Missile-armed helicopters, drones and fast boats will join battle in the fjords for a high-octane test of the British and Norwegian Navies.
The fourth iteration of Exercise Tamber Shield will push the boundaries of co-operation between military helicopters and pilotless aircraft, test the ability of navy pilots to evade missiles, as well as hone existing tactics for taking out small, fast, highly-manoeuvrable threats on the water.
Played out in the inlets and narrow waters around Bergen in western Norway, Tamber Shield involves Royal Navy Wildcats in the skies and P2000 fast patrol craft on the water, where they are joined by the Royal Norwegian Navy’s Skjold-class missile boats (heavily-armed, nimble, capable of reaching 60kts in calm waters).
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.
This year, for the first time Puma surveillance drones from 700X Naval Air Squadron, based at RNAS Culdrose near Helston in Cornwall, are participating.
The small Pumas will be used to scout ahead of the Wildcats, watching the Norwegian and British boats as they emerge from the many inlets – and reporting their movements to the helicopters to conduct their ‘attacks’.
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.
And for added complexity, there will a British air defence troop on the ground using a surface-to-air missile simulator to practise trying to down the Wildcats.
“Tamber Shield is one of the key highlights in the warfighting training calendar for our squadron, affording us the opportunity to sharpen our skills in a particularly challenging environment,” said Lieutenant Commander Ross Gallagher, the Wildcat detachment commander.
“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.
“We are particularly excited to integrate uncrewed aviation this year, driving forward crewed and uncrewed teaming as we work towards a truly Hybrid Navy.”
On the water, P2000 patrol boats from Gateshead (HMS Archer and Explorer) will be joined by one each from Portsmouth (Exploit), and Faslane (Biter) and use their speed and manoeuvrability to pose a challenge for the Wildcats, as well as working with – and against – the Norwegians.
In all, around 150 UK personnel are involved in the two-week workout.
“Tamber Shield is focused on sharpening our collective warfighting skills,” said Lieutenant George Asquith, HMS Exploit’s Commanding Officer.
“With Wildcat helicopters, uncrewed aerial systems from 700X NAS and our Coastal Forces Squadron patrol vessels working side-by-side with Norwegian naval units, delivering dynamic and realistic serials, the exercise also lays the groundwork for future growth, with the ability to welcome additional NATO allies and partner nations.”
Tamber Shield takes place under the banner of both NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force, the UK-led partnership of northern European nations committed to working together on operations as varied as warfighting through to humanitarian assistance and defence engagement.
The commanders of those northern European navies, including First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, conferred in London this week to discuss the ongoing and future maritime security of Europe’s northern flank.
