Tri-Service

What Britain Will Bring To Historic NATO Exercise

By Laura Hawkins.

NATO has called it the most ambitious exercise in its modern history.

230 military units, 140 aircraft and more than 60 ships will make up Exercise Trident Juncture.

Bringing together some 36,000 international troops from 30 nations, it’ll test the NATO Response Force (NRF) and other allied forces, and will involve all three of the UK's services – the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force.

Spain, Italy and Portugal are the host countries, but Canada, Norway, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea will also see military action unfold.

Click below to take a look at the Italian Typhoons that will be taking part:

Picture: Matthias Kabel

The UK will commit around 2,800 personnel to Trident Juncture, including an Army Brigade Headquarters and Battlegroup, three Royal Navy warships and aircraft, and Typhoon fighter jets and helicopters.

Amphibious ship HMS Bulwark will take part, together with helicopter carrier HMS Ocean - the UK’s largest warship and the flagship for Trident Juncture.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:

“In a darker and more dangerous world, it is vital that we work with our NATO partners so we can respond to any threat. That’s why the UK will be right there at the heart of Exercise Trident Juncture – contributing nearly 3,000 troops, our two largest warships and our Typhoon fighter jets."

“The exercise will help preparations for NATO’s new rapid reaction taskforce, which the UK will provide troops for every year into the next decade and which we will lead in 2017.”

Over five weeks, Trident Juncture will put the NATO Response Force through its paces – with specific focus on how it responds to a crisis situation – demonstrating NATO’s readiness, flexibility and capability of responding to threats from any direction.

The two-part exercise, NATO’s biggest since 2002, will also ensure that NATO allies and partners can work together effectively.

Another important facet of Trident Juncture is to test the functions of the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force – or Spearhead Force – ahead of it becoming fully operational next year.

Vice Admiral Ian Corder, the UK’s Military representative to NATO and the EU, said:

“Trident Juncture is the biggest and most ambitious NATO exercise in more than a decade, focused on exercising crisis response, collective defence, and helping to shape the future adaptation and posture of the alliance."

“It will demonstrate the alliance’s capability, readiness, and ability to address whatever threats it may face, now and in the future.

“I am delighted the UK personnel will be playing such a major part in this key undertaking alongside our allies and partners. It will be a clear demonstration of the UK’s unwavering commitment to NATO solidarity and security.”