INVERCLYDE residents will witness one of the largest military exercises in Europe next month.

The Clyde is hosting part of the UK-led multinational exercise Strike Warrior between May 8 and 20.

Strike Warrior incorporates the Joint Warrior exercise, which takes place twice a year.

Linked to the NATO military training exercise programme, the large-scale activity will bring together all three UK Armed Forces to provide training opportunities.

The event will bring 31 warships, three submarines, 150 aircraft and 13,400 military personnel to military ranges across the country, and to maritime exercise areas off the north and west coasts of Scotland.

In the exercise, military personnel will have to deal with a wide range of scenarios involving crisis and conflict-led situations, and increasing political and military tensions.

The event will be delivered by joint tactical exercise planning staff and some of the team will deploy to HM Naval Base Clyde to coordinate events.

A total of 34 naval units from 10 different nations are taking part.

Participating NATO nations will be the UK, USA, Denmark, France, Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway and Poland.

Australia will be the only non-NATO participant.

PIC 1: HMS Queen Elizabeth during her recent visit to Glen Mallan

PIC 2: Vessels and aircraft participating in a previous Joint Warrior exercise.