Before we look at what United States military aircraft operate in the Arctic Circle, let’s define what it is and why it is vital to America and its Allies. The word “Arctic” is a combination of two Greek words: arktikos (near the bear) and arktos (bear). In Greek, it refers to the constellation Ursa Major, the “Great Bear,” or Ursa Minor, “Little Bear,” two of 48 constellations listed by Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century AD.