Troops remain on duty over Christmas

Around 19,000 British Armed Forces personnel will remain on duty or on standby over the Christmas period, including large numbers based in Scotland, as the UK maintains military readiness at home and overseas.

Across the UK, 11,700 personnel will be held at readiness on Christmas Day to respond to physical threats to national security and to counter cyber activity. In Scotland, RAF Lossiemouth and HM Naval Base Clyde remain central to that effort.

RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, home to the UK’s Quick Reaction Alert (North) Typhoon force and the fleet of Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, will continue operating around the clock. Aircraft, aircrew, MOD civilians and industry partners will remain on constant readiness to secure UK airspace and surrounding seas.

Secretary of State for Scotland Douglas Alexander paid tribute to service personnel, saying: “As family and friends across the country gather together to celebrate the festive season, I’d like to say a huge thanks to all Scots serving in the Armed Forces – they are true heroes for the selfless sacrifices they make to keep us safe all day, every day in the UK and around the world.”

Armed Forces Minister Alistair Carns, who is from Aberdeen, said the festive period highlighted the personal cost of service life. “This Christmas, it is important to pause and reflect on the sacrifices made by our Armed Forces, serving across Scotland and around the world,” he said. “I am deeply proud of the exceptional dedication and unwavering commitment of our Armed Forces, whose work to keep us safe enables us to enjoy this season in peace and security.”

Personnel on duty over Christmas are among 30,000 service members who will benefit from an extension to Christmas travel support, announced earlier this month. The change allows more junior ranks to claim for return journeys home, easing reunions with family and friends. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the funding during a visit to RAF Lossiemouth.

Defence Secretary John Healey also thanked service personnel during a visit to Merville Barracks, saying: “To the thousands of Armed Forces personnel who will be deployed away from their loved ones this Christmas across the UK and overseas – thank you. Thank you from me and thank you on behalf of a grateful nation.” He added: “And to all the forces families, especially those who will have an empty chair at the Christmas dinner table this year, thank you to you all for the support you give to our forces as they serve and protect the nation.”

HM Naval Base Clyde continues to underpin national security as the home of the UK’s nuclear deterrent. Operation Relentless is now in its 56th consecutive year, with one of the base’s four submarines currently on patrol.

Overseas, Scottish troops form part of around 7,400 British personnel deployed on 58 live operations in 49 countries, as well as at permanent overseas bases in Cyprus, the Falklands and Gibraltar. Roles range from guarding NATO’s eastern flank in Estonia and protecting shipping in the Gulf, to peacekeeping missions and disaster response.

Defence activity has also been highlighted as a driver of economic growth in Scotland, with major shipbuilding programmes on the Clyde and at Rosyth, alongside new skills investment such as the Welding Skills Centre in Glasgow. Scotland is set to receive a share of £250 million in UK-wide funding aimed at strengthening long-term partnerships between defence, industry and research institutions.

The past year has seen intensive training and exercises for UK forces, including deployments to Estonia, Finland, Japan and Belize. Major operations have included the Carrier Strike Group deployment to the Indo-Pacific and the continuation of Operation Interflex, which has now trained more than 62,000 Ukrainian troops.

Lieutenant David Andrews, a Royal Navy Merlin helicopter flight commander from Blantyre, said crews remained on standby throughout the festive period. “Royal Navy helicopter crew like myself are on standby to deter hostile activity in British waters and are under no illusion that we may be asked to support a response to make the UK safer and more secure,” he said. Reflecting on last year, he added: “It’s never easy sacrificing time with family and friends, but defending British shores will always be our priority.”

RAF Lossiemouth station commander Group Captain Sarah Brewin said the station would remain fully operational through Christmas. “Our Typhoon aircraft remain on alert 24/7, ready to respond immediately to intercept hostile or unidentified aircraft threatening UK airspace,” she said. “So too our Poseidon aircraft, who are on constant readiness to secure the seas of the United Kingdom.”

Looking ahead, she added: “We are proud to have played a part in the United Kingdom’s contribution to a strong NATO and take great pride that we have helped deter and been prepared to defend against an increasingly aggressive Russia. We stand ready to continue this in 2026 and beyond.”