The Dutch frigate, HNLMS De Ruyter, will attempt to track a missile as part of the month-long training

A US-led exercise is to begin off the Outer Hebrides from tomorrow to test Nato’s ability to defend against ballistic missiles.

As part of the month-long training a Dutch warship will attempt to detect and track a missile flying outside the earth’s atmosphere at more than 12,400mph. It will be flying twice as high and as far as one fired during a demonstration two years ago.

The war game, called Formidable Shield, will be led by the US navy. Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Spain will also be involved. It comes as tensions rise over the threat posed by the developing intercontinental ballistic missile capability of North Korea.

“The purpose of Formidable Shield is to improve allied interoperability in a live-fire integrated air and