Villagers surprised by large convoy preparing for huge Nato military exercise Kirstie Chambers 30th January 2024 at 1:15pm

Watch: 2nd battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment prepares for its involvement in Nato's Exercise Steadfast Defender

A massive convoy of Foxhounds, Jackals and Land Rovers has surprised villagers in the East Midlands.

The troops from 2nd Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment were practising their immediate response to a Nato Very High Readiness Joint Task Force call-out.

The 500 soldiers and their 162 vehicles are preparing to take part in Exercise Steadfast Defender, Nato's largest exercise since the Cold War.

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The light mechanised infantry battalion, known as "the Poachers", operated under the spearhead force Nato's Very High Readiness Joint Task Force.

The soldiers will begin with Exercise Polish Dragon – one of the 11 exercises that are taking place in Poland.

Ex Steadfast Defender is due to start in February and will travel through the entire Trans-Atlantic region.

It's a show of force, strength and unity of Nato allies following Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Watch: 20,000 British soldiers, sailors and aviators to deploy by land, sea and air across Europe to participate in a huge Nato exercise later this year.

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