AN INCREASE in military traffic on the Firth of Clyde is expected later this month as a NATO live-firing exercise gets underway.

Exercise Formidable Shield will see vessels, aircraft and soldiers from multiple nations train in the North Atlantic.

The exercise runs from May 8 to 13, and will give nations and units practice of working together with live fire exercises against ballistic and air targets.

The exercise is held every two years, with Formidable Shield 2021 involving around 15 naval vessels, 30 aircraft, and 3300 soldiers from ten NATO countries.

Participants carried out joint mission planning, shared tactical images, and coordinated the shooting down of incoming missiles.

The Firth of Clyde could see increased military activity with vessels stationed around Scotland for the duration of the exercise.