Armed Forces of the Commonwealth – United Kingdom – The Royal Air Force

Featured Photo: Photo from defenceimagery.mod.uk. License: OGL v1.0.

The Air Force of the United Kingdom is officially known as the Royal Air Force. It has existed for over a century with it first being founded in April 1918 as the world’s first independent air force, around 6 months before the end of World War 1, it went on to become the world’s largest and one of the most powerful Air Forces for a time before being surpassed in size and strength, but the Royal Air Force still today remains a formidable force on the international stage. During World War 2 it played pivotal roles in securing its skies, such as famously during the Battle of Britain, and conducting offensive operations against the Axis Powers.

Today it continues to provide critical support for NATO missions and operations, security of UK territorial airspace, disaster and humanitarian relief operations, and other allied assistance.  

As it stands the Royal Air Force has over 33,000 active personnel as well as over 5,000 reserve and auxiliary personnel, and currently has over 830 operational aircraft.  

Today, the Royal Air Force uses several bases outside of the UK itself within its territories and other countries, these are Gibraltar, Cyprus, Ascension Island, Falkland Islands, and Qatar. The Royal Air Force also conduct winter training exercises in Norway. The RAF are also involved in assisting the French forces and UN peacekeeping efforts in Mali as part of Operation Newcombe since 2018. The RAF has also conducted operations against ISIS in places like Iraq, Syria and others. It also plays roles in NATO missions such as in Eastern Europe as well as maintaining presence in certain areas of the globe such as the Persian Gulf alongside British naval forces.  

The Royal Air Force remains one of the most advanced in the world, alongside many other western powers. The aircraft it utilises covers numerous areas including fighter and strike aircraft, aircraft used for early warning and control systems, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, target acquisition, patrol, and air-to-air refueling roles and operations, as well as aircraft used for strategic and tactical transport. As part of this series, I am going to look into each aircraft currently in operation with the Royal Air Force, excluding aircraft specifically used for training as many of those were already covered in the second part of the British Army post.  

Below I have split the aircraft up into five sections to make things easier, this includes a special end section that goes over some future aircraft that are being planned and considered for the Royal Air Force to use, which should be quite interesting. All other sections include actively used aircraft.  

Transport Aircraft  

Pretty self-explanatory, these usually-large aircraft are used for transportation of personnel, equipment, supplies, and vehicles, or may also be reserved for VIP transport. These aircraft support all three branches of the armed forces as an essential way to access places and transport the required things needed. There are currently six types of aircraft actively used in the transport section, which include five large aeroplanes and a helicopter.  

A109SP Helicopter  

The Leonardo AW109SP GrandNew helicopter, A109SP for short, is a transport helicopter that operates with the 32^nd Squadron based in RAF Northolt, this squadron’s main purpose is to deliver secure and timely air movements, which is exactly the usage of the helicopter in question. It is used alongside the BAe 146 transport aircraft within the Command Support Air Transport role.  

The helicopter only needs a single pilot and can be flown in all weather conditions whether it is day or night. The helicopter is used to securely transport senior military commanders and government ministers’ site-to-site in the UK and Europe. It can operate into heliports or areas that provide no landing facilities and therefore makes it a reliable and flexible aircraft for its role.  

The most advanced features of the helicopter are the four-axis digital duplex autopilot and its advanced avionics suite. The aircraft has improved situational awareness and flight management over the previous A109E helicopter, making it safer and more efficient. The helicopter can fly for up to a range of 859km and can hold up to six passengers, using two Pratt and Whitney Canada PW207C turboshafts. It has a max take-off weight of 3,175kg and a max cruise speed of 289km/h. It is 12.92m in length and 3.39m in height with a rotor diameter of 10.83m.  

A109 helicopters have existed since 1971 with the first prototype flown by Italy’s Agusta. The A109SP is the latest variant of this line of helicopters, replacing the previously used A109E. The A109SP has been in active use since around 2009.  

Main Take Aways  

• Main purpose to deliver secure and timely air movements.  

• Used to transport senior military commanders and government ministers  

• Does not require landing facilities  

• Only needs single pilot.  

• Can be flown in all weather conditions.  

BAe146 Transport Plane  

As stated, the BAe146 is also operated exclusively by the 32^nd Squadron and used in similar roles although on a larger scale than the A109SP helicopter, as a part of the Command Support Air Transport role. Two variants of the BAe146 are actually used currently, one specially configured for the transportation of people classed as VIPs known as the CC.Mk2, and the other a quick-change variant known as the C.Mk3, this variant can be rapidly converted between an aircraft used for passenger transport and one used for cargo transport, and one big purpose for its introduction were to support continued operations in Afghanistan.  

The CC.Mk2 plays an important role in the secure transport of senior government ministers and Ministry of Defense personnel, but has also been used on rarer occasions to transport senior members of the British Royal Family. The plane also includes a defensive aid suite for the transportation of government ministers and high-ranking military leaders into areas overseas considered a security risk. Its role is described as important to enable engagement between commanders, their personnel, coalition partners and host-nation leadership representatives.  

But the CC.Mk2 is not just used for VIP transport, it also has another role outside of this primary usage, which is an operational role in-theatre, where it provides important support for military commanders via transporting personnel and smaller freight items from one place to another.  

