UK, French troops war-game attack on NATO

Thousands of British and French troops have taken part in a military training exercise that included one of Britain’s largest airborne operations in two decades, the British government said yesterday.

The war game is designed to show how NATO countries could be defended against a modern-day attack and comes during fears about Russian aggression in Europe amid Moscow’s war against Ukraine.

About 2,500 troops were involved in the seven-week exercise, in which 600 British and French paratroopers dropped from four RAF A400M Atlas transport aircraft over Germany.

A British soldier watches French and British paratroopers as they jump from RAF A400s as part of Exercise Rhino Titan at Sennelager training center in Germany on Tuesday last week.

Photo: British army via AFP

The exercise called Rhino Titan, held at the Sennelager military training center in Germany, has been testing British troops’ ability against an enemy equipped with drones and electronic warfare.

“The threats we face in the 21st century require an updated, modern approach to warfare — and our adaptable armed forces are preparing accordingly,” British Secretary of State for Defence Wes Streeting said in a statement.

“Alongside our French and German allies, this large-scale training exercise shows we can deliver rapid, large-scale airborne power anywhere it’s needed to defend NATO territory,” he said.

The British Ministry of Defence in London is pictured on July 15 last year.

Photo: EPA

“This combination of troops and specialized equipment is what is required to deter our adversaries and keep Britain and our allies safe,” he added.

In the past few years, western nations have accused Russia of waging a “hybrid” campaign of espionage, sabotage, including damage to subsea cables and other disruptions — charges that Moscow has vehemently denied.