More than 30 ships and aircraft gather around UK for major Royal Navy-led exercise

Medium-calibre guns will be fired at Cape Wrath as part of a multinational military exercise involving more than 30 ships and aircraft.

Exercise Strike Warrior began on 21 September and will run until 9 October in waters spanning the North Sea, Outer Hebrides and the Atlantic Ocean.

The Royal Navy has released few details about the scenario or the forces involved so far. However, an environmental assessment published for the exercise provides a clearer picture of the planned activity.

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It says Cape Wrath, on the north-western tip of Scotland, will be the only location used for shore bombardment – gunfire directed from the sea against targets on land.

Other gunnery exercises will take place at sea, with any targets left floating required to be recovered or destroyed.

Exercise Strike Warrior will also include anti-submarine warfare, air defence, surface warfare and strike operations.

Active sonar can be used during the submarine-hunting phase. 

The environmental plan sets strict conditions for any use of active sonar, which sends sound pulses through the water to help locate submarines.

Marine mammal observers must be stationed on deck for at least an hour before transmissions begin, remain on watch while the sonar is operating and continue monitoring the water afterwards.

If an animal is spotted within 2,000 yards, the sonar must be delayed or switched off. 

Transmissions cannot begin again until 60 minutes after the last sighting, reduced to 30 minutes in water shallower than 200 metres.

Forces from several invited countries are involved, including Germany. 

FGS Berlin, a German Navy replenishment ship serving as the flagship of Nato's Standing Maritime Group 1, is among those confirmed. 

The vessel had arrived in Scotland ahead of the exercise to refuel and allow the crew time to rest before starting training.

The previous Strike Warrior exercise in 2024 was centred on HMS Prince of Wales and the UK Carrier Strike Group.

During Strike Warrior in 2024, the carrier group conducted anti-submarine and air-defence training, including scenarios involving aggressor aircraft, anti-ship cruise missiles and attacks by uncrewed systems.

The exercise was one of its final trainings before the Carrier Strike Group deployed to the Indo-Pacific in 2025.