The Royal Navy will use its Puma surveillance drones for the first time as part of this year’s Exercise Tamber Shield in Norway.
The uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) from 700X Naval Air Squadron will be used as ISR assets above the inlets around Bergen in western Norway during the exercise, which started yesterday (Monday) and runs until May 3.
Part of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) cooperation, the exercise, now in its fourth year, seeks to hone the skills of both navies and enhance readiness along the Norwegian coast and in fjord environments generally. It is hosted by Norway out of the Haakonsvern Naval Base, Bergen.
Besides the RNAS Culdrose-based drone squadron, other RN assets also taking part are Wildcats from 815 Naval Air Squadron, based in RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset, Coastal Forces Squadron patrol vessels, and P2000 fast patrol craft from Gateshead, Portsmouth, and Faslane.
They will be carrying out drills alongside Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen-class frigate KNM Roald Amundsen and various Skjold-class patrol boats.
The combined forces are set to practise complex littoral warfare scenarios, Crewed-Uncrewed Teaming (CUC-T), threat detection, countermeasures training, deck landing operations, and simulated missile and torpedo attacks.
As per an RN press statement: “The exercise was established in 2023 to allow the aviators from RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset to develop tactics for their new Martlet missiles which can be used against small, fast-moving targets (drones, speedboats, jet skis, cars and trucks) – and allow the naval forces to develop the tactics to evade them and strike at high-value shipping moving through narrow waters.”
It added: “The involvement of the drones builds on training conducted in Cornwall earlier this year as the Fleet Air Arm looks increasingly to integrate crewless aircraft as part of a future hybrid air wing of conventional and autonomous/pilotless air power.”
Wildcat detachment chief Lieutenant Commander Ross Gallagher called Tamber Shield “one of the key highlights in the warfighting training calendar for our squadron” and commented: “Of significant benefit is the opportunity to train alongside our NATO and Joint Expeditionary Force partners, building the vital integration and trust we need to operate effectively together.”
- You can read more details on the Royal Navy website and on the NATO website