Military exercise is held in Clyde waters
Arran residents will notice an increase in military vessels and aircraft over the next few weeks as the Clyde hosts the major military exercise Joint Warrior which starts this weekend.
Held twice a year thousands of service personnel from all three branches of the UK military, and personnel from allied and partner nations, will take part in the exercise which is scheduled to begin tomorrow (Sunday) and run until Thursday April 6.
Activity taking place in and around the Clyde will include around 34 fixed wing and 18 rotary wing aircraft from France, Germany, UK and the US which are being hosted by HMS Gannet at Prestwick and RAF Lossiemouth.
HM Naval Base Clyde will host around 430 additional personnel from the Joint Tactical Exercise Planning Staff who will co-ordinate the giant exercise from the Base’s Maritime Operations Centre.
Many of the warships involved will gather at the Clyde base and at Glasgow’s King George V dock ahead of the exercise, with most of the activity happening off the West and North coasts of Scotland.
One of the largest military exercises in Europe, Joint Warrior will see maritime activity from 35 naval units from Denmark, Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the US.
The exercise will provide the UK, allies and partner nations the opportunity to practice the vital skills needed on the modern battlefield. During the fortnight skills such as maritime task force training, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, mine counter measures training, maritime security operations, close air support, intelligence gathering, electronic warfare training, and GPS denial operations will all be practiced.
Exercise Joint Warrior is held twice a year, in the spring and autumn, and participation is open to all NATO allies and partners, providing high quality operational training.