Camouflaged soldiers duck for cover as Challenger tanks rumble by and Apache helicopters hover overhead.
While these pictures appear to have been taken in a war zone, they actually show a huge Army exercise which took place on Salisbury Plain today.
Hundreds of military vehicles, including tank columns and helicopters, were on the plain in Wiltshire as a rapid response brigade started a three-week operation to test its capability to deploy at short notice.
The drills include a 31-mile road test involving 1,650 troops, most of which come from the 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade.
Exercise Tractable will test the Lead Armoured Task Force's ability to launch at short notice and is set to become an annual event as most of the armed forces' fast response units are now based in the south west.
There are thought to be 570 military vehicles on the plain, including Challenger 2 battle tanks, which were seen speeding across the fields as soldiers ducked for cover.
Brigadier Roly Walker, who commands the brigade, told the BBC: 'We are going to prove we can bring a fleet and a crew together to form a task force, so if the country needed us to intervene overseas, we're ready.
'Although it is a large exercise, this is relatively modest - what we will aspire to do is bring a whole brigade together and in the future you could see even larger formations coming together.'
War zone: Apache helicopters hover above a column of Army vehicles including Challenger 2 tanks as they take part in an exercise on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire
Cover: A group of soldiers shield their ears as the drills, under Exercise Tractable, involve practicing heavy artillery shelling
Fire! A huge ball of flames can be seen as a tank fires its weapon during the first day of the three-week military exercise
Camouflage: Two soldiers duck for cover as they take part in the drills, which will test the Army's capability to deploy quickly
On the run: A soldier, one of 1,650 taking part in the exercise, hides behind a wall of smoke as he darts across the fields
Plume of smoke: The drills include a 31-mile road test across the plain and will continue into the start of April
Hundreds of military vehicles including Tank columns and Apache helicopters (right) are taking part in the military operation
Tanks on patrol: There are thought to be 570 military vehicles on the plain, including Challenger 2 battle tanks
Taking aim: Most of the soldiers involved in the three-week drills come from the 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade
Ouch: The Army has asked residents to be wary of noise during the exercises, but it seems these two infantry did not get the memo
The drills, under the code name Exercise Tractable, will test the Lead Armoured Task Force's ability to launch at short notice
Exercise Tractable is set to become an annual event as most of the armed forces' rapid response units are now based in the south west
A soldier covers his eyes as an Apache helicopter kicks up dust in an image that could easily be mistaken as being from a war zone
Long lines of tanks tanks were seen speeding across the boggy fields in Wiltshire as armed soldiers ran alongside
Brigadiers leading the exercise said the exercises would ensure the Army was ready to fight overseas if called upon
Brigadier Roly Walker, who commands the brigade, said: 'We are going to prove we can bring a fleet and a crew together to form a task force, so if the country needed us to intervene overseas, we're ready'
Bringing up the rear: Apache helicopters hover overhead as the troops make their way across Salisbury Plain
A hard days work: Some of the soldiers looked exhausted after the day's work, but they will be on exercise for the next three weeks
The huge exercise, which could be even bigger next year, is designed to test the Lead Armoured Task Force's ability to strike swiftly
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3003143/War-declared-Salisbury-Plain-Tank-columns-Apache-helicopters-hundreds-vehicles-taking-three-week-exercise-test-Army-s-ability-deploy-short-notice.html#ixzz3V5ffORnm
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