Joint Warrior

A 13-day military exercise off the Western Isles and north of Scotland is underway.

The Joint Warrior manoeuvres involves 30 warships and submarines, 60 aircraft, and around 6,300 personnel from the 12 nations.

Ships, submarines, aircraft and ground troops from the UK, US and other Nato allies are taking part.

Nato warships and small high speed boats may accompany the submarine activity around Hebridean waters.

Local fishing boats may be “challenged” or asked to indicate their identity by military ships. They also face been buzzed by helicopters.

GPS jamming in the Minch may affect fishing boats and ferries' satellite navigation systems.

Minesweepers will be hunting for mock ordnances in Broadbay, laid on the bottom and also floating above the seabed, between Back and Point.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: “This UK-led exercise is a powerful demonstration of Nato's collective determination to defend our allies against any threat.

“Training with other nations’ forces on land, sea, and in the air, will significantly enhance our ability to conduct joint operations.”

Commodore Toby Williamson, Commander Operational Training and the Royal Navy’s lead for training and exercising at this level, said: “Exercise Joint Warrior is an opportunity to practise with and against our coalition partners, experiment and learn from them, and ultimately hone our tactics to the highest possible level.

“Sometimes, a single warship is able to fight alone and unafraid, but normally, the UK would provide security at sea as part of a task group, integrated across land, sea and air, alongside our coalition partners.”

Military wargames off the Hebrides

4 October 2015