Both planes are described as rugged, quiet, and self-sufficient and include extensive back-up systems, key for the enablement of operation away from their base for a long period of time without the need for much external support. The CC.Mk2 variant itself has proven very versatile, with very good short field performance, ability to operate off of runways within hot climates or at high altitude, and can also fly from semi-prepared landing strips.  

The C.Mk3 variant has kept its rear-fuselage freight door from the civilian model, allowing the loading of paletised freight or paletised seats for passengers.  

The BAe146 offered improvements over older aircraft for the RAF, such as being able to fly much further, and able to carry more passengers with improved comfort.  

The important contribution of these aircraft has allowed other larger aircraft to remain on their primary roles rather than being taken off for missions that the BAe146’s can now perform instead. The aircraft themselves have been in service since 1986, with the C.Mk3 variant coming into service in 2013. The C.Mk3 comes with a defensive aid suite, such as infrared countermeasures and flare dispensers, used to help counter hostile missiles.  

The RAF are planning to eventually retire all four of the BAe146 aircraft with this planned to happen by the end of March of 2022. There is yet little word on replacements, although the RAF does operate other transport aircraft (including newer ones) as you shall see.  

Both variants use four Honeywell ALF502R-5 turbofan powerplants; both variants are 8.61 meters in height while the CC.Mk2 is 26.19m in length compared to the C.Mk3’s 28.60m; both have a wingspan of 26.34m; both have a max take-off weight of 38,102kg; both typical cruise height of 30,000ft and max cruise speed of 709km/h; the CC.Mk2 has a longer typical range of 2,593km compared to the C.Mk3’s typical range of 2,222km.  

Main Takeaways  

• Can transport both cargo and passengers, including VIPs and personnel.  

• Big purpose of introduction was to support operations in Afghanistan  

• CC.Mk2 can fly from semi-prepared landing strips.  

• C.Mk3 can load palletised cargo or seats for passengers.  

• Able to fly further and operate for longer with less external support compared to previous aircraft.  

• Allowed other larger aircraft to remain on their primary roles.  

• Aircraft are planned to be retired by the end of March 2022. This also makes more sense now with the War in Afghanistan having ended.

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Atlas C.1 A400M  

The Atlas is one of the newer transport aircraft used by the RAF with it coming into service from 2014, with full tactical operational capability expected to be declared in the very near-future. It is operated by the 206^th Squadron, which performs heavy aircraft testing and evaluation, the 30^th Squadron, providing tactical airlift capability, the LXX Squadron, that provides strategic air transport worldwide, and the XXIV Squadron, who are responsible for training the RAF’s strategic Air Mobility Fleet. The Atlas itself is based at RAF Brize Norton.  

The primary purpose of the plane is to provide tactical airlift and strategic oversize lift capabilities, and are used often to complement the Hercules and C-17 Fleet of transport aircraft. The aircraft is able to transport a 37-tonne payload over 2,000 nautical miles and can either land at established or remote civilian and military airfields, or if needed can land on short unprepared or semi-prepared strips, making it quite versatile. It can operate at up to 40,000ft, but also offers great low-level capability.  

The plane is more fuel efficient at lower altitudes such as when compared to the C-17, and also faster at higher altitudes when compared to the Hercules. The Atlas’s hold and payload capabilities rank in-between the C17 and Hercules.  

Its payload of up to 37 tonnes can include many different combinations, such as up to 116 fully-equipped troops; vehicles; and helicopters, with it also being able to hold a Chinook. The aircraft can hold mixed-loads, which can include combinations such as nine aircraft pallets and 54 passengers, or a mix of vehicles, pallets, and personnel. This freedom of mixing and matching can suit various different needs for numerous different missions and operations.  

The loads held by the aircraft can be delivered in several different ways, one of which is simply landing and unloading, but other more extreme options are parachute delivery or gravity extraction from the rear ramp, where the cargos own weight is influenced to extract it from the aircraft. Paratroopers utilise dedicated paratrooper doors on the aircraft, or can parachute from the rear ramp.  

The RAF were also able to recently refuel the aircraft while it was flying via air-to-air refueling, something that is rather unusual for a platform such as the A400M (considering the RAF does not have the ability to air-to-air refuel many other large aircraft), but thanks to the aircraft’s flight control system, the aircraft was able to more easily maintain formation allowing the air-to-air refueling to take place.  

The aircraft also does have the ability to perform maritime operations, although is not its main purpose, but this usage has been seen in the English Channel for tracking migrant boats.  

The aircraft requires three crew to operate, two pilots and a weapons systems operator. The aircraft has four 11k shp EuroProp International TP400 turboprop powerplants; is 45.10m in length and 14.70m in height with a 42.40m wingspan; can travel up to a speed of 471km/h; and can travel up to a distance of 7,593km.  

In 2016 these aircraft were grounded fleet-wide due to a propeller gearbox problem, but the issue was soon overcome allowing the craft to go back into operation and the RAF has pointed out that this shows the robust nature of the A400M’s engineering and support system.  

Main Takeaways  

• One of the RAF’s newest transport aircraft  

• Primary purpose to provide strategic oversize lift capabilities  

• Able to land on short unprepared or semi-prepared strips  

• More fuel efficient at lower altitudes when compared to the C17  

• Faster at higher altitudes when compared to the Hercules.  

