The present disclosure relates to methods, apparatuses, and systems for unmanned underwater vehicles capable of operation in the Arctic region. An example unmanned underwater vehicle includes: a hull; one or more guide rails extending from the hull and attached to the hull by one or more legs; a vertically-deployed mast, wherein the vertically-deployed mast is configured to penetrate through an ice sheet; and a communications antenna, wherein the communications antenna is deployed with the vertically-deployed mast and enables communication above the ice sheet. The dorsally-located guide rails of an example define an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the guide rails disposed in the extended position are disposed further from the hull than the guide rails disposed in the retracted position. Embodiments described herein include systems employing air-deployable buoys, water-deployed buoys and small UUVs, and ice-penetrating buoys to support communications in the Arctic region.