THE largest military exercise to be run by the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom for over a decade has begun.

Exercise Crimson Warrior will see RAF, Royal Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Air Force fast jets, multi-engine aircraft and helicopters operating from a number of RAF stations across the country.

At its peak Crimson Warrior will see more than 70 aircraft conducting high intensity tactical training together over the North Sea and the North-East.

A development of the regular Cobra Warrior exercises, it is widely regarded as the most challenging training for aircrew and the final step for those seeking to qualify as qualified weapons instructors (QWI), qualified multi-engine tactics instructors (QWI), and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and qualified space instructors course.

The expanded Crimson Warrior includes land-based training scenarios for the Lightning stealth fighters and helicopters. These will form the Carrier Strike Group Air Wing for next year’s operational deployment of the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, which recently operated off the North-East coast and has now returned to Portsmouth.

Aiming to develop and test the tactical leadership skills of aircrew and supporting personnel, this exercise will develop their abilities to devise, plan and practice tactics and procedures in a realistic environment against a capable simulated adversary. Previously, these are the aggressor aircraft from RAF Leeming and Teesside-based Cobham.

Exercise director Group Captain Rob Barrett said: “The exercise will challenge participants from both the UK and the USA’s air forces in the full range of air and space power roles, and it has been just as much of a challenge to organise and run, particularly in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“However, I am confident that the precautions we have taken have reduced the risks to participants and the public as much as practicable.”

The exercise will run until Thursday, November 5.