British Army Rangers have staged a mock attack in Northumberland while training to take over NATO special operations.
A member of the 4th Battalion, Ranger Regiment (4 RANGER) conducting a training exercise at RAF Leeming.
Members of The 4th Battalion, Ranger Regiment (4 RANGER) carry out a Rehearsal of Concept (ROC) drill. A ROC is a hands-on, visual, and interactive technique where team members walk through a complex project plan step-by-step using a map, model, or mockup.
Conducted over two weeks in January 2026, Exercise Hyperion Storm was a validation exercise for the Task Groups who were under the command of the Special Operations Command Centre (SOCC).
Over two weeks in January, 4th Battalion The Ranger Regiment (4 RANGER) completed a demanding training exercise as part of the UK’s Joint Special Operations Forces.
Royal Marine Commandos and Army Rangers, flown into position by RAF helicopter pilots, fast-roped from a Chinook during a mock attack on an enemy position at Otterburn training camp in Northumberland.
“The evaluation process is exacting and demanding, every detail is scrutinised.”
Swooping low over the rainy moorland at the remote training camp, two Chinooks supported a land attack by assault vehicles.
Around a dozen Rangers and Marines slid down ropes from around 20ft before joining the attack.
Once the target was secured, the Chinooks landed and the special operations forces embarked again and flew back to their base at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire.
Exercise Hyperion Storm was the culmination of two years of intensive training during which the UK military has been tested by NATO to ensure it is ready to take over the military alliance’s special operations forces role.
“This is the first time we have brought together the UK’s Joint Special Operations Forces for such an important leadership role in NATO.”
Colonel Phil O’Callaghan, a Royal Marine Commando and Deputy Commander of the Special Operations Component Command said: “The evaluation process is exacting and demanding, every detail is scrutinised.
“As a headquarters we had to meet over 850 performance measures to ensure complete validation for NATO.
“On this exercise we are here to support and ensure the success of the maritime, land and air task groups as they seamlessly work together.
“This is the first time we have brought together the UK’s Joint Special Operations Forces for such an important leadership role in NATO.
“It demonstrates the versatility of the UK Commando Force, Ranger Regiment and Royal Air Force, both in support of our NATO alliance partners and allies across the globe.”
“The key is bringing everybody in early, getting to know faces, getting to know how each other work. And this part is where that gels and syncs so that we're not figuring it out at the target."
Taking part in Exercise Hyperion Storm, alongside the 4 RANGER troops, were 42 Commando, Royal Marines and 2 Squadron, RAF Regiment.
The UK forces will have responsibility for NATO’s Special Operations Forces – not special forces – for a year from July.
At an operational briefing before the exercise, a sergeant from the Special Operations Land Task Group, 4 Ranger, explained how the three branches of the military would work together:
“The key is bringing everybody in early, getting to know faces, getting to know how each other work. And this part is where that gels and syncs so that we're not figuring it out at the target."
Officer Commanding, Special Operations Land Task Group, 4 Ranger said:
"This is very different. It's fast tracking what we're doing capability wise. I think that's the real positive. And we're learning a huge amount about all the other services as we do it.”
"This is very different. It's fast tracking what we're doing capability wise. I think that's the real positive. And we're learning a huge amount about all the other services as we do it.
"I think the key here is that each service has their own special capabilities. And when you bring that all together, that's a real lethal and survivable force that you can scale to whatever the threat may be."
Three military task groups, representing air, land and sea, will be under the command of a Special Operations Command Centre. After two years of intensive preparation and training, including the building of a new NATO Joint Operations Headquarters, the UK is ready to lead the NATO Allied Reaction Force Special Operations Component.
The rigorous training has built on the skills required for Special Operations to ensure the UK troops can operate seamlessly alongside NATO partners.
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