• Hold and payload capabilities rank between C17 and Hercules.  

• Can transport vehicles, passangers, cargo pallets, or a mixture of these categories.  

• Cargo can be parachuted down or gravity extracted when needed.  

• Paratroopers can utilise specialised doors or the rear ramp.  

• RAF can perform air-to-air refueling of the A400M  

• Can be used for maritime operations when needed.  

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C-17 Globemaster III  

For me the C17 is one of those trademark military transport aircraft. If we see a game or movie, especially one made in the US, and they are using some kind of military transport aircraft in any part or parts, there’s a good chance it will be the C17. I’d say many people can probably say they have seen the C17 at some point.

The C-17 is one of the heavier transport planes and is designed to transport heavy loads at long-range, and is also able to operate close to areas of operation where the potential for combat exists. It is also used for peacekeeping and humanitarian missions. The C-17 can rapidly and strategically deliver troops as well as any type of needed cargo to any base across the globe, no wonder they call it the Globemaster. The plane includes a load-bearing ramp and digitally controlled loading systems that, alongside trained crew and ground handlers, allow for the loading of large and complex items that can include Chinooks, as well as other military vehicles and heavy specialist kit.  

The plane is able to transport as much as 45,360kg up to 8,334km in distance as long as it is flying at altitudes above 35,000ft, if needed the plane can hold an absolute maximum of 76,655kg but would not be able to travel as great a distance. The plane’s design also allows for it to use small and/or simple airfields and small runways, this is because the plane is able to make high-angle, steep approaches at relatively low speed. The C-17 played a large role in sustaining the UK’s involvement in the War in Afghanistan via an airbridge operation.  

The Royal Air Force has used C-17s since 2000 beginning with a 7-year lease and support contract with Boeing and the US Air Force where the Royal Air Force acquired four C-17s, up until then ever since 1976 the Royal Air Force had been without an organic strategic lift capability and had relied on civilian-operated Short Belfast transports (and chartered freighters) during the Falklands War after having retired its own from service. Instead of extending the lease the MoD bought the original four C-17s and ordered another in 2006, and then three further so far in 2007, 2009, and then 2012. The aircraft stopped production in 2015 and so it is no longer possible to order more.

The Planes are currently flown by the 99^th Squadron, who deliver world-class strategic airlift with the C-17s, and also the XXIV Squadron, responsible for training the RAF’s strategic Air Mobility Fleet. The C-17s are based at RAF Brize Norton. They continue to be very important for strategic airlift capability, but there are plans for the A400M to eventually take priority, although it is unlikely the C-17 will be retired anytime soon (unlike a number of other transport planes used by the RAF) due to it being able to hold a lot more cargo at once. The C17 has an out of service date of 2040 as it stands. The C-17 has also been used for medical evacuation.  

The plane uses four Pratt and Whitney F117-PW-100 turbofan powerplants; is 53.04m in length, 16.79m in height, with a 51.74m wingspan.  

Main Takeaways  

• Able to hold the most cargo out of other transports  

• Able to transport heavy loads at long range, across the globe.

• Peacekeeping and humanitarian missions, can be used for medical evacuation  

• Rapidly and strategically deliver troops and/or cargo across the globe, including vehicles.  

• Able to operate in areas where risk of combat is high.  

• Can utilise small and simple airfields or small runways.  

• C17, along with Hercules, gave the RAF organic strategic airlift capability that it had been lacking since 1976.  

• A400M planned to take priority over C17, but C17 unlikely to be retired in near future due to its superior cargo hold, and good range.

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C-130J Hercules 

The Hercules is described as the primary tactical transport aircraft of the Royal Air Force that has been in operation since 1999. It currently has two variants in operation which are the C.Mk 4 or the C-130J-30 and the C.Mk 5 or the C-130J (without the extra –30). The main RAF website describes it as being the backbone of the UK’s operational tactical mobility tasks. It is also one of the transport aircraft’s that are used within areas of the world considered a threat to aircraft, with the performance, tactical and defensive system capabilities making it ideal for such usage, the system includes infrared countermeasures, electro-optical missile warning system, radar warning receivers, and chaff/flare dispensers.  

The aircraft is able to air-drop various types of stores and also paratroopers, and is also able to operate from landing zones made up of natural surface, making it a very flexible transport craft, it is noted that crews operating this transport need to be highly skilled at low-level flying. The transport can also operate during the night, thanks to night-vision goggles, and there is station-keeping equipment that also allow the plane to remain in formation within adverse weather. The aircraft is also able to refuel while flying and this enables improvement in its long-range capabilities.  

The plane can also be adopted for search and rescue and humanitarian operations via the Air Survival Rescue Apparatus that can be mounted within the cabin, which enables the plane to air-drop things like life rafts and emergency supplies.  

The Hercules are planned to retire from service with the previously talked about newer A400M transports to be their successor. Both variants are planned to be taken out of operation in 2023.  

There has though been some criticism on retiring the aircraft, specifically as it is the only transport aircraft able to meet the SAS’s operational requirement, without which makes their missions/operations higher risk, as the other in-service transport aircraft such as the C17 and new A400M are too large for certain special forces missions. The Hercules was originally going to be kept in service until at least 2035 but this was scrapped under last year’s 2021 integrated review. Concerned military commanders have made appeals against this to MPs according to the Daily Mail.  

