RAF bases warn of increased activity during training exercise
Exercise Agile Warrior 26 aims to test the RAF's ability to protect the UK when under direct attack
Last updated 5th Mar 2026
People living near a number of RAF bases in England have been warned about increased activity in the area as part of a long-planned training exercise.
Exercise Agile Warrior 26 will last for two weeks and is designed to 'rigorously test' the RAF's ability to protect the UK when under direct attack.
Residents near RAF Wittering (Cambridgeshire), RAF Halton (Buckinghamshire), RAF Henlow (Bedfordshire) and RAF Marham (West Norfolk) may see a change in activity levels this week but are being reassured this is in direct support of the training.
Personnel will practise rapid dispersal, improvised command-and-control arrangements, base defence, sustainment and recovery activities.
Speaking ahead of the Exercise, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, highlighted the importance of strengthening homeland defence readiness:
"Here at home, we are seeing regular incursions into our sovereign waters and air space by hostile agents that don’t play by our rules.
"We see regular examples of espionage and sabotage that seek to affect our economy, undermine our democracy, and disrupt our very way of life. It’s through this lens, protecting our homeland, that we prepare for Exercise Agile Warrior. What we do, and how we do it, really matters."
The Ministry of Defence say all personnel from across the RAF, along with key partners including 39 Engineer Regiment, 20 Works Group, and embedded capabilities from UK Space Command will be involved.