Newly released material from QinetiQ offers a clear window into how NATO forces have been sharpening their air and missile defences across the North Atlantic at a time of deepening military cooperation between Britain and Norway.
The footage comes from this year’s Formidable Shield, which ran first at Norway’s Andoya Range before shifting to the MOD Hebrides in Scotland. Linking the two sites forced participating nations to operate across a vast stretch of air and sea, the same geography now central to the Lunna House Agreement and the Atlantic Bastion programme. Both frameworks aim to tighten joint planning between London and Oslo as pressure on the region grows.
More than 5,000 personnel took part in drills that included swarm drones, supersonic targets and the British Army’s first live firing of its Sky Sabre system on UK soil. None of these events is surprising for a major NATO rehearsal, but together they highlight how much effort is going into keeping allied forces interoperable across northern theatres.
QinetiQ’s contribution was central to the work. The company managed a battlespace four times the size of the United Kingdom, supplied specialist aerial and surface targets, and carried out the analysis that will shape how commanders judge the performance of their crews and equipment.
I think in this new world all our ships need to be able to defend themselves against a sudden not insignificant gray warfare drone attack… this means
The RFA vessels need to be run with their CIWs and 30mm cannons fitted
The carriers should have the same
And there needs to be consideration of a fleet wide upgrade in order time wise:
1) rivers 2s which are now globally deployed need 57mm, 30mms and CAMM
2) the carriers need their 30mms replacing with 40mm as these have fused airburst rounds and a longer range, even if possible move to 57mm
3) the type 45 needs an adequate gun fit so it’s not expended expensive missiles on drones.. rip out the 4.5inch plate over and fit a deck mounted 57mm ( if the money is their do a full magazine refit but if not just deck mount) replace the 30mms with 40mms.
4) RFA to get 40mm to replace 30mm
5) type 31 to be fitted with min 24 CAMM
6) pay to develop a guided round for the 57mm