SCOTLAND is hosting a major military exercise over the next week involving around 5,700 personnel from armed forces across the world.

Around 30 warships and submarines as well as 67 aircraft will be involved, with much of the activity taking place off the Scottish coast, at RAF Lossiemouth, and Prestwick and on military ranges across the country.

At the same time as Joint Warrior, the world’s first large scale, multi environment demonstration of unmanned technology will also take place in the Western Isles.

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Code-named Unmanned Warrior, it will give industry an opportunity to show the latest systems at military ranges in Benbecula, Stornoway, Applecross and Kyle of Lochalsh.

Exercise Joint Warrior will see participation from 14 countries with events co-ordinated from HM Naval Base Clyde.

A Royal Navy spokesman said: "The massive military exercise happens twice a year and provides the UK, NATO allies and partners with the chance to practice the skills needed for current and future operations.

"Joint Task Force training, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, mine counter measures, intelligence gathering, GPS jamming and electronic warfare training will all take place.

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"Joint Warrior and its predecessors, Neptune Warrior and the Joint Maritime Course, have been run in the exercise areas off Scotland for decades, providing generations of sailors, soldiers and airmen the chance to develop their war fighting skills."