There seem to be a number of larger-than- usual or otherwise exceptional drills being held the world over, besides routine exercises.

1. AMERICAS

USA – JADE HELM15

(July 15 – September 15).  Involves 10 states (raised from 9 and 7). Involves elite special forces troops and a variety of domestic law enforcement agencies. Approximately 1,200 personnel in one state alone. Much larger and more widespread than any recent military drill in the US.

CANADA –

MAPLE CARAVAN (March 17 – April 18)

MAPLE RESOLVE (April 20 –  May 23)

Maple Resolve involves 4,500 military personnel from Canada, the US, and the UK and is said to be the largest Canadian drill this year. Maple Resolve 14 involved 5000 personnel.

2. EUROPE – NATO

NOBLE JUMP 2015

1500 troops take part in  a drill for NATO’s rapid response force, April 7- April 9.

SIIL-2015 (Hedgehog) – Estonia’s largest ever military drill. Involves 13,000 personnel. Involves forces from the US, the UK, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Belgium, Poland and the Netherlands. Ends May 15.

ZAIBO KIRTIS (Lightning Strike). Lithuania’s largest ever national drill. Involves 3000 personnel. Mobilization and cybersecurity were important concerns.

DYNAMIC MONGOOSE  –  Norway is hosting military drills involving 10 NATO countries and Sweden. They involve 5000 service men and focus on simulated submarine hunts and radar and sonar technology.

LOCKED SHIELDS 2015

Major NATO cyber-defense drill involving 17 nations in Estonia, involving 400 computer experts, in late 2014.

3. EURASIA

Russia put her Northern Fleet on full alert in mid- March 2015. In response to NATO and Eastern European exercises on her borders, Russia., the fleet launched exercises involving 38,000 troops, 41 ships, 15 submarines, and 110 aircraft.

Russia and China are holding joint exercises in the Mediterranean in mid-May, involving 9 ships. The exercises are said to be modest in size but they are the first between the two countries and the farthest ever from home for China.

4. ASIA

OPERATION FOAL EAGLE 2015 –

South Korean and US marines practicing amphibious beach assaults, along with air and sea operations, from March  2 – April 24, 2015. Involves 12,500 US troops and 200,000 South Korean troops.

US-PHILIPPINE balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) drill, starting April 20.  Involves 11,000 US and Philippine personnel and 61 Australian troops and is the largest such drill in 15 years.

Japan and the Philippines will hold joint maritime security exercises for the first time in the South China Sea on May 12 for two hours. 90% of the South China Sea is owned by China and China’s increasing power could threaten international waters through which Japanese trade has to pass.

In April, Pakistan and Russia announced that they would be beginning joint military drills for the first time ever.