Increased military aviation activity at the island’s airport is to support American “maritime homeland defence efforts in the Atlantic Ocean”, a US official said.

The Governor, Rena Lalgie, said earlier that the public could expect to see more military activity from LF Wade International Airport over the summer.

She said the activity was under the terms of a longstanding agreement between Britain and the United States dating back to 2017.

“It is a demonstration of the high level of ongoing co-operation between the US, the UK and Bermuda which provides for our ongoing security,” added the Governor, who gave no more details.

According to a defence official at US Northern Command, which organises and executes US homeland defence and civil support missions, a small number of US maritime patrol aircraft with be conducting operational missions from the airport.

“The aircraft are supporting US Northern Command for maritime homeland defence efforts in the Atlantic Ocean.

“For reasons of operational security, we are unable to provide any additional details at this time,” said the official.