RAF MILDENHALL, England -- The 100th Air Refueling Wing refueled aircraft supporting exercise Joint Warrior 19-1 over Scottish airspace April 4, 2019.
Exercise Joint Warrior is a biannual, U.K.-led multinational exercise and is one of largest NATO exercises in Europe, involving 13 countries participating with more than 10,000 military personnel, 35 warships, five submarines, and 59 aircraft and helicopters.
“The U.K. military is a partner of choice for its major international allies and a resolute force for peace around the world,” said Gavin Williamson, U.K. defence secretary in a Ministry of Defence press release. “The U.K. will not waver in continuing to work with its allies to protect our mutual interests.”
Joint Warrior aims to allow NATO forces to conduct joint operations in a complex environment involving various military branches and units against a range of current and future threats.
Air units involved in the exercise coordinated with maritime and land forces, exercising intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, air defense, air mobility and attack. Aircraft from multiple bases across the U.K. participated in the exercise, including RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath.
RAF Mildenhall is a strategic forward base in Europe, critical to exercises and contingencies throughout the region.