Exercise Strike Warrior: what is it and why is it important?
Running for two weeks, Strike Warrior 21 brings together allied forces in the largest and most demanding military exercise to date
Exercise Strike Warrior involves more than 20 warships, three submarines and 150 aircraft from 11 nations and is a final test for the Carrier Strike Group ahead of its first operational deployment to the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and the Asia Pacific.
The exercise, which is running for two weeks, will see the task group pitted against warships from NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1 in waters off north-west Scotland to prove it is capable of undertaking high-intensity operations against the most demanding adversaries.
“The advent of the UK Carrier Strike Group represents a substantial new injection of fifth generation combat power into the defence of the Euro-Atlantic region. It is therefore fitting that our final and most demanding test prior to deployment involves so many of Britain’s allies.”
— Commodore Steve Moorhouse, Commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group
Exercise Strike Warrior sees NATO allies operating together, taking part in exercises that demonstrate their ability to work as one. Nations taking part in the exercise include Denmark, France, Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, the USA and one non-NATO country, Australia. The exercises will mirror a broad range of crisis and conflict situations.
After the exercise, the Carrier Strike Group will be passed as ready for deployment and will begin their operational deployment around the globe, with aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth leading the way.
Some examples of activity during Exercise Strike Warrior include F35 training, NATO integration training and Mine Counter Measures operations.
