Major UK-led Nato exercise begins in Scotland

Almost 70 aircraft are being used in Exercise Joint Warrior

One of Nato's biggest military exercises is under way, with large parts of the training taking place in Scotland.

Joint Warrior is held twice a year, in April and October, and involves thousands of personnel and dozens of ships and aircraft.

For the first time, the UK-led exercise features training using sea-going and aerial drones.

Called Unmanned Warrior, this training involves the Western Isles.

Military sites and ranges in Benbecula, Stornoway on Lewis and also Applecross and Kyle of Lochalsh on Scotland's mainland west coast are being used for the Royal Navy's Unmanned Warrior.

Joint Warrior, meanwhile, involves about 5,700 military personnel from armed forces from countries including Norway, Sweden, Germany and the USA.

Thirty-one warships and submarines as well almost 70 aircraft, many of them being flown out of RAF Lossiemouth in Moray and Prestwick in Ayrshire, are being used in the training off the Scottish coast.

Joint Warrior runs until 20 October.