A major military exercise is due to take place off the North-West of Scotland in June this year according to an open source air traffic advisory UK Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) supplement.

Between June 10 to 24 2024, NATS Project Pantomime will establish a temporary danger area for the exercise which extends far into the North Atlantic to the West of the existing large D701 Complex off the Western Isles of Scotland. Within this combined area the allocated airspace is from the surface up to what is referred to as unlimited.

The temporary danger area (TDA) has been given the name EGD797 PANTO. The UK AIP Supplement states that the combined D701 and EGD797 PANTO will “accommodate large-scale military exercises being run by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). Large numbers of aircraft and ships will be participating in the exercise, executing full tactical manoeuvring…”. The UK AIP also provides some more details of the expected activity stating it may include: “Target Towing/Unmanned Aircraft System (VLOS/BVLOS)/High Energy Manoeuvres/Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives/Electronic/Optical Hazards.”

The RAF was approached for more information about the above and for details of what aircraft are taking part, however no information was available. It is not known at this time whether it is just UK assets involved or other nations as well.

Watch this space for more details as we get them.