Watch as British warship sails from Faslane at sunset

HMS Dragon has departed from Faslane under a glowing Scottish sunset to join the largest at-sea live-fire exercise in Europe—NATO’s Formidable Shield 2025.

In a dramatic timelapse shared by NATO’s Joint Force Command Norfolk, the Type 45 destroyer is seen sailing into the evening light en route to the North Atlantic, where it will join 16 ships, 27 aircraft, and eight ground units for a demanding integrated air and missile defence exercise led by the U.S. Sixth Fleet and STRIKFORNATO.

Watch @HMSDragon sailing from Scotland to take part in @USNavyEurope‘s #FormidableShield25 – the premier Air and Missile Defence exercise in @NATO with 11 Allies taking part in the largest at-sea live fire event in the European theatre.

Real missiles. Real targets. #WeAreNATO pic.twitter.com/dMQHxMegCq

— NATO JFC Norfolk (@JFCNorfolk) May 5, 2025

“Real missiles. Real targets,” NATO’s caption declared—emphasising the intensity and realism of the drills. Eleven Allied nations are participating, including the UK, U.S., Netherlands, Norway, and others, in what has become NATO’s premier missile defence event.

HMS Dragon, one of the Royal Navy’s most capable air defence warships, will test its sensors, weapons systems, and crew readiness alongside allied platforms in scenarios involving subsonic, supersonic, and ballistic threats. The three-week exercise underscores NATO’s message of collective defence and credible deterrence in the face of evolving air and missile threats.

Warships arrive in Scotland for massive missile exercise

The three-week multinational drill—executed by STRIKFORNATO and led by U.S. Sixth Fleet—involves 11 Allied nations, over 6,900 personnel, and an arsenal of live-fire events including intercepts of supersonic, subsonic, and ballistic threats in one of the most complex air defence training environments ever staged in Europe.

“There is simply no substitute for the training and learning that occurs when we operate in these intensely realistic scenarios,” said Capt. Michael Dwan, U.S. Navy and commander of Task Group 154.64. “Exercises like Formidable Shield are critical for refining our collective integrated air and missile defense capabilities, ensuring we can respond effectively to any threat from any direction.”

Aboard the Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter, the exercise’s multinational IAMD Task Group Commander and staff are conducting NATO-level mission planning and live coordination of engagements. The vessel acts as the floating command post for the operation, providing real-time decision-making capabilities and shared tactical awareness across the Allied fleet.

“Operating together is not just a practice, it’s the foundation of our shared security,” added Cmdr. Welmer Veenstra, commanding officer of De Ruyter. “Exercises like Formidable Shield 25 ensure our forces stay sharp, adaptable, and credible.”

Formidable Shield 25 includes participation from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with Australia contributing radar sensor capabilities. The exercise features 16 warships, 27 aircraft, and 8 ground-based air defence units, including NASAMS, HIMARS, and Tactical Air Operations Centers, combining land, sea, and air components into a single Allied battlespace.

These drills test the alliance’s ability to detect, track, and neutralise multiple types of aerial threats using shared NATO command and control structures. They also simulate collective responses to missile attacks—showcasing the interoperability and firepower of a networked alliance able to defend Europe from modern air and missile threats.

Held biennially, Formidable Shield is regarded as a cornerstone of NATO deterrence. This year’s iteration reinforces NATO’s resolve to defend its skies and bolster collective readiness at a time of growing missile threats in Europe’s strategic environment.