Military personnel, Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Scottish Ambulance Service have taken part in a joint training exercise, supported by the RAF, designed to strengthen how these organisations work together.
Exercise Tartan Kukri is a multi-agency training exercise nested within the wider Exercise Kukri Dawn, a routine RAF-led exercise running from 2nd to 18th September 2026 that is designed to train new Chinook aircrew by replicating operational scenarios.
The exercise brings together specialist teams including Police Scotland Firearms officers, Counter Terrorism Policing officers and the Major Incident Support and Coordination Unit (MISCU), alongside 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 SCOTS), Military Provost Staff, the Scottish Ambulance Service Special Operations Response Team, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service National Inter-agency Liaison Officer, RAF Chinook crews and Tactical Support Wing personnel from 28 Squadron.
The aim is to give them all experience of working together, to build and enhance interoperability between the Emergency Services and Defence in Scotland. The exercise also gives all personnel valuable experience of joint aviation operations, supported by the RAF's Chinook helicopters.
“This exercise is a valuable opportunity for Defence to work in close cooperation with our Emergency Services colleagues in a challenging and fast-moving scenario, improving our interoperability and gaining mutual understanding of each other’s organisations and way of working. Tough, realistic training is key to operational success on the day.”
Lieutenant Colonel Doug Mackay
Joint Regional Liaison Officer Scotland
The RAF are based at Police Scotland Headquarters in Tulliallan. Throughout the exercise, Police Scotland officers will fly in Chinook helicopters from their Headquarters to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters in Cambuslang. Alongside the Royal Marines and 2 SCOTS, they will take part in a scenario-based training exercise using blank firing ammunition, giving personnel realistic practice in a safe and controlled environment.
The exercise also tests the process for the safe handling, triage and handover of individuals between military and police personnel, helping to ensure smooth coordination between the two.
This partnership between Police Scotland and the military reflects the principles of the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Programme (JESIP), which sets out how emergency services should work together to save lives and reduce harm.
A previous Exercise Kukri Dawn took place in March 2026, with joint police and Defence activity centred on Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh.
