Around 8,000 troops from the British Army will take part in one of the largest deployments since the Cold War on a series of planned exercises across Europe this summer.
The exercises will see 72 Challenger 2 tanks, six AS90 tracked artillery guns and 120 Warrior armoured fighting vehicles deploy to countries from Finland to North Macedonia, demonstrating the Army’s modernisation into a lethal, agile and global force.
Tens of thousands of troops from NATO and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) allies and partners are involved in the exercises. The high readiness forces from the Lead Armoured Task Force and Air Manoeuvre Task Force will take part.
Army reservists train with the Lithuanian Army’s Iron Wolf Brigade
Reservists from 4th Battalion, The Mercian Regiment have been taking part in a large-scale training exercise in Lithuania led by Lithuanian Army's Iron Wolf Brigade.
1500 British troops in action on Exercise Hedgehog, Estonia’s largest military exercise
Exercise Hedgehog, the largest military exercise in Estonian history, starts a series of multi-national NATO exercises in an around the Baltics.
The British Army’s Unified Stance continues with tanks deployed on Exercise Defender
Around 1,000 soldiers from the King’s Royal Hussars Battlegroup and the Light Dragoons are deployed alongside troops from 11 partner nations including Poland, Denmark and the United States to take part in Exercise Defender Europe 22.
Paratroopers build alliances on Swift Response
From Albanian military police to US helicopter crews, British soldiers have trained alongside colleagues from seven NATO allies in North Macedonia.
UK and US helicopters show their Swift Response
UK and US helicopters have been finding and striking targets and lifting paratroopers and equipment into action together on Exercise Swift Response.
Exercise Arrow showcases the Queen’s Royal Hussars
Exercise Arrow provided an opportunity for the Queen’s Royal Hussars to showcase their full capability in front of the world's media.
By air to battle on Swift Response
By parachute and helicopter, British, French, Italian, and Montenegrin troops have demonstrated their readiness to deploy together in response to global crises.
Paratroopers pack a punch on Swift Response
British and French paratroopers have demonstrated the firepower they can bring to bear during demanding live firing training in the rugged hills of North Macedonia.
Challenger 2 tanks arrive in Finland for Exercise Arrow
Trooper Charmaine Cochrane from the Queen's Royal Hussars explains the importance of the two-week exercise.
British Army exercises boost presence across Europe
Around 8,000 British Army troops will conduct a series of planned exercises across Europe this summer.
Exercise Bold Dragon tests NATO’s new eFP Battlegroup
1st Battalion The Royal Welsh Battlegroup recently got to grips with the harsh environment of the Tapa Central Training Area in Estonia to establish their role as lead for NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence.
Welsh Warriors' first exercise as the lead NATO Battlegroup in Estonia
1st Battalion The Royal Welsh took over the lead role for the NATO enhanced Forward Presence in Estonia, and has already shown UK’s enduring commitment to NATO with a Battlegroup integration exercise.
The programme follows the Defence Secretary’s ‘Future Soldier’ announcement last November, setting out how the British Army is evolving into a more lethal, agile, and global force in line with the UK Government’s Integrated Review. These exercises showcase the Army’s capabilities and readiness, demonstrating the central role it plays in NATO deterrence.
Troops from B Squadron of the Queen’s Royal Hussars have deployed to Finland to take part in Exercise Arrow. They are embedded into a Finnish Armoured Brigade, with participation from other partners including the US, Latvia and Estonia. The exercise will improve the ability of UK and Finnish troops to work alongside each other as part of the JEF, deterring Russian aggression in Scandinavia and the Baltic states.
Exercise Hedgehog will see the Royal Welsh Battlegroup and the Royal Tank Regiment exercising on the Estonia-Latvia border alongside 18,000 NATO troops, including French and Danish, who are part of the British-led NATO enhanced Forward Presence. Hedgehog is the biggest military exercise in Estonia and takes place every four years.
Exercise Bold Dragon
Alongside Exercise Hedgehog, Exercise Defender in Poland is ongoing until late May, with 1,000 soldiers from The King’s Royal Hussars Battlegroup and C Squadron of the Light Dragoons deployed alongside troops from 11 partner nations including Poland, Denmark and the United States. This exercise involves Challenger 2 tanks and other armoured vehicles deploying from the NATO Forward Holding Base in Sennelager, Germany. The deployment is supported by 104 Theatre Sustainment Brigade operating from the UK and in bases in Europe.
Exercise Swift Response, which also began this week, sees elements of 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team and 1 Aviation Brigade Combat Team operate alongside French, American, Italian, and Albanian counterparts in North Macedonia. There are 4,500 personnel on the exercise including 2,500 British troops. The exercise involves parachute drops, helicopter-borne air assaults and sees a company of French paratroopers integrated into the 2 PARA Battlegroup and an Italian battlegroup working to a British chain of command.
These exercises showcase the scale and significance of the British Army’s contribution to the defence of Europe and highlight the continued importance of the leadership role which UK plays as a member of NATO and the JEF.
In addition to the Army’s programme, the UK will deploy a major headquarters to the Baltic region, in support of the JEF. The Standing Joint Force Headquarters (SJFHQ) will establish three linked nodes - in Latvia, Lithuania and the third at their home base at Northwood Headquarters in London, the first operational deployment for the headquarters. The UK is the framework nation for the JEF, a coalition of like-minded allies, able to respond rapidly to crises in the High North, North Atlantic, Baltic Sea region and further afield. Over 200 military personnel are involved in the operation, including specialists in cyber, space and information operations.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:
“In this crucial year for Europe’s security, Britain has shown that deeds mean more than words. The British Army is evolving to meet future threats and this series of deployments will show our allies and partners across NATO, the Joint Expeditionary Force and beyond that we stand firm and stand ready.
“Our adversaries will see a force operating with high quality across NATO’s eastern flank, boosting our partnerships and deterring those who would threaten the peace and security of our continent.”
Commander Field Army Lieutenant General Ralph Wooddisse said:
“The UK makes a significant contribution to the defence of Europe and the deterrence of Russian aggression. The British Army’s series of exercises is fundamental to both. We continue to deploy across Europe, from the Baltic to the Aegean, to train and fight alongside our allies and partners, providing powerful, capable and ready forces to support NATO and show the UK’s commitment to peace and security.
“A wide range of units from the Field Army will be involved, from light and airborne forces, to helicopters and armoured forces, supported by artillery, electronic warfare, air defence, surveillance drones, engineers and logisticians. The scale of the deployment, coupled with the professionalism, training and agility of the British Army, will deter aggression at a scale not seen in Europe this century.”