Torres Warren Bomb & Firing Range

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The base at West Freugh includes a weapons range to the southeast on Luce Bay comprising of an area of sea in Luce Bay, and an area of land at Torrs Warren. Bombs, rockets and missiles are fired over Luce Bay where most of the trials activities take place. In additon to this fixed and rotary wing machine guns of various calibres are also fired in the bay. Similarly, on land, bombs are released on the target area and fixed and rotary wing machine guns of various calibres fired. Missiles are fired from the land out into the bay at 'soft' target barges which are used for inert store releases.

At Torrs Warren, the 'soft' targets are three large concrete areas on the land. Any live stores released on to either the concrete or the surrounding softer land are cleared by explosive ordnance demolition techniques by QinetiQ.Cluster bombs have been tested in Luce Bay and as a result special mattresses have been manufactured to protect the sea bed. Twelve sections of the bay are covered these mattresses, which were installed in 2000.

Luce Bay is also used for NATO training exercises. In September 2003, the RAF contributed to a NATO training exercise called Northern Light, which involved a huge mock amphibious landing that included nearly 50 ships and submarines and also 34 aircraft from UK and foreign forces.