The aircrew for the plane requires at least two pilots, a weapon system operator, and a ground engineer; the planes have four 4,700shp RollsRoyce AE2100D3 turboprop powerplants; the C.Mk 4 is 34.34m in length while the C.Mk 5 is shorter at 29.77m; both are 11.70m in height; both have a wingspan of 40.38m; both have a cruising speed of 593km/h; the C.Mk 4 has a ferry range of 4,908km, while the C.Mk 5 has a longer ferry range at 5,078km; cruising altitude for both is 28,000ft and the maximum altitude for both is 40,000ft.  

The planes are based at RAF Brize Norten and fly with the 206^th Squadron which perform heavy aircraft testing and evaluation; the 47^th Squadron which provide tactical airlift capability for the RAF; the XXIV Squadron responsible for training the RAF’s strategic Air Mobility Fleet; and they are also flown by the Falcons which is a military parachute display team, performing displays at venues across the UK and Europe.  

Main Takeaways  

• Backbone of UK’s operational tactical mobility tasks (soon to be – was)

• Able to be used in high-risk areas due to defensive suite.  

• Has airdrop capability for cargo and personnel  

• Able to operate from landing zones made up of natural surface.  

• Able to be adapted for use in search and rescue and humanitarian operations.  

• Planned to be retired some time in 2023 and replaced by the newer A400M.  

• Retirement has been criticized as the smaller size of this transport aircraft meets the SAS’s operational requirement, unlike other existing transports, leading to higher risk on such missions.  

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Voyager (A330 MRTT)  

The Voyager is the sole plane in the RAF that gets the air-to-air refueling done for aircraft, and the planes can also be used for strategic air transport as well. It comes in two variants, the KC.Mk 2 which includes two underwing pods used to refuel fast jet aircraft, and the KC.Mk 3 which includes an additional centreline hose to refuel some larger aircraft. Although the Voyagers are capable of drogue/drone refueling, none of them are currently capable of boom refueling, meaning certain large aircraft cannot be refueled in the air, such as the C17.  

Since during air-to-air refueling operations, the fuel is taken from the aircraft’s standard wing and fuselage tanks means that the aircraft’s cabin is free to still hold up to 291 personnel and the hold is still available for freight. The aircraft can operate differently depending on the air-to-air refueling operation, one method is to operate a towline, in this the Voyager orbits around a prescribed area awaiting aircraft to come and refuel, the other is where it flies in a trail with a number of fast jets, refueling them over a long range and taking responsibility for their fuel and navigation.  

The plane can also simply operate similar to a civilian passenger airliner, but instead for delivering personnel safely into potentially active theatres, which is possible thanks to the aircraft’s defensive aids suite. The Voyager also has great capacity for palletised and/or bulk freight, which is held in the lower fuselage hold. The plane can also be converted into what is basically a giant flying ambulance with the ability to carry up to 40 stretchers and up to three critical care patients. The plane can also be modified for the secure and comfortable transport for people classed as VIPs. All in all, the plane is clearly very versatile and flexible even outside of its primary air-to-air refueling capability.  

The Voyager has been in operation with the RAF since 2011, replacing the TriStar and VC10 which had been used in the air tanker roles. The aircraft are based at RAF Brize Norten, although one is always available within the Falklands Islands for the support of Typhoon QRA jets and also the Hercules. Another Voyager also operates a regular airbridge to the Falkland’s. The Voyager has also played major roles as a part of Operation Shader against the Islamic State via offloading fuel to RAF F35s and Typhoons as well as many Coalition jets.  

In 2015 it was also announced that a Voyager would be refitted to transport the prime minister, government ministers, and also be available to members of the Royal Family for official visits, with the rationale being that it would save a chunk of money. This Voyager would include 158 new seats and also secure communications, such as for the prime minister. This Voyager has been operational since 2016 and in 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson caused some controversy when he changed the aircraft’s livery, due to the cost. This Voyager is still primarily used for air refueling when not transporting VIPs, as seen here.  

The aircraft flies with the 101^st Squadron providing state-of-the-art air-tanker and transport capability on operations and in support of UK Quick Reaction Alert; and the 10^th Squadron providing state-of-the-art air-tanker and transport operations as the first A330 Squadron.  

Initially when the Voyager was being used there were issues with air-to-air refueling operations, specifically with insertion of aircraft drones into the drogues/baskets of the Voyager, which limited its ability for a time to act in the role, but the issues were fixed by the Summer of 2013, bringing it into full capacity operation.  

The planes use two 71,100lb st Rolls-Royce Trent 772B Turbofan powerplants; it has a length of 58.82m and a height of 17.39m, with a 60.30m wingspan; it has a maximum speed of around Mach 0.86; it is able to deliver 60,000kg of fuel during five hours on station at 930km from base; its range with maximum payload is 8,334km; maximum altitude is 41,000ft; maximum fuel load is 111,000kg; maximum payload is 45,000kg; and maximum passenger load is 291.  

Main Takeaways  

• Primary aircraft used by RAF for air-to-air refueling of small and certain large aircraft.  

