The Ministry of Defence (MOD) said the exercises were an "essential part of operational training".
Just to play devil's advocate, but
is it an essential part of operational training to repeatedly use this same circular tract of airspace time after time after time? Surely, most of those 'training' in it have flown the same route many times already, so given that the MoD has no plans (I assume) to launch air strikes against this particular part of Wales any time soon, what are they actually learning that will be relevant operationally?
Genuine question.