More than 100 Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF) Regiment personnel from across the force have completed Exercise Highland Thunder, a large-scale collective training activity designed to enhance force protection capability and strengthen operational readiness.
Conducted across RAF Lossiemouth, Kinloss Barracks and the Drummuir Estate, the exercise brought together personnel from all Force Elements to deliver Annual Continuous Training in a realistic operational environment.
Now operating under 20 Force Protection Wing and aligned to the Mobile Operating Base (MOB) homeland defence mission, Exercise Highland Thunder provided Reservists with an opportunity to train in the type of environment they could be expected to operate in during real-world tasks.
The exercise was designed to combine multiple training requirements into a single coordinated programme, improving efficiency while exposing personnel to the challenges of airbase defence operations.
Throughout the exercise, personnel undertook a diverse range of force protection activities reflecting contemporary threats to both deployed and permanent operating bases.
Training serials included visual sectorisation patrols, responses to intruder and active shooter incidents, Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems (C-UAS) training, Vehicle Checkpoints (VCPs), CBRN reconnaissance, and counter-reconnaissance and saboteur operations.
The activity provided valuable development opportunities across all ranks, enhancing leadership, tactical decision-making and collective effectiveness. Training within a live RAF environment also enabled Reservists to work alongside Regular Force personnel responsible for airbase defence, reinforcing the integration required to deliver operational capability in the warfighting role.
Exercise HIGHLAND THUNDER highlighted the vital contribution made by the RAuxAF Regiment to the RAF's force protection capability. By validating procedures, strengthening interoperability and improving collective readiness, the exercise reinforced the professionalism, commitment and operational value of RAF Regiment Reservists in supporting UK Defence.
Officer Commanding 2622 Squadron said:
"Exercise HIGHLAND THUNDER was a first-of-its-kind national Annual Continuous Training activity, combining formal Phase 2 and promotion training with continuation training for personnel from across the force.
What made the exercise particularly valuable was the realism of the tactical environment and the nature of the activity being undertaken. As part of 20 Force Protection Wing's homeland defence mission, it is essential that we rapidly develop and maintain the skills required to operate effectively on a Mobile Operating Base.
The lessons identified at RAF Lossiemouth will help shape future training and are directly transferable to any location where the RAuxAF Regiment may be called upon to operate and fight."
