RESIDENTS in parts of Dorset are being warned by the Ministry of Defence about a medium-scale air exercise that will take part in the area next week.

RESIDENTS in parts of Dorset are being warned by the Ministry of Defence about a medium-scale air exercise that will take part in the area next week.

Exercise aircraft will operate in Dorset between November 6 and 7 and then move to the Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire areas of Wales from November 10-14.

Code-named Early Resolve, the exercise is designed to practice close air support operations and forward air control techniques.

This training is essential for the UK Aircrews and Ground Forces and allows them to practice various techniques and procedures before possible deployment to operational theatres.

Flying is expected to take place daily between 9am and 11pm. There will be no weekend activity.

A variety of aircraft types will be involved in Early Resolve and observers may see Tornado, Hawk, Harrier and Typhoon as well as French Naval Rafale and Super Etendarde and USAFE F15E.

Some practice munitions will be used when aircraft are operating at the Castlemartin Range areas.

The exercise will be monitored and supported by E-3D AEW aircraft operating at high level.

Throughout Early Resolve there will be occasions when participating fast jet aircraft will be required to operate at low level, and this may include low level orbits, but any time spent conducting low level flying will be the minimum necessary to achieve the training objectives with every effort being made to minimise disturbance.

Additionally, where low flying operations have been arranged as part of the exercise, this precludes the use of the same area by aircraft carrying out routine low-level training flying.