STATE of the art combat helicopters will be flying out of Prestwick Airport as the area sees the largest maritime exercise take place.

Exercise Joint Warrior will run across the UK for a fortnight starting from October 1, with NATO forces and partner nations training together in a safe, but realistic, environment.

In total, some 11,500 military personnel, 45 ships and submarines, and 30 aircraft will participate, with the action split into three distinctive phases:

During the first phase – running from October 1 to 5 – there will be maritime activity in exercise areas off the West Coast of Scotland, the Pentland Firth, and Cape Wrath.

From October 6 to 8, the activity will move to the North Sea and Irish Sea, before heading to the South Coast of England for the third and final phase from October 9 to 14.

Participating nations this year include: the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and the United States. 

As well as activity off the UK coast, there will also be Merlin Mark 2 helicopters flying from Prestwick, as well as RAF Typhoons and UK P-8 Poseidon aircraft operating from RAF Lossiemouth.

Exercise Joint Warrior is a joint and combined exercise, involving all three branches of the UK armed forces – Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Army. 

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Usually held twice a year – in the spring and autumn – it provides the armed forces the opportunity to train together in a realistic, but controlled, environment. 

The training helps NATO partners and their allies hone their skills, practicing joint working around scenarios such as war fighting, anti-smuggling and anti-piracy operations, reconnaissance, disaster relief, anti-submarine warfare, amphibious landings, and other skills needed in the modern battle space.

Planned by Joint Training Exercise Planning Staff (JTEPS), this year the exercise will be coordinated and controlled from RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall. 

Exercise planning staff have liaised with a wide variety of communities and organisations ahead of Joint Warrior to minimise the impact of military activity. 

Organisations consulted include: The Civil Aviation Authority, National Air Traffic Services, The Highlands and Islands Airports Authority, Scottish and Northern Irish fishery organisations and several environmental agencies and groups. 

Further information on Exercise Joint Warrior, including notices to mariners and impact statements, can be found by visiting the King’s Harbour Master Clyde webpage