A large-scale sovereignty mission across the South Atlantic Islands has seen Royal Navy, British Army and RAF assets operate jointly across South Georgia and Ascension Island, the UK Defence Journal understands.
The activity, codenamed Operation SOUTHERN SOVEREIGNTY, was coordinated from offshore by Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Forth, with air support from RAF Typhoon fighters and an A400M transport aircraft based at Mount Pleasant Complex in the Falklands, according to the Cyber & Specialist Operations Command.
HMS Forth embarked a detachment from the Royal Irish Regiment, currently serving as the Roulement Infantry Company, allowing ground forces to deploy directly from the ship. Additional troops were positioned on Ascension Island, demonstrating the ability to coordinate effects across a wide Joint Operating Area separated by thousands of miles. Officials framed the dispersal as evidence that Britain retains rapid response options across the region.
Personnel also supported a logistical project on South Georgia, moving infrastructure materials on behalf of local authorities. The Ministry of Defence described this as an example of tri-service cooperation supporting stability and resilience in remote UK Overseas Territories.
Commander British Forces South Atlantic Islands, Brigadier Charlie Harmer, said the operation allowed commanders to stress-test the region’s joint force structure. “Op SOUTHERN SOVEREIGNTY enabled me to test our ability to project power across the Joint Operating Area and in the Sea, Land and Air domains concurrently. Whilst it reassures the population, ultimately it contributes to my mission to deter aggression in the South Atlantic Islands and demonstrates UK sovereignty in action.”
The UK has maintained a permanent garrison in the Falklands since 1982, centred on a rapid reaction force, resident Typhoon squadron and a Royal Navy patrol vessel. The government argues this posture is essential given the strategic relevance of the South Atlantic sea lanes and the remoteness of UK territories in the region. Critics of the current model have previously questioned sustainment costs, though defence officials maintain that the basing footprint provides credible deterrence.
The timing of SOUTHERN SOVEREIGNTY coincides with planned upgrades to infrastructure across the islands and continued diplomatic sensitivity around the region. According to the Cyber & Specialist Operations Command, SOUTHERN SOVEREIGNTY demonstrated that integrated command and control functions across sea, land and air platforms remain viable at range. The MoD said lessons from the mission will inform future planning cycles.
Not the most subtle of exercise names.
Next plot of land to be given away if these clowns in Government stay in for a second term!
Nope. Not going to happen. Especially now Rockhopper have confirmed Sea Lion development.
The conservatives started the process with diego garcia and just started pretending it was a bad idea when they lost power, reality it has cross party agreement that the deal is the right thing to do. Reality is the island is a overseas interest for the US and not the UK and the right thing to do is decolonise.
The right thing to do is to return the islands to the Chagossians and respect their right to remain British if that is what they decide; the wrong thing to do is to hand over the islands to a Chinese ally that never had possession of them and pay them for it!
Not really that simple, the Chagossians don’t exist as a nation or a people anymore, they are split across multiple counties but mainly in Mauritius. If they existed then agree giving them the vote for what they want to do would make sense.
They were forcibly removed and resettled in 1968. There will be paperwork. I don’t think it would be too hard to track them and their descendants down if the will was there to do the right thing.
Not to downplay the exercise but an OPV and four Typhoons max (last read only three were operational) hardly represents a huge deterrent effect. We should be thankful that the Argentine Armed Forces are in a worse state than ours. That said, with their recent acquisition of F-16s, that may be beginning to change.
Its fine, we’ll just cut more frigates. That’ll show the Argies.
Exactly I’d be surprised if this didn’t travel the opposite effect of that which was intended. An OPV is not an assault ship (or two).
When Starmer finds out about this exercise he is going to be upset😂
Nothing that can’t be solved by cutting 20 fighter jets, 3 escorts and 30 tanks.
We used to wargame an attack when I was there and we could have taken out the base very quickly to deny resupply.
Since then it’s all gone and they use YA units as the RIC.
4000 is now 1000 if that and the pre positioned equipment for two brigades hasn’t been updated. The Chinooks are gone and the rapier batteries.
The four typhoons cannot maintain a CAP or survive a swarm event
Once it’s gone we can’t get it back.
GB still not ready to take on Russia the best scenario would be for Putin to die or be overthrown. GB has the capicity to inflict indescribable damage on Russia but doesnt have resources to maintain the momentum. The nxt Russian president might be more militant than Putin but lets hope hes less. The thing is Russia and Chinese are preparing for war as we speak GB has to ensure that it remains in preparation show them that Russia looks better as a country and not a desert to rival Gobi and Sahara.