volume 2, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.scif.20260202.15
Page(s)	140-157
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

High North, Air Defense, Missile Defense, Arctic Security, Geopolitical Significance, Technological Advancements, Regional Stability

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Mulyanyuma, A. A. (2026). Air and Missile Defense in the High North: Strategic Importance, Technological Advancements, and Security Challenges. Science Futures, 2(2), 140-157. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scif.20260202.15

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Mulyanyuma, A. A. Air and Missile Defense in the High North: Strategic Importance, Technological Advancements, and Security Challenges. Sci. Futures 2026, 2(2), 140-157. doi: 10.11648/j.scif.20260202.15

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AMA Style

Mulyanyuma AA. Air and Missile Defense in the High North: Strategic Importance, Technological Advancements, and Security Challenges. Sci Futures. 2026;2(2):140-157. doi: 10.11648/j.scif.20260202.15

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@article{10.11648/j.scif.20260202.15,
  author = {Aaron Ayeta Mulyanyuma},
  title = {Air and Missile Defense in the High North: Strategic Importance, Technological Advancements, and Security Challenges},
  journal = {Science Futures},
  volume = {2},
  number = {2},
  pages = {140-157},
  doi = {10.11648/j.scif.20260202.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scif.20260202.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.scif.20260202.15},
  abstract = {This study discusses the evolving features of air and missile defense in the High North, highlighting the strategic significance of the region, new technologies, and new security threats. Climate change is profoundly reshaping Arctic security dynamics by accelerating ice melting, opening new sea routes, and expanding access to untapped natural resources-factors that are escalating geopolitical competition in the region. In turn, defense pacts and global cooperation, such as North American Aerospace Defense Command and North Atlantic Treaty Organization, have increasingly become part of the equation in forging a unified and strong Arctic defense policy. These cooperative arrangements are paramount in the solution of shared security issues and in ensuring a common deterrent position. Next-generation radar technologies, hypersonic interceptors, and autonomous surveillance systems are constructing defenses against advanced threats such as hypersonic missiles, drone swarms, and cruise missiles. However, extreme environmental conditions of High North, inadequacies of infrastructure in it, and dynamic environments of modern warfare also continue to pose substantive operational and strategic challenges. This study shows the need for adaptive responses, ongoing innovation, and greater global collaboration to effectively realize the strategic interests of the Arctic.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Air and Missile Defense in the High North: Strategic Importance, Technological Advancements, and Security Challenges
AU  - Aaron Ayeta Mulyanyuma
Y1  - 2026/01/30
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scif.20260202.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.scif.20260202.15
T2  - Science Futures
JF  - Science Futures
JO  - Science Futures
SP  - 140
EP  - 157
PB  - Science Publishing Group
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scif.20260202.15
AB  - This study discusses the evolving features of air and missile defense in the High North, highlighting the strategic significance of the region, new technologies, and new security threats. Climate change is profoundly reshaping Arctic security dynamics by accelerating ice melting, opening new sea routes, and expanding access to untapped natural resources-factors that are escalating geopolitical competition in the region. In turn, defense pacts and global cooperation, such as North American Aerospace Defense Command and North Atlantic Treaty Organization, have increasingly become part of the equation in forging a unified and strong Arctic defense policy. These cooperative arrangements are paramount in the solution of shared security issues and in ensuring a common deterrent position. Next-generation radar technologies, hypersonic interceptors, and autonomous surveillance systems are constructing defenses against advanced threats such as hypersonic missiles, drone swarms, and cruise missiles. However, extreme environmental conditions of High North, inadequacies of infrastructure in it, and dynamic environments of modern warfare also continue to pose substantive operational and strategic challenges. This study shows the need for adaptive responses, ongoing innovation, and greater global collaboration to effectively realize the strategic interests of the Arctic.
VL  - 2
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Aaron Ayeta Mulyanyuma

Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

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http://orcid.org/0009-0005-3615-5412

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APA Style

Mulyanyuma, A. A. (2026). Air and Missile Defense in the High North: Strategic Importance, Technological Advancements, and Security Challenges. Science Futures, 2(2), 140-157. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scif.20260202.15

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ACS Style

Mulyanyuma, A. A. Air and Missile Defense in the High North: Strategic Importance, Technological Advancements, and Security Challenges. Sci. Futures 2026, 2(2), 140-157. doi: 10.11648/j.scif.20260202.15

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AMA Style

Mulyanyuma AA. Air and Missile Defense in the High North: Strategic Importance, Technological Advancements, and Security Challenges. Sci Futures. 2026;2(2):140-157. doi: 10.11648/j.scif.20260202.15

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.scif.20260202.15,
  author = {Aaron Ayeta Mulyanyuma},
  title = {Air and Missile Defense in the High North: Strategic Importance, Technological Advancements, and Security Challenges},
  journal = {Science Futures},
  volume = {2},
  number = {2},
  pages = {140-157},
  doi = {10.11648/j.scif.20260202.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scif.20260202.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.scif.20260202.15},
  abstract = {This study discusses the evolving features of air and missile defense in the High North, highlighting the strategic significance of the region, new technologies, and new security threats. Climate change is profoundly reshaping Arctic security dynamics by accelerating ice melting, opening new sea routes, and expanding access to untapped natural resources-factors that are escalating geopolitical competition in the region. In turn, defense pacts and global cooperation, such as North American Aerospace Defense Command and North Atlantic Treaty Organization, have increasingly become part of the equation in forging a unified and strong Arctic defense policy. These cooperative arrangements are paramount in the solution of shared security issues and in ensuring a common deterrent position. Next-generation radar technologies, hypersonic interceptors, and autonomous surveillance systems are constructing defenses against advanced threats such as hypersonic missiles, drone swarms, and cruise missiles. However, extreme environmental conditions of High North, inadequacies of infrastructure in it, and dynamic environments of modern warfare also continue to pose substantive operational and strategic challenges. This study shows the need for adaptive responses, ongoing innovation, and greater global collaboration to effectively realize the strategic interests of the Arctic.},
 year = {2026}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Air and Missile Defense in the High North: Strategic Importance, Technological Advancements, and Security Challenges
AU  - Aaron Ayeta Mulyanyuma
Y1  - 2026/01/30
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scif.20260202.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.scif.20260202.15
T2  - Science Futures
JF  - Science Futures
JO  - Science Futures
SP  - 140
EP  - 157
PB  - Science Publishing Group
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scif.20260202.15
AB  - This study discusses the evolving features of air and missile defense in the High North, highlighting the strategic significance of the region, new technologies, and new security threats. Climate change is profoundly reshaping Arctic security dynamics by accelerating ice melting, opening new sea routes, and expanding access to untapped natural resources-factors that are escalating geopolitical competition in the region. In turn, defense pacts and global cooperation, such as North American Aerospace Defense Command and North Atlantic Treaty Organization, have increasingly become part of the equation in forging a unified and strong Arctic defense policy. These cooperative arrangements are paramount in the solution of shared security issues and in ensuring a common deterrent position. Next-generation radar technologies, hypersonic interceptors, and autonomous surveillance systems are constructing defenses against advanced threats such as hypersonic missiles, drone swarms, and cruise missiles. However, extreme environmental conditions of High North, inadequacies of infrastructure in it, and dynamic environments of modern warfare also continue to pose substantive operational and strategic challenges. This study shows the need for adaptive responses, ongoing innovation, and greater global collaboration to effectively realize the strategic interests of the Arctic.
VL  - 2
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download