ROYAL MARINE COMMANDOS have utilised facilities at Carlisle Lake District Airport as they carried out training exercises in preparation for a leading role in Nato.
Military helicopters used the airfield at Irthington as training exercises were carried out in the surrounding area in January.
Hyperion Storm was a major training operation, evaluated by Nato, as the Royal Marines prepare to take over its special operations forces.
Military helicopters above the runway at Carlisle Lake District Airport. (Image: Carlisle Lake District Airport)
The exercise saw a mock attack staged in Northumberland, involving Royal Marine Commandos and Army Rangers.
Teams were flown in by Royal Air Force helicopters as they acted out a mock attack on an enemy’s strategic position at a training camp near Otterburn in Northumberland.
The British military will take control of Nato’s Special Operations Forces from July for a period of 12 months.
Nato is the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, an alliance of 32 countries from across Europe and North America.
SUBSCRIBE TO SUPPORT TRUSTED LOCAL JOURNALISM
In order to prove its capability for the task, the Royal Marines had to meet more than 850 performance measures.
The force could be deployed anywhere Nato requires them during that 12 month period.
It will be a historic moment as the UK’s Joint Special Operations Forces are brought together to play a leading role in NATO.