Royal Navy Wildcats Train Against Drones in Norwegian Exercise Tamber Shield
The Royal Navy’s 815 Naval Air Squadron completed three weeks of Exercise Tamber Shield 2026 in Norwegian fjords near Bergen, focusing on counter-drone tactics, missile evasion, and fast-attack boat engagements. New elements included Puma drones from 700X Squadron for reconnaissance and RAF electronic warfare specialists simulating missile threats. Wildcats armed with Martlet missiles operated from Haakonsvern and HMS Duncan, alongside Royal Navy patrol boats and Norwegian Skjold-class corvettes. A parallel exercise at RNAS Yeovilton tested a mesh network for data sharing against swarm threats.
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Royal Navy Wildcats take on drones
Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron completed three weeks of Exercise Tamber Shield in Norwegian fjords near Bergen, alongside the Royal Norwegian Navy. The 2026 edition introduced new elements: 700X Naval Air Squadron's Puma drones for scouting and RAF electronic warfare specialists from Spadeadam simulating missile threats. Wildcats armed with Martlet missiles practiced drone integration, missile evasion using chaff and flares, and fast-attack boat tactics. Three Royal Navy patrol boats (HMS Archer, Biter, Example) and Norwegian Skjold-class corvettes conducted simulated engagements. Aircrew also performed torpedo drops with Sting Ray torpedoes. A parallel exercise at RNAS Yeovilton tested a mesh network for data sharing between drones, helicopters, and headquarters to counter fast-moving swarm threats. The exercise included joint commemorations for Bergen's WWII liberation.
UK Defence JournalRoyal Navy Wildcats take on drones
Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron completed three weeks of Exercise Tamber Shield in Norwegian fjords near Bergen, developing tactics against drones, missiles, and fast-attack boats alongside the Royal Norwegian Navy. The 2026 edition introduced 700X Naval Air Squadron's Puma drones for reconnaissance and RAF electronic warfare specialists from Spadeadam who simulated infrared and radar missile threats, allowing live evasion practice with chaff and flares. Wildcats armed with Martlet missiles operated from Haakonsvern and HMS Duncan, which was escorting HMS Prince of Wales. Three Royal Navy patrol boats (HMS Archer, Biter, Example) and Norwegian Skjold-class corvettes conducted simulated engagements. Aircrew also practiced dropping Sting Ray torpedoes. A parallel exercise at RNAS Yeovilton tested a mesh network for data sharing between drones, helicopters, and headquarters to speed targeting against swarm threats. The exercise included winching operations and joint commemorations for Bergen's WWII liberation.
UK Defence JournalRoyal Navy Wildcats Take on Drones in Norwegian Exercise Tamber Shield
Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron completed three weeks of exercises in the fjords around Bergen, Norway, as part of Exercise Tamber Shield 2026. The drills focused on developing tactics against drones, missile evasion, and fast-attack boats, alongside the Royal Norwegian Navy. New elements included 700X Naval Air Squadron's Puma drones for reconnaissance and RAF electronic warfare specialists simulating infrared and radar-based missile threats. Wildcats armed with Martlet missiles operated from Haakonsvern and the flight deck of HMS Duncan, which was escorting HMS Prince of Wales. Three Royal Navy patrol boats (HMS Archer, Biter, Example) and Norwegian Skjold-class corvettes conducted simulated engagements. Aircrew also practiced dropping Sting Ray torpedoes. A parallel exercise at RNAS Yeovilton tested a mesh network for data sharing between drones, helicopters, and headquarters to speed up targeting decisions against swarm threats.
UK Defence JournalRoyal Navy Wildcats Take on Drones in Norwegian Exercise Tamber Shield
Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron completed a three-week exercise, Tamber Shield, in the fjords around Bergen, Norway, alongside the Royal Norwegian Navy. The 2026 edition focused on countering drones, missile evasion, and fast-attack boat tactics. New elements included 700X Naval Air Squadron's Puma drones for reconnaissance and RAF electronic warfare specialists simulating missile threats. Wildcats armed with Martlet missiles operated from Haakonsvern and HMS Duncan, which was escorting HMS Prince of Wales. Three Royal Navy patrol boats (HMS Archer, Biter, Example) and Norwegian Skjold-class corvettes conducted simulated engagements. Aircrew also practiced torpedo drops with Sting Ray torpedoes. A parallel exercise at RNAS Yeovilton tested a mesh network for data sharing between drones, helicopters, and headquarters to speed up targeting decisions against swarm threats.
UK Defence JournalRoyal Navy Wildcats take on drones
Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron completed three weeks of Exercise Tamber Shield in the fjords around Bergen, Norway, alongside the Royal Norwegian Navy. The exercise focused on developing tactics against drones, missile evasion, and fast-attack boats. New elements in the 2026 edition included 700X Naval Air Squadron's Puma drones for scouting and RAF electronic warfare specialists from Spadeadam simulating missile threats. Wildcats armed with Martlet missiles operated from Haakonsvern and HMS Duncan. Three Royal Navy patrol boats (HMS Archer, Biter, Example) and Norwegian Skjold-class corvettes conducted simulated engagements. Aircrew also practiced torpedo runs with Sting Ray torpedoes. A parallel exercise at RNAS Yeovilton tested a mesh network for data sharing between drones, helicopters, and headquarters to speed targeting decisions against swarm threats.
UK Defence Journal