A major multinational military exercise is set to get underway in October with dozens of ships, aircraft and land units participating across Scotland.
Exercise Joint Warrior is a tri-service multinational exercise held during the spring and autumn of each year. Providing high quality tactical training for the three UK Armed Services, as well as visiting units from allied nations, the exercise will allow them to practice the vital skills needed in modern conflicts.
Running for two weeks, this latest exercise will see participation by 16 separate naval units, over 40 fixed wing aircraft and a number of UK and allied land forces.
The maritime contingent will involve ships from France, Denmark and Norway with Commander Danish Task Group leading the operations on board HDMS Absalon.
Royal Navy ships taking part include HMS Monmouth, HMS Portland, HMS Somerset, HMS Sutherland, HMS Cattistock, HMS Brocklesby, HMS Bangor and Type 23 Frigate HMS Northumberland which will stop off at Glasgow ahead of the exercise.
HM Naval Base Clyde will also be participating, with the military site being used by Joint Tactical Exercise Planning Staff (JTEPS) to co-ordinate and plan the exercise. Up to 150 additional personnel, around a third of them Reservists, are expected at the site during the duration of Joint Warrior.
Both RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Leuchars will also be involved in the massive exercise. Lossiemouth will be deploying Tornado GR4 aircraft and hosting Maritime Patrol Aircraft from the US, Canada, France and Germany, while Typhoon aircraft will leave from RAF Leuchars.
A small number of UK and allied land forces will also be conducting military training, using defence training estate ranges, commercial ranges, Highland Agency and private land throughout Scotland.
Key to Exercise Joint Warrior is the opportunity to practice and improve procedures that are increasingly required of today’s modern Armed Forces.
Skills being practiced during the fortnight will include: maritime task force training; mine countermeasures training; counter piracy, narcotics and insurgency; electronic warfare training, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare training; logistics and support training; and air land integration and air maritime integration.
Another essential part of preparation for real-world operations is GPS denial and during the upcoming exercise GPS jamming will be practiced.
Limited to a confined area in North West Scotland at specific times, the relevant authorities, including aviation and maritime communities have been consulted. Robust procedures are also in place to minimise the impact of the activity and for any unforeseen eventuality.
[mappress] Press Release, October 03, 2013; Image: Royal Navy