• Can refuel aircraft in the air either from a set location or while flying over a longer range.  

• Can also be used for strategic air transport, for both freight and passenger transport.  

• Is not capable of boom refueling, meaning it cannot refuel certain aircraft in the air, such as the C17.  

• Can operate in higher risk areas due to defensive aide suite.  

• One Voyager also used for transport of Prime Minister, Government Ministers, and available to members of the Royal Family for official visits.  

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Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance Aircraft (ISTAR)  

These aircraft are used for all things to do with gathering intelligence via surveillance and reconnaissance and also use such information to provide target acquisition ready for any mission or operation to take place. As always knowing what your enemy is up to, knowing the lay of the terrain, knowing what your enemy has and their numbers, are all very important for getting the upper hand. One of the best things still for getting such intelligence are aircraft due to ease of mobility, how fast they are, stealthing capabilities, and the obvious wide area of view they provide from overhead, as well as all of the modern-day systems they are outfitted with, such as computer systems that collect data and use algorithms to prioritise important data, and of course – target acquisition.  

This section includes three fixed-wing aircraft and one fixed-wing drone that are currently in active service.  

Poseidon MRA1  

The Poseidon’s main role is as a maritime patrol aircraft but it is also a multi-role aircraft meaning it has a number of other capabilities. The aircraft is equipped with sensors and weapon systems used for anti-submarine warfare. The sensors are also to provide surveillance capabilities and the aircraft can be used in search and rescue missions also via the help of its sensors. It can perform extended surveillance missions at high and low altitude.  

One of the big features of the aircraft is its APY-10 Radar which includes modes that provide high-resolution mapping, an acoustic sensor system, which also includes passive and multi-static sonobuoys (of which it can hold up to 129 of), and also an electro-optical infrared turret and electronic support measures. This equipment allows for comprehensive search and tracking capability, and to help discover and track surface vessels and submarines, and the sonobuoys themselves are used to search and detect for submarines. The weapon system includes torpedoes for the engagement of sub-surface targets.  

The aircraft is actually very new for the Royal Air Force and was scheduled to go into service from 2020 which I can only assume has been the case. Before the Poseidon were the BAE System’s Nimrod MR.Mk 2 used in a similar role but they were outdated, they were being upgraded to MR.Mk 4 status but this was scrapped in 2010 and as such the UK had no effective long-range, fixed-wing maritime cover. This was until it was confirmed in 2015 that a number of Poseidon’s would be purchased to fill the gap.  

The aircraft will initially be fitted with US weapons (such as Mk 54 torpedoes) but it is being left open to the possibility of British weapons (such as the Sting Ray lightweight torpedo) being fitted to the aircraft sometime in the future, although no exact plan or date has been publicly stated. The Poseidon can hold up to five torpedoes in its weapon bay. Soon the torpedoes will also be able to be used from medium-high altitude which is up to 30,000ft, and will utilise glider kits for this purpose, which also includes a GPS guidance system for increased precision. The aircraft is also fitted with AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles for any surface engagements.  

The aircraft will be used for defense of the UK’s nuclear deterrent (Trident I assume) and also to defend aircraft carriers. The aircraft can also be used for reconnaissance.  

The aircraft are based at RAF Lossiemouth and fly with the 201^st Squadron who are based in Scotland and provide maritime reconnaissance; and the CXX Squadron which provides maritime patrol and is also based in Scotland.  

The planes use two 27,000lb st CFM International CFM56-7 turbofan powerplants; is 39.5m in length, 13.03m in height, and has a 37.7m wingspan; its maximum takeoff weight is 85,820kg; its maximum speed is 907km/h; ferry range is 7,242km; and service ceiling altitude is 41,000ft.  

Main Takeaways  

• Primarily used as a maritime patrol aircraft.  

• Will defend UK’s nuclear deterrent and aircraft carriers.  

• Equipped with sensors and weapon systems used for anti-submarine warfare.  

• Sensors also provide surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, and enable usage in search and rescue missions.  

• Can perform extended surveillance missions at both high and low altitude.  

• Advanced APY-10 Radar enables comprehensive search and tracking capability.  

• AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles for surface engagements.  

• Can engage sub-surface targets using torpedoes (US-made Mk 54 Torpedoes)  

• Fitting with UK-made weapons being considered as future possibility.  

• Filled the gap for the RAF’s long-ranged, fixed-wing maritime cover capability.  

• Aircraft is also multi-role and so can be used in various other areas as well.  

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RC-135W Rivet Joint  

This aircraft is dedicated to electronic surveillance for strategic and tactical missions and is able to be deployed in any theatre where it may be needed, making it reliable and flexible. Its powerful sensors are able to pick up electronic emissions from communications, radar, and other systems that may provide useful information. NATO has actually been using some of these recently over Ukraine to monitor tensions between it and Russia in the ongoing crisis there, and to gather intelligence on the build-up, movements and other acts.

The crew-members of this aircraft include multidiscipline Weapons System Officers and Weapon System Operator Specialists who play an integral role in surveying elements of the electromagnetic spectrum so that they can obtain intelligence from it to supply to commanders. The information gathered by the aircraft can be forwarded in a number of different formats to a wide range of consumers (for example to the Iraqi government, Kurdish fighters, and US forces to help in operations against Islamic State militants in northern Iraq) thanks to its extensive communications suite.  

