Exercise Trident Juncture: what you need to know
Updated 25 October 2018
© Crown copyright 2018
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/exercise-trident-juncture-what-you-need-to-know/exercise-trident-juncture-what-you-need-to-know
Since 2014, collective defence has become a more prominent feature of NATO exercises due to the changes in the security landscape. Exercise Trident Juncture will test NATO’s ability tocorrdinate a major collective defence operation from training at the tactical level, to command over large multinational forces in tough terrain. With some 150 aircraft, 40,000 participants and 10,000 vehicles, this is the largest collective defence exercise NATO has seen in over a decade.
Exercise Trident Juncture in numbers
Exercise Trident Juncture in numbers video transcript.
General Denis Mercier, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT) NATO said:
NATO needs to hold exercises on a large scale. Only this way are we able to test all the levels in the alliance: from the troops on the ground and all the way up to a strategic level.
NATO needs realistic training, where we can combine operations in the air, at sea and on land. In Norway we get everything, this is one of the best places to train in Europe.
After British troops travel across Europe by ferry, road and rail to Norway, they will train alongside their Danish and Polish counterparts integrating their equipment, drills and personnel to become a multinational, combat ready brigade. Formed of a Battalion from the Royal Irish Regiment with a Company from the Lancashire Regiment, the Battlegroup will be supported by Artillery, Engineers, Signals, Intelligence, Force Protection and Medical attachments.
UK troops deploy to Norway video transcript.
The training will culminate with a week long live exercise which sees the British led Battlegroup joining forces with other brigades led by Germany and Italy. The battle will be played out in 2 phases, testing both defensive and offensive capabilities of the nations.
6 Royal Navy ships will set sail to the Norwegian Sea where they will form part of 2 multinational task groups operating throughout the exercise. The Royal Navy play a leading role in these groups, bringing diving and bomb disposal capabilities, antisubmarine warfare capabilities, and their proven ability to lead a NATO task force.
Trident Juncture provides an excellent opportunity to train and carry out complex air operations between allied forces under rough Norwegian weather conditions. The Royal Air Force will exercise remotely from the UK, training and providing cutting edge air defence, as well as providing Hawk aircraft to act as the enemy during the exercise.