Operation Swift Strike

This thrilling display takes place over Portsmouth's northern harbour at 2.15 each afternoon of the 2005 International Festival of the Sea.

Britain's Armed Forces have pulled out all the stops to create this spectacular display. Taking part are six fixed wing aircraft, eight helicopters, twenty craft on the water, and 100 Royal Marine Commandos, backed up with state-of-the art pyrotechnic effects.

The story is set in a fictitious island archipelago off western Africa and begins as we see a rebel force operating small craft to move arms and ammunition in support of an insurgency on the mainland.

The democratically elected government has good relations with the UK, and has requested that British Armed Forces assist in gathering intelligence on the rebels activities.

After Royal Air Force and Royal Navy aircraft conduct an aerial reconnaissance the pace of the act on is fast and furious as the rebels decide to take on the Royal Navy Task Group.

The display has been created to demonstrate our Armed Forces skills and equipment in a realistic and exciting high-octane format designed to appeal to a wide range of audience.

The following aircraft types are expected to take part: Harrier, Tornado, Nimrod, Sea King, Lynx, Chinook.

The best place to view the display will be on any of the visiting vessels berthed along Fountain Lake Jetty and the area of North Corner. There will be a detailed map in the Festival programme.

You are advised to secure your viewing position in good time before the 2.15pm start time.

A network of large screens and the PA system will relay the display site wide.

COMBAT

This year, at IFOS you can witness a live action arena show, unlike anything you've ever seen outside of a blockbuster Hollywood movie. It is being created exclusively for the Festival and is set to be the biggest land based armed forces display ever produced.

In the fictional state of Pompavia a violent and bloody coup has ousted the democratically elected, UK friendly government and now civilians and Aid workers are under threat from the vicious and organised Militia of General Dalkari. UK Forces are sent in to contain Dalkari and Liberate Pompavia and its people.

Via a clever mix of live action and interactive video we follow the action as all three services work together in a modern military operation, compressing many months of action into a memorable 20 minute display. Onscreen we see the angle of global TV news whilst in the arena we have dynamic, soil churning tank battles and fast moving fire fights with the rebel forces.

With a cast drawn from 40 Commando, The Black Watch and 1st Armoured Division as well as support from RAF and RN personnel this show is as close to an actual operation as it is possible to get. From the dynamic live battles to the tense peacekeeping operations that follow this is a thrilling, credible and hugely entertaining show for the entire family.

On the way there are breathtaking stunts and huge explosions, live interactive video, fire-fights, tank battles, car chases, nailbiting tension, and thrilling action. It is going to be the unmissable feature at IFOS 2005.