The NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS) has participated in an exercise to confirm its ability to be airlifted globally by the Royal Air Force. This tri-national capability, jointly owned by France, Norway, and the UK, is designed to evacuate submariners from disabled submarines at depths up to 610 metres.
The exercise, named Flying Fish, involved transporting 350 tonnes of equipment, requiring 27 lorries and multiple aircraft. A police escort was practised from Glasgow to RAF Brize Norton, where the Submarine Rescue Vehicle and other heavy support equipment were loaded onto simulators for C-17A Globemaster and A400M Atlas military transport aircraft.
This marked the first time the A400M Atlas was used for NSRS transport, allowing its future use by UK and NATO partner nations' air forces for rapid deployment. Luke Pollard MP, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, stated that the ability to mobilise the NSRS at short notice is reassuring for the UK and its allies, ensuring readiness for any submarine emergency.