Highland coastal waters set for mass NATO UK-led ‘war games’ exercise Formidable Shield with invasion of multinational warships, submarines, aircraft and armed forces
A huge NATO military exercise is set to bring a spectacular invasion of warships, submarines, aircraft and armed forces personnel to Highland coastal waters from Saturday.
The ‘war games’ activity, codenamed Formidable Shield, will be led by UK forces from May 3 to May 23.
With 10 different nations taking part – Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, UK and the USA – it will be the largest at-sea, live-fire exercise in Europe.
Activity will take place off the north-west Highland coast and at the Ministry of Defence Hebrides missile testing range sites, as well as at the Andoya Test Centre in Andenes, Norway.
Formidable Shield allows NATO nations and allies to practice working together to defend its European members from ballistic missile threats.
The exercise will see a series of live-fire rehearsal events against subsonic, supersonic, and ballistic targets involving multiple allied vessels, ground forces and aviation forces from the participating nations.
Exercises like Formidable Shield are seen as vital tools which allow the NATO allied nations to work and train together in a realistic, but safe and controlled environment.
Military personnel have the opportunity to learn from each other, refine their war-fighting skills and test the latest technologies in order to better protect NATO communities from ballistic missile threat.
Exercise Formidable Shield is a joint and combined exercise, conducted by NATO’s naval striking and support forces (STRIKFORNATO) on behalf of the United States sixth fleet.
Exercise planning staff have consulted with a wide variety of communities and organisations ahead of Formidable Shield to minimise the impact of military activity.
Scottish Exercise Areas (SXAs) are managed through Fleet Ops in Northwood.
For members of the public with queries, The Fleet Ops Waterspace Manager can be contacted on 01923 956371.
