A huge RAF aircraft has been spotted flying low over a beach in west Wales.
The A400 Atlas could be seen gliding through the sky above Cefn Sidan, in Pembrey, on Tuesday, July 6 as part of a routine training exercise.
The impressive aircraft from RAF Brize Norton had been flying over west Wales, between around 11.30am and 1.30pm on Tuesday, as part of essential low-flying training. This type of training makes sure crews are "ready and able to deploy on global operations".
Read more: The massive military planes and helicopters seen flying over Wales this year
An RAF spokesman said: "An RAF A400 Atlas from RAF Brize Norton was completing routine essential low flying training in Wales yesterday, such training ensuring our crews remain ready and able to deploy on global operations."
The RAF said there was a continuing requirement for UK Armed Forces to operate successfully in the low-level environment, as low flying was a skill that could only be perfected and maintained through rigorous training and continuous practice in a realistic environment. It added that low flying skills were used to protect the nation, to assist in peace-keeping and to provide humanitarian support, both on operational deployments overseas and in the UK.
The Atlas C.1 (A400M) entered operational service with the Royal Air Force in 2014 and provides tactical airlift and strategic oversize lift capabilities. It can operate at altitudes up to 40,000ft, as well as offering impressive low-level capability.
It can accommodate as many as 116 fully-equipped troops, vehicles, helicopters (including a Chinook) or combinations of vehicles, pallets and personnel, up to a payload of 37 tonnes.
Loads are delivered by parachute, gravity extraction from the aircraft's rear ramp, using the weight of the cargo, or by landing. Paratroopers can be dropped from the aircraft's dedicated doors or from the rear ramp. The Atlas is operated by two pilots, as well as a weapons systems operator.
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