Exercise Joint Warrior (Again) – Scotland is set to host largest military exercise in Europe again during October (2012).       The tri-Service, multinational exercise, which is held twice a year, will see participation from 27 separate naval units, 40 aircraft and a variety of UK and allied land forces.   The (UK) Joint Tactical Exercise Planning Staff will operate from the Headquarters for the exercise from HM Naval Base Clyde, Faslane.    Around 150 service personnel, many of them reservists, will set up a Joint Warfare Operations Centre to co-ordinate and manage the massive exercise.     Taking part will be ships from the UK, the US, Belgium, Germany, Holland, France, Norway, Denmark and Estonia with the Task Group leaders being:-

·        Commander Netherlands Maritime Force, onboard the De Zeven Provinciën class Frigate HNLMS EVERTSEN

·        US Commander Destroyer Squadron 26 onboard the Ticonderoga class Guided Missile Cruiser USS GETTYSBURG.

The Royal Navy contingent will comprise the Type 23 Frigates KENT and ST.ALBANS and the Minecountermeasure Hunt Class CATTISTOCK and HURWORTH and Sandown Class PENZANCE and BANGOR.  It must be remembered that the bulk of the Royal Navy is deployed currently East of Suez and on the COUGAR 12 Exercise in the Mediterranean.

Land troops will conduct military training across Scotland using Defence Training Estate range areas, commercial ranges, and Highland Agency and private land areas. This will enable training for 16 Air Assault Brigade, 3 Commando Brigade, RM and 3 (UK) Division, as well as troops from the USA, Sweden and Holland.     A feature of these activities will be a GPS denial operation.

Military air participation will also be considerable, with up to forty (40) fixed wing aircraft involved, including a detachment of Swedish JAS-39 GRIPEN jets, and eight (8) maritime patrol aircraft from Canada and France, all operating from RAF Leuchars.   With no maritime patrol aircraft of our own the UK element with be provided by HAWK, TORNADO GR4 and TYPFOON aircraft operating from RAF Lossiemouth,   There will be limited night time and weekend flying during the exercise.