Wargames

Major international war games taking place off the Western Isles have involved the United States testing technically complex ballistic missiles defence systems.

This is the first ever time the American navy has carried out this kind of test outside of the USA.

A fleet of warships off the Hebrides were put through their paces in defending Europe under a mock attack from different angles.

The nine countries in the Maritime Theater Missile Defense forum chose the Hebrides Range in South Uist to test out modern warfare.

The aim is to assess how well they could all communicate and co-operate in the heat of battle.

The US military said the South Uist testing has been hugely successful and demonstrates the commitment of the United States to defend Europe.

A crucial part of the allied coalition forces exercise was blasting a Terrier Orion missile into space from South Uist.

It was tracked by Dutch and Spanish warships and shot down by a SM-3 missile fired from an US destroyer, USS Ross.

At the same, two anti-ship cruise missiles were fired at the USS Ross which were taken out by another American naval vessel, USS The Sullivans.

Military ships and aircraft involved in the exercise including from Canada, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, United Kingdom, and the United States.

Germany is providing personnel to support the multi-national task group staff.

Representatives from Denmark and Japan were present as observers.

The Maritime Theater Missile Defense forum was established in 1999 as a co-operative body for participating navies to develop improved cooperation and promote interoperability in sea-based missile defence.

Admiral Mark Ferguson, commander of US Naval Forces Europe-Africa, said the demonstration was successful and showed how different navies could simultaneously co-ordinate their activities in battle .

Admiral Ferguson is pleased that the exercise "successfully conducted the simultaneous engagement of a ballistic missile in space and an anti-ship cruise missile target, the first demonstration of this capability in the European theater."

He added: “This exercise demonstrates the commitment of the United States to the defense of Europe through our Aegis ships and our shore station in Romania, as well as the professional performance of our allied sailors.

The South Uist exercise clocked up a number of firsts including the first intercept of a ballistic missile target in Europe, first missiles of their kind being tested outwith the USA and in the Western Isles, foreign warships integrating their efforts during simultaneous attack from anti-ship cruise and ballistic missiles, said the US Navy.

USA tests ballistic missiles off Hebrides

23 October 2015