The Ministry of Defence has announced that a medium-scale air exercise will take place over parts of Central South, and South West Wales and the Welsh Marches over the period March 4 to 14. The exercise, code-named 'Fast Mover', is designed to practise close air support operations and forward air control techniques; this is an essential element of training for the UK aircrews and ground forces and allows them to practise various techniques and procedures before possible deployment to operational theatres. Flying will take place over large areas of West Wales, including the vicinities of Aberystwyth, New Quay, Aberporth, Fishguard, Haverfordwest, Carmarthen, Lampeter, Cardigan, Rhyader, Castlemartin, Llandeilo and Newcastle Emlyn on March 11 and 12 (estimated times 10 am to 11 pm). Additional Exercise Fast Mover flying will take place at the Castlemartin Ranges on March 13 (estimated times 9 am to 10 pm). The exercise will move eastwards across South Wales on March 14, with activity estimated to take place between 10 am and 11 pm. A variety of aircraft types will be involved and observers may see Tornado, Hawk and Harrier aircraft, as well as other NATO types. Nimrod and E3D AWACS aircraft operating at higher levels will monitor the exercise. Some ground munitions may be used on the Castlemartin Range areas. Throughout Exercise Fast Mover, there will be occasions when participating fast jet aircraft will be required to operate at low level; this may include carrying out orbits. However, any time spent operating in this way will be the minimum necessary to achieve the task, with every effort being made to minimise disturbance; additionally, where low flying operations have been arranged as part of the exercise, this precludes the use of the same area by aircraft carrying out routine low-level training flying. The exercise flying times are subject to operational requirements, aircraft availability and weather, and may, therefore, change at short notice.