The aircraft can hold more than 30 personnel which includes the mission crew (which can be anywhere from 25-35 personnel dependent on the operation), which is made up of electronic warfare officers, intelligence operators, and in-flight maintenance technicians.  

The Rivet Joint came into operation from 2017 replacing the BAe Nimrod R.Mk 1 which had been out of service since 2011 with a plan to replace them via converting USAF KC-135R airframes to the RC-135W Rivet Joint, which was contracted to L-3 Communications in Greenville, Texas. Their sensors and systems have continued to be upgraded since their introduction, keeping them at the cutting edge of capability, and since they are part of a joint pool with the United States Air Force they will be upgraded to the same standard as American Rivet Joints. As it stands it is planned to keep these aircraft in operation until at least 2045.  

Both the US and UK are the only countries to operate these aircraft, for the US they have been a very important asset for performing signal intelligence in almost every US mission around the globe, eavesdropping enemy communications, detecting radio and radar frequencies, and can then transmit such data to consumers via satellite. The UK versions do not have an air-to-air refueling boom but instead an air-to-air receiver system, which is problematic as the Royal Air Force do not currently have the capability to refuel these aircraft inflight using their own tankers (such as the Voyager), which only use drogue and hose rather than any flying boom system. 

As such the UKs Rivets will be limited to 12-hour flight times, which could cause problems for the completion of thorough spy missions that may require more time, unless the aircraft can be refueled in the air via the US or another ally who have the capability to do so. 

The aircraft have seen heavy usage in Operation Shader against Islamic State. The aircraft are based at RAF Waddington and fly with the 51^st Squadron which use cutting edge technology to provide strategic and tactical level intelligence; and the 54^th Squadron who perform training of crews for the RAF’s ISTAR fleet. 

The aircraft use four 21,600lb st CFM International F108-CF-201 turbofan powerplants; it is 41.10m in length, 12.80m in height, and has a 39.90m wingspan; maximum take-off weight is 133,633kg; maximum speed is 870km/h; range is 6,500km; service ceiling altitude is 39,000ft. For operation the aircraft requires at least two pilots, a navigator, and a mission crew configured for the task.  

Main Takeaways  

• Dedicated to electronic surveillance for strategic and tactical missions.  

• Can deploy in any theatre where it is needed.  

• Equipped with powerful sensors that pick up electronic emissions from communications, radar, and other systems that may provide useful intel.  

• Extensive communications suite allows intel to be formatted to a wide-range of consumers.  

• Aircraft are in a joint pool with United States Air Force River Joints, meaning they will all be upgraded to the same standard.  

• RAF do not have the capability to refuel them in the air, limiting their flight time. Would need to seek allied assistance for air refuel.

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Shadow R1  

Another aircraft that uses high-definition electro-optical and electronic sensors to contribute towards intelligence for the ISTAR role, with which much of what it gathers being very valuable for commanders on the ground. The aircraft will usually be used to complement other platforms and capabilities and are crucial to helping analysts prepare what the RAF website calls comprehensive intelligence products.  

Satellite communication links also allow information collected to be downloaded directly from the aircraft during an ongoing mission. The aircraft also includes a defensive aids suite for self-defense, meaning it is suited for such areas where there is a chance of hostility. The sensors of the aircraft include things like electro optic infrared systems, a synthetic aperture radar/inverse synthetic aperture radar, a missile warning system, and system that dispenses countermeasures.  

The aircraft itself is based on the King Air 350CER, with the commission being under an urgent operational requirement for the creation of the Shadow R1. The King Air 350 series itself was seen as an aircraft capable of urgently improving intelligence gathering in Afghanistan during the war there. The Shadow R1 has been in operation since 2009 for usage in this urgent role, filling the intelligence gap. The aircraft are now a part of the core MOD Equipment Programme since 2015. The Shadow R1 fleet are currently being upgraded to an Mk2 status, which will include an improved defensive aid suite, the first upgraded aircraft is planned to be delivered in 2023.  

The aircraft are based at RAF Waddington and fly with the 14^th Squadron which is the only Shadow R1 unit that provide the RAF with crucial reconnaissance support on operations; and the 54^th Squadron training crews of the RAF’s ISTAR fleet.  

The aircraft uses two Pratt & Whitney PT6A 1050 Shp turboprop powerplants; is 14.26m in length; 4.48m in height, with a 17.40m wingspan; its maximum cruising speed is 453 km/h; its maximum altitude is 35,000ft.  

Main Takeaways  

• Uses advanced sensors to contribute towards intelligence, crucial to helping analysts prepare comprehensive intelligence products.  

• Satellite communication links allow direct-download of intel from the aircraft during mission.  

• Can operate in high-risk areas due to defensive aid suite.  

• Being upgraded to an Mk2 standard with improved defensive aid suite.  

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Reaper MQ-9A  

The Reaper is an unmanned drone controlled by at least three crew from a remote ground control station. The fact that the aircraft is unmanned makes it ever more useful in that if the aircraft is discovered and shot down on a mission the crew will be far out of harm’s way, and the only damage will be that of the destruction price tag, and the possibility of enemies getting their hands on components if the wreckage cannot be salvaged in time.  

