Residents may notice additional guards, traffic delays and other unusual activity at Navy facilities this week as Florida Keys installations participate in a Navy anti-terrorism drill being conducted worldwide.

The Solid Curtain/Iron Shield exercise, which simulates an actual attack or threat, will result in heightened security at Naval Air Station Key West. The result could be traffic backups near Trumbo, Sigsbee and Boca Chica Key gates, and near Navy housing entrances, said base spokesman Jim Brooks.

Because local personnel will not know what scenario will be simulated, or when, guards at entrance points may be heavily armed, and security checks are expected to take longer than usual.

"There could be some lengthy delays getting on base as they're going to be inspecting every vehicle," Brooks said. "Police have been notified and civilians shouldn't be impacted, though there could be some traffic issues near base entrances."

The exercises were planned in a way to "minimize the impact on local communities," according to a Navy statement released last week.

U.S. Navy installations throughout the world are participating in the exercise, which could involve small-boat attacks on waterfront bases, roadside bombs, cyber attacks or active shooter scenarios such as occurred at Fort Hood in November, the release states.

"Every base will have something to react to," Brooks said. "It will be very similar to what would happen in the real world."

The training exercise comes at a time when the Boca Chica base is particularly active. About 600 pilots and support personnel are on base this week, including the Wisconsin Air National Guard and 27 F-16 fighter jets and an EF-18 Growler squadron -- a plane based on the F/A-18 Hornet and designed for electronic warfare.

"This is traditionally our busy time of the year as the weather up north prevents a lot of training," Brooks said.

alinhardt@keysnews.com