RAF Honington hosted the prestigious 2026 RAF Police Military Working Dog Trials Competition, bringing together some of the Royal Air Force's most highly skilled Military Working Dog (MWD) teams from across the UK and Cyprus.
Starting on 4 October 2026, RAF Police MWD teams representing RAF Akrotiri, RAF Brize Norton, RAF Coningsby, RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Marham and RAF Waddington faced a series of demanding operational scenarios designed to test the capabilities required to protect RAF personnel, assets and operations at home and overseas.
Throughout the week-long competition, handlers and their dogs were assessed across a range of core military policing skills, including agility and obedience under pressure, threat assessment during day and night patrol operations, advanced detection tasks using the dogs' natural scenting abilities, and intruder apprehension techniques. Following a series of elimination rounds, the highest-performing teams progressed to the championship finale on 8 October 2026, where they demonstrated their expertise before invited guests and senior RAF personnel, including AOC 2 Gp, AVM Lyle.
Taking first place and the coveted 'Top Dog' title were Corporal Evans and MWD Katie from RAF Coningsby. Their station colleagues, Corporal Poore and MWD Dog Nina, secured second place, while Corporal Martin and MWD Cezar from RAF Lossiemouth finished third following a highly competitive week of trials.
The annual competition highlights the unique partnership between RAF Police handlers and their Military Working Dogs, whose trust, discipline and teamwork are fundamental to operational success. Developed through rigorous training and sustained operational experience, these partnerships enable RAF Police teams to respond effectively to evolving security challenges in support of Defence operations worldwide.
RAF Police MWD teams remain a critical force multiplier within RAF Police operations. Their exceptional sensory capabilities provide a unique advantage in detecting threats, enhancing situational awareness and safeguarding personnel, aircraft and infrastructure across the RAF estate. Working alongside advanced security systems and highly trained personnel, they contribute directly to the RAF's ability to remain ready, resilient and capable of responding to emerging threats wherever required.