The Reaper operates as a medium-altitude, long-endurance aircraft with a goal of gathering intelligence, and conducting surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance. But if needed the drone can also be used for attack missions as the drone can be armed with deadly weapons. The persistence and array of surveillance sensors on the drone form an essential complement to crewed platforms of the RAF. The MQ-9 drones are actually known as the first hunter-killer UAVs designed for long-endurance, high altitude surveillance. The drones are also highly modular and so can be outfitted more specifically for their planned operations. The manufacturer’s website also says it is possible to transport them via C-130s. 

The crew of the drone includes a pilot, sensor operator, and mission intelligence coordinator who act from a remote ground control station. There is also an in-theatre ground and recovery team who are responsible for the drone’s ground operations. The drone’s movement, sensor, and weapon systems are controlled via an advanced, secure satellite communication system, which gives over-the-horizon data-link capability from bases both in the UK and US.  

Two cameras, located on the Reaper’s forward fuselage give a forward view for the crew to see what they are doing on landing and take-off. The sensor suite, which includes targeting, daylight TV, and infrared capabilities is turret-mounted under the Reaper’s forward fuselage. The rest of the sensor suite is made up of an internal synthetic aperture radar.  

The RAF has been working with the USAF in a joint predator task force since 2004 which enabled training for the Predator from 2006 and its active use in Afghanistan from 2007, with more of the drones contracted in 2012. The drone was planned to go out of service in 2015 but the Predator saw renewed usage in Operation Shader against Islamic State and so extended its service time. In 2016 it was confirmed that the Predator would eventually be replaced by a new drone called the Protector, based on the Certifiable Predator B (MQ-9B SkyGuardian) aimed with a first delivery in 2023, and will also come with a new ground control station and there is the possibility that UK weapons will be used on the new Drone instead of US weapons (such as Brimstone missiles), although this is not been given as a guarantee but is left open as a future possibility.  

The drone uses one 900shp Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop powerplant; it is 10.97m in length, 3.66m in height, and has a 21.12m wingspan; its maximum take-off weight is 4,760kg; maximum speed is 463km/h; it can operate for 20 hours without weapons fitted, with weapons it can operate over 12 hours; without weapons fitted its service ceiling altitude is 50,000ft, meanwhile with weapons it is over 30,000ft.  

When the drone is armed with weapons it uses two 500lb GBU-12 laser-guided bombs and four AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. The drone is based at RAF Waddington and flies with the 13^th Squadron, the first UK-based Reaper Squadron, which provides real-time surveillance and reconnaissance in support of frontline troops; and the 39^th Squadron, which provides real-time surveillance and close air support to frontline troops.  

Main Takeaways  

• Unmanned drone with deadly strike capability, using two 500lb GBU-12 laser-guided bombs and four AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.  

• Medium altitude, long endurance aircraft with primary goal of intelligence gathering, conducting surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance.  

• Highly-modular and so can be outfitted more closely to their specific operation.  

• Various sensors and camera systems for intel and recon.  

• A part of joint Predator taskforce with the United States Air Force.  

• Planned to eventually be retired in favour of an upgraded drone.  

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Helicopters (Multi-role and Support)  

Helicopters, we all know what they are, and it is fairly obvious that they are very useful and versatile aircraft. This section dives into the helicopters used by the Royal Air Force in both the support role, which includes helicopters used for patrol and transport, and multi-role helicopters which have a wide range of uses. Helicopters are useful in the fact that they are fast, can land in many different places without specifically needing a runway or specific surface, and that they can easily maneuver about. All this makes them useful in quick-strike roles, point-to-point transport in-theatre, and also quick casualty evacuation, as well as search and rescue missions in difficult to access areas.  

This section includes a total of three helicopters, two support and one multi-role, that are currently actively used by the Royal Air Force. Helicopters used by the RAF are more for patrol, transport, training and logistics rather than fighting in combat. Combat helicopters, such as the Apache, are instead flown by the British Army and of which we have covered in those posts here.  

Chinook 

The chinook is perhaps one of the most widely known and iconic armed forces helicopters and also unique in that it is a large helicopter supported by twin rotor blades rather than the typical one used by most helicopters; this unique configuration is known as a tandem rotor helicopter; it also does not have a tail rotor blade like most other helicopters. The Chinook is a support helicopter and a highly versatile and capable one at that. The helicopters can be operated from both land bases and also from ships that support helicopter operations. Chinooks can operate within basically any environment type from the hottest sands to the coldest snows.  

Chinooks can also be armed for self-defense with weapons such as two 7.62mm M134 Miniguns and a 7.62mm M60D machine gun, which is important such as if it is operating within an area that gives the danger of potential confrontation with an enemy force, and also includes a suite of self-defense systems for increased protection to operate within battle zones. The Chinook’s primary roles are troop transport, resupply missions, and casualty evacuation from active war zones or on humanitarian missions.  

The helicopter also includes various mechanisms such as a triple-hook external load system, an internal cargo winch, a rolling conveyer belt, as well as a large amount of reserved power, all of these mechanisms enable Chinooks to hold more complex underslung and internal freight, which includes vehicles. The Chinook can transport up to a maximum of 55 troops or up to a maximum of 10-tonnes of mixed cargo. The Chinook requires at least two pilots and the crew is often supplemented with specialists that depend upon mission requirements.  

