Tri-Service

Huge NATO Exercise Gets Underway

Trident Juncture - the biggest NATO exercise of its kind for 13 years - is underway across Europe.

Involving more than 30 partner or allied nations, there are 36,000 personnel taking part, spread across Europe, the Atlantic and Canada.

There are 140 aircraft, around 60 ships and more than 1,000 Special Operations Forces personnel from ten countries - a chance to test how well they work together.

Footage on NATO's YouTube channel shows US troops being tested in a dramatic scenario involving a submarine.

Forces TV's Laura Hawkins, meanwhile, is at an airbase in Palma, Mallorca, with the latest on the role of the 100th Air Refuelling Wing.

More from Forces TV:NATO Exercise Trident Juncture Underway

Picture: DVIDS / 1st Lt. Christopher Mesnard

NATO relies on effective coordination between Land, Air, Sea and Special Forces.

Maj Gen Hans Van Griensven, Joint Force Command (JFC) Brunssum said:

"The big advantage of air is that it's very fast. we use it for everything, for transport of personnel and material, we use it for delivery of weapons systems, we use it for medical evacuation for example - to get wounded people out of the theatre."