NATO Exercise Joint Warrior 18-1 has commenced at Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde,Scotland.The expansive,all-domain drills are being staged from 21 April to 4 May 2018.More than 11,600 personnel from 17 NATO Allies and Partners are participating,including:
Australia;Belgium;Canada;Denmark;Estonia;Finland;France;Germany;Latvia;Lithuania;the Netherlands;Norway;Spain;Sweden;Turkey;the UK;and the US.*
Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 is taking part along with six extra ships.For example,the US Navy is sending two Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers,the USS Ross (DDG 71) and the USS Gravely (DDG 107),as well as the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12).
Besides the ships,the US Navy is detailing a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft from the "Tridents" of Patrol Squadron (VP) 26.*
JW 18-1 scenarios include multiple sovereign nations disputing resources and territory;counter-terrorism and anti-smuggling activity;information warfare;and evacuation operations.JW 18-1 gives the NATO Allies and Partners the chance to practice high-end warfighting between near-peer adversaries,across air,land,sea and cyber domains.According to the exercise commander,Captain Joint Tactical Exercises Planning Staff,CAPT Paul Pritchard RN:
This exercise gives the UK participants a chance to train with our Allies and Partners,honing our skills and developing our tactics.It is hugely important in making sure we can fuse all elements of our capabilities,enhancing our ability to conduct joint operations now and in the future.*
For their part,the US Marine Corps Reserves' Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company,Force Headquarters Group,will assist with airborne assaults;amphibious landing;and training in counter-insurgency,counter-piracy and interstate war.Live-fire exercises are also on the programme at various weapons ranges.
Said 3rd Brigade platoon commander MAJ Graham Perry:
The area we will be conducting the exercise is unique in that it is the only location in the UK where you can practice live combined arms and naval gunfire integrated with ground indirect fire as well as close air support.*
Close air support will be provided by aircraft such as the Apache and Wildcat helicopters,as well as the Panavia Tornado fighter-bomber.