Ex Cobra Warrior takes off from rain-hit RAF Waddington with F-18s, Typhoons and Hercules

Rain lashed the runway at RAF Waddington as Canadian Hercules, F-18s and German Typhoons roared into the Lincolnshire skies at the start of Exercise Cobra Warrior.

The exercise brings together forces from Canada, Germany, Italy, and the United States for three weeks of intensive air combat training hosted by the Royal Air Force.

Drills will aim to develop the joint mission planning, integration, and tactical skills of the UK and its partners.

• RAF Regiment gunners in action on international exercise on land and in the air
• Eagles from the desert take to skies over Britain on Exercise Cobra Warrior
• Double the usual number of missions flown on the latest Cobra Warrior

Designed to test allied crews in demanding scenarios, the exercise includes simulated enemy attacks and electronic warfare.

"Our job [is to] understand the threat, plan for the threat and then defeat the threat airborne," Canada's Lieutenant Colonel Maxime Renaud, the Air Task Force Commander, said.

Fighter jets, refuelling tankers, reconnaissance aircraft and a US B-52 bomber are involved in a collective effort with ground forces coordinating the effort.

Jill Matterface, Officer Commanding Base Support Wing at RAF Waddington, said: "So, whilst we all may have similar equipment, it's our opportunity to run through how we operate, run through our tactics, and it's also a really good opportunity for 92 Squadron to train their qualified weapons instructors."

The drills began on 12 September and will run until 3 October, using several UK bases to test different skills across the allied nations.