All articles tagged with #royal marines
Exercise Strike Warrior 26, running from September 28 to October 9, marks the first time since the Afghanistan war that all specialist elements of the UK Commando Force have operated together. The drill involves over 2,000 personnel from six nations, including a German Type 212A submarine insertion at Cape Wrath, to rehearse integrated crisis response in the North Atlantic and High North.
The UK Ministry of Defence is set to trial a new foot-launched powered paraglider system developed by Wiltshire-based startup Blakcro. Backed by £6 million in funding, the rucksack-sized gliders allow Royal Marines and Parachute Regiment troops to fly up to 200 miles behind enemy lines without requiring aircraft or runways. Trials are expected to begin in late 2026, marking a shift toward individual, stealthy air mobility for special operations.
The captain of the Russian shadow-fleet oil tanker MV Smyrtos has been charged with contravening UK sanctions after a six-hour Royal Marines operation in the English Channel. The vessel remains detained off Weymouth with 24 crew aboard as the NCA says the captain violated sanctions by delivering oil from Russia, marking the first such armed-forces interception of a sanctioned vessel in UK waters.
King Charles III presented new Colours to four Royal Marine units (40, 42, 43 and 45 Commando) at Windsor Castle, replacing those issued by Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. The ceremony followed a parade from Victoria Barracks to Windsor and highlights the enduring bond between the Crown, the Royal Marines, and the nation, linking their origins in 1664 to the modern Commando Force.