A MAJOR multinational exercise is set to get underway on the west coast of Scotland.

Exercise Joint Warrior, one the largest military exercises in Europe, will run from Sunday, October 1 until Thursday October 12, giving NATO allies and partners the opportunity to improve the tactics and procedures.

Some 14 nations will participate, bringing ships, aircraft and troops to military ranges across the country and to maritime exercise areas off the west and north coast of Scotland.

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Activities will feature 35 naval units from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK and the US, supported by 11 rotary wing aircraft, RAF Lossiemouth and HMS Gannet in Prestwick are hosting international aircrafts from Canada, France, Norway, the UK and US and Cape Wrath Weapons Range being used in the north of Scotland for joint fires activity.

Waters off the west Coast of Scotland will welcome 13 ships from eight countries, the majority of which are also taking part in Joint Warrior, as they conduct the air and missile defence exercise on the Hebrides Range west of Benbecula.

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A spokesperson for the Ardrossan Coastguard Rescue Team, said: “The biannual exercise is designed, planned and delivered by the Joint Tactical Exercise Planning Staff (JTEPS) based at Northwood in London who deploy to HM Naval Base Clyde to coordinate events.

“Made up of Royal Navy, RAF and Army personnel, JTEPS will augment its core staff of 22 with around 140 additional personnel – many of them Reservists – and with support from other NATO organisations and partner nations.

"The scenario of the exercise will mirror a broad range of crisis and conflict situations which could realistically be experienced in real-world operations.

"Over the fortnight participants will be faced with a period of increasing political and military tensions, along with a huge range of realistic military tasks such as: intelligence gathering and reconnaissance; anti-smuggling and counter-terrorism operations and evacuations.”