The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has deployed two Tornado fighter bombers for a week-long training exercise at Canadian Forces Base Suffield.

During Exercise Prairie Thunder the RAF’s Tornado aircraft will be used to add a realistic air element to the event, which will last until May 2010, according to the Calgary Sun.

During the simulated exercise, the Tornados will perform basic flying missions and provide ground troops with overhead flights for radar tracking.

The Tornado jets and crews deployed are from 12 Squadron, Lossiemouth RAF Base, in Moray, Scotland, the UK’s main Tornado base.