SEPTEMBER 23, 2025 – Navy explosive ordnance disposal technicians worked in tandem with 17 allied nations during Northern Challenge 2025, a multinational counter-improvised explosive device exercise Sept. 9-18 across multiple training sites in Iceland.
Hosted by the Icelandic Coast Guard, Northern Challenge is NATO’s premier exercise for countering IEDs and strengthening interoperability between allied forces. The exercise brought together more than 500 participants from Europe and North America focusing on realistic, complex scenarios including vehicle-borne bombs, remote-detonated devices and post-blast analysis.
“This is the highest level of multinational EOD training available, and it allows us to work out the friction points before we face a real-world mission,” said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Chris Bianchi, a senior EOD officer. “Exercises like Northern Challenge strengthen our ability to deter aggression, respond decisively and defend shared security interests with our Allies.”
During the exercise, Navy EOD teams employed advanced tools including the man-transportable packbot system, bomb suits, digital x-ray systems and remotely-operated aerial drones to locate, identify and neutralize explosive threats. The scenarios replicate real-world environments, forcing teams to integrate intelligence exploitation, technical procedures and rapid decision-making under operationally relevant timelines.
Participants emphasized Northern Challenge is about more than just technology — it’s about people and trust.
“By exchanging tactics, techniques and procedures with our partners, we ensure readiness and lethality across the allied force,” said Jake Ferguson, EOD senior chief. “Together, we sharpen our skills and tackle complex challenges so that when the mission comes, we can rely on each other to protect personnel and assets — and decisively eliminate enemy threats.”
Northern Challenge has been conducted annually in Iceland since 2004 and has grown in scale and complexity over two decades. The exercise remains a critical venue for NATO and partner forces to validate tactics, techniques and procedures, strengthen combined readiness and demonstrate a united commitment to security in the North Atlantic region.
By Navy Lt. Martin Carey
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group Two