Scottish seas playing key part in largest NATO exercise in decades
The seas off Scotland are playing host to significant elements of the major NATO exercise, Steadfast Defender, which will continue until the end of March – with almost every allied nation taking part.
The exercise is the largest NATO exercise in decades, during which the Alliance will demonstrate its ability to reinforce the Euro-Atlantic area via trans-Atlantic movement of forces from North America.
This year, Exercise Joint Warrior will be part of this much bigger exercise, with only limited activity in Scottish waters from Monday February 26 until Sunday March 3.
Joint Warrior 241 will then lead into Exercise Nordic Response 24, with activity moving to the waters off Norway.
Fundamental to the activity in UK territorial waters will be gunnery exercises, which took place from Monday February 26 to yesterday (February 29) on the Ministry of Defence Cape Wrath Firing Range, with NATO forces and partner nations training together to develop skills in the co-ordination of naval gunfire.
Participating nations in Joint Warrior include Belgium,
Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, the UK and the US.
Exercises like Joint Warrior are vital tools which allow the NATO Allied nations to work and train together in a realistic but controlled environment.
Military personnel have the chance to hone their skills and test the latest technologies to better protect NATO communities from ballistic missile threat.
More than 7,000 personnel will be afloat in vessels including aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships, destroyers, frigates, patrol vessels, minehunters, submarines and auxiliaries.
In addition, there will be approximately 100 fast jets and 30 helicopters involved, supported by surveillance, patrol and airto-air refuelling aircraft.
Planned by Joint Training and Exercise Planning staff, this year the exercise will be co-ordinated and controlled from the Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway.
Exercise planning staff have liaised with a variety of communities and organisations to minimise the impact of military activity.
Further information on Exercise Joint Warrior, including notices to mariners and impact statements, can be found by visiting the King’s Harbour Master Clyde’s page on the Royal Navy website.