NATO has launched its biggest training exercise since the fall of the Soviet Union, with military forces from all 29 NATO allies, plus partners Finland and Sweden, participating.
Exercise Trident Juncture takes place between 25th October and7th November and will see British infantry and armoured reconnaissance vehicles, Danish main battle tanks and Polish armoured fighting vehicles conduct a week-long live exercise alongside brigades led by Germany and Italy against a fictitious invading enemy in defensive and offensive operations.
It will be followed by a command post exercise between November 14th-23rd.
With some 150 aircraft, 40,000 participants and 10,000 vehicles, Exercise Trident Juncture is the largest collective defence exercise NATO has seen in over a decade.
Speaking at the launch of the exercise, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, said: “This is an important day because Trident Juncture is NATO’s biggest exercise since the end of the Cold War. It is ambitious and it is demanding.”
In total, there will be 2,700 UK Armed Forces personnel as well as six Royal Navy ships, 480 vehicles and Royal Air Force Hawk aircraft.
Armed Forces Minister Mark Lancaster: “With the Arctic and Far North becoming increasingly militarised, it is now more important than ever for the UK and our NATO Allies to train across a range of challenging environments.
“This exercise will truly test our ability to deter any aggression we may face in an era of intensifying threats.”
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