The Chinook can also perform within many other areas including search and rescue missions and other various specialist tasks, which includes providing aid to civil authorities within the United Kingdom and its territories when needed, which can include tasks such as resupplying farmers who are blocked-in by deep snow; supplying for the reconstruction of damaged flood defenses; or the securing of critical infrastructure such as dams if they become damaged and at-risk of imminent failure. Another common usage is in special forces missions.  

There are also different variants of Chinooks in operation from Mk 4 all the way up to the latest Mk 6A, giving a total of four variants currently in active operation. The latest Mk 6A includes digital glass cockpits which are of a common standard. The Mk 4 Chinooks currently in active operation are being upgraded to the Mk 6A standard. Britain also ordered 14 Chinook upgrades (H-47(ER)) in 2021 but they could take up to a decade to be all delivered (with the first deliveries beginning in 2026) due to budget constraints; it is hoped it will be completed by 2030. Despite this the UK still has the largest Chinook fleet in Europe, even with the prospect of retiring its oldest Chinooks.  

The Mk 5 Chinook was an upgrade of the extended-range Mk 3 Chinooks able to carry double the fuel-load of a standard Chinook. The Mk 6 upgrade itself, based on the UK-specific CH-47F, introduced the Digital Automatic Flight Control System which greatly enhanced the handling and safety of the aircraft, most prominently when operating within recirculatory adverse dust or snow conditions.  

The Chinook Sustainment Program aims to continue building upon the Chinook platform’s success via recapitalizing existing airframes and keeping them within capable operation until at least 2040. The Chinooks have been actively used by the RAF since 1981 with their first major conflict being the Falklands War. Orders for Chinooks had previously been placed in 1967 and 1971 but were cancelled under defence budget cuts. The Mk 6 standard has been in service since 2009. Chinook helicopters were first produced by the United States and the CH-47 Chinook took its first flight in 1962 and saw its first major usage in the Vietnam War, and although they are widely recognised for their usage by a number of armed forces around the world due to their various logistical advantages, civilian versions also exist.  

The Chinook includes two Honeywell T55-L-714A 4,168shp turboshaft powerplants; it is 30.14m in length and 5.77m in height with its rotors spinning, rotor diameter is 18.29m for both; it has a maximum cruise speed of 296km/h and a maximum density altitude of 15,000ft; and can hold up to 55 troops or 10,000kg of freight.  

Chinooks are based at both RAF Odiham and RAF Benson; Chinooks fly with the 18^th Squadron, providing rapid air mobility worldwide; the 27^th Squadron, also providing rapid air mobility worldwide; the 28^th Squadron, who train the RAF’s support helicopter crews; and the 7^th Squadron, again providing rapid mobility worldwide. The Chinooks are also flown by the Chinook Display Team, and the Falcons parachute display team.  

Main Takeaways  

• Can operate from land bases or ships that support helicopters.  

• Can operate in pretty much any type of environment.  

• Primarily used for troop transport, resupply missions, and casualty evacuation in active war zones or on humanitarian missions.  

• Can hold complex underslung and internal freight, including vehicles.  

• Can also be used in search and rescue and other specialist tasks, including aid to civil authorities.   

• Can use two 7.62mm M134 Miniguns and a 7.62mm M60D machine gun for self-defense.  

• Weapons and also defensive suite allow operation in active battle zones.  

• Even with prospect of retiring older variants, the RAF still has the largest Chinook fleet in Europe. 

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Puma HC2

The Puma is the other Support helicopter used by the RAF, more specifically it is a medium support helicopter. It actually has a wide range of support roles within both active combat zones but also within non-active combat zones, and also has been used for the evacuation of non-combatants. Within a combat support role, it is used for roles such as the tactical movement of troops, weapons, ammunition and stores within battlefields. It is also used to extract casualties and responds to medical emergencies on the frontline where it can bring in up to six stretchers.

The helicopter can also be used for humanitarian and disaster-relief operations and has been used for special forces missions as the aircraft has been described as being good for covert activities. As can be seen the helicopter is a wide blessing. It can also be transported by aircraft such as the C17, which can hold up to two Pumas.  

The helicopter can choose between either up to 16 passengers, or 12 fully-equipped troops, or up to two tonnes of cargo, with such cargo either being moved internally or by being underslung, or even a mix of the two. The helicopter can also be better used in more confined areas, such as urban environments, over that of the larger Chinook.  

The Puma HC2 is actually an upgrade to the previous Puma HC1 with it having more powerful engines and a greater range, as well as a modern digital cockpit. The Puma HC2 can operate in many harsh environments, especially within hot-and-high conditions, which enables it to lift troops, supplies, and humanitarian aid to any place where it is needed. The aircraft can also be armed with two 7.62mm general purpose machine guns for self-defense. The helicopter is also highly mobile and easily deployed thanks to the ability to prepare the helicopter for C-17 transport across the globe, and the ability on arrival to quickly reassemble the Puma HC2 into operational order.  

Several crashes of the older Puma HC1 in Iraq in 2007, one of which killed two British soldiers, prompted an inquