UK, Oman complete desert training exercise
Omani soldiers attack a simulated village as part of Exercise Khanjar Oman. (Photo: UK MoD)
British troops recently concluded Exercise Khanjar Oman as part of their four-month deployment to the Gulf nation.
The desert warfare exercise took place from 3-14 February and saw British troops operate alongside the Royal Army of Oman in the Ras Madrakah joint training area, culminating in a mock assault on an urban area.
Battlegroup commander Lt Col Ben Hawes of 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, is preparing troops to assume command of NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) in January 2024.
He said: 'Since March last year, the focus of our training has been to ensure that we are ready to fight against a peer enemy force. This exercise is the UK ensuring that its spearhead battlegroup is in exactly the right place to go out the door.'
Related Articles
EU training and support continues to flow to Ukraine
Israel and US join up for cyber exercise
MASS supports major UK joint task force exercise
The 4th Light Brigade Combat Team is delivering the first series of exercises for Desert Khanjar, the two annual, four-month deployments of UK troops to the British Army’s Land Regional Hub in Duqm, Oman.
During deployment, personnel undertake unit training, exercise with partners and provide a forward-based force capable of building regional security capabilities and responding to threats where they arise.
Aspects of the exercise included operating in GPS-denied environments and with jammed radio communications.
More from Training
-
![Turkey completes Romania air policing mission]()
Turkey completes Romania air policing mission
Turkish F-16 experience was praised by Romanian fighter pilots as Turkey completes first participation in NATO southern mission.
-
![First ARTEMIS F-5 arrives in US for training programme]()
First ARTEMIS F-5 arrives in US for training programme
The Avionics Reconfiguration and Tactical Enhancement/Modernization for Inventory Standardization (ARTEMIS) programme has involved upgraded cockpit, avionics and supporting aircraft architecture. A total of 22 additional F-5s were procured from Switzerland to support ARTEMIS.
-
![Babcock to partner with companies to develop improved VR training system]()
Babcock to partner with companies to develop improved VR training system
Ship and vehicle builder Babcock has been looking to build on its defence training division through new partnerships.
-
![BAE Systems and VRAI collaborate on data-driven pilot training]()
BAE Systems and VRAI collaborate on data-driven pilot training
BAE Systems and VRAI have set out to harness the power of data to redefine fast jet pilot training.
