Moray airmen taking part in largest NATO exercise in a decade

Typhoons from 1 Squadron on the ground in Spain
Typhoons from 1 Squadron on the ground in Spain

MORAY BASED GROUND and air crews have been taking part in the largest and most ambitious NATO exercise in over ten years.

Exercise Trident Juncture has been hosted by Portugal, Italy and Spain and went live on October 21. The operation involves 200 aircraft from all NATO member nations and three partners, with training taking place throughout southern Europe.

A spokesman said: “A Joint Force Air Component at Poggio Renatico, Italy, will command and control operational air assets in a fictitious scenario.

“It will execute this mission in support of Joint Force Command Brunssum as they command and control joint forces and demonstrate the capabilities of the NATO Response Force (NRF) in planning, preparing, deploying and sustaining forces during non-Article V operations.”

“During the LIVEX, air forces will be conducting tactical level training. More than 140 aircraft from Allies and Partners involved are including Eurofighter/Typhoon, Tornado, F-16, F-18, L-159, Mirage 2000, JAS-39 Gripen, MV-22 tilt-rotor aircraft, C-130, C-160, and Casa C-295 transport aircraft, various air-to-air refuelling aircraft, four early warning and control aircraft and of course several helicopters.

“The air assets will be based at Zaragoza, Albacete, Palma de Mallorca and several other locations in Spain.”

Personnel from RAF Lossiemouth’s 1(Fighter) Squadron have been deployed to Albacete in southern Spain alongside RAF Marham-based Tornado aircraft and a Voyager from RAF Brize Norton.