A huge defence drill which will see missiles being intercepted over European waters has kicked off, pulling in the armed forces of 11 NATO nations and more than 6,000 soldiers.

Exercise Formidable Shield 2025, NATO's most important integrated air and missile defence exercise, is starting from the North Atlantic, North Sea, and Norwegian Sea.

and is executed and led by STRIKFORNATO and the US Sixth Fleet, respectively. It involves live-fire events including interceptions of supersonic, subsonic and ballistic threats in what is widely regarded as one of the most complex air defence training environments ever to be staged.

As well as the US, the UK, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway and Spain are all involved, with Australia contributing radar sensor capabilities. A total of 16 warships, 27 aircraft and eight ground-based air defence units are being used.

These drills will help test the alliance's ability to using shared NATO command and control structures. They will also simulate collective responses to missile attacks.

Captain Michael Dwan, Commander of Task Group 154.64 and US Navy official, explained to the : "There is simply no substitute for the training and learning that occurs when we operate in these intensely realistic scenarios.

"Exercises like Formidable Shield are critical for refining our collective integrated air and missile defense capabilities, ensuring we can respond effectively to any threat from any direction.

"Training as a collective using NATO command and control reporting structure forges the bonds of interoperability and strengthens the alliance as a whole. Exercises like Formidable Shield are critical for refining our collective integrated air and missile defense capabilities, ensuring we can respond effectively to any threat from any direction and maintain a credible deterrent posture."

Aboard the Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter, officials and staff and live coordination of engagements. It acts as the command post for the whole operation, providing real-time decision making and tactical awareness across the allied fleet.

"Operating together is not just a practice, it's the foundation of our shared security," remarked Commander Welmer Veenstra, a Commanding Officer on De Ruyter. "Exercises like Formidable Shield 25 ensure our forces stay sharp, adaptable, and credible."

Sergeant Jonny Karlsen, Norwegian Joint Headquarters, told : "Formidable Shield is one of NATO's most important deterrence exercises this year, and also Europe's largest at-sea live-fire exercise in 2025.

"The war in Ukraine shows the significance of integrated air and missile defense to protect the airspace. By extension, this joint IAMD exercise is very important for Norway and our allies."