This proposal is for a Permanent change to the notified airspace design, and the change level is M2.
In order to meet the complex training objectives of Defence during Ex Joint Warriors, a large scale multi-national military exercise, segregated airspace is required that:
• Is within reach of Navy Forces, more specifically a Carrier Strike Group (with embarked 5th generation air systems) operating within Deep Water, which through the development of the scenario is likely to span hundreds of miles.
• Provides a sufficient mixture of overland and overseas areas which offers exercise planners flexibility to create more complex scenarios across both environments, for necessary littoral operations.
• Crucially caters for kinetic and non-kinetic ranges within the area, which allows for necessary Air Land integration.
• Is of large enough size to accommodate representative operational numbers.
In order for UK Danger Areas to comply with both the UK’s Airspace Modernisation Strategy and incoming Free Route Airspace (FRA), every danger area requires a “parent” danger area in the UK AIP in order for Flight Buffer Zones to be applied and thus enable FRA. In an increasingly busy UK airspace, segregated airspace of a large enough size and in a suitable location will not exist after FRA is implemented and current solutions are untenable to deliver the required needs of Defence.
