A GROUP of jet fighters has returned to its North Yorkshire base after taking part in a major international exercise in the Middle East.

A detachment of Tornado F3s from XI(F) Squadron at RAF Leeming took part in Exercise Magic Carpet at Thumrait air base in Oman.

They were among more than 40 RAF and Royal Navy aircraft taking part in what was initially a bilateral British and Omani operation.

However, the 19-day exercise was later expanded to include US Air Force and US Navy aircraft, as well as a French air force contingent.

Squadron Leader Rich Bedford, commander of the Leeming detachment, said it had been the culmination of three months of hard work on a new air-to-air missile system.

"It was a large exercise with a large number of players from several different countries, and it gave us an excellent opportunity in training value we would probably not get in the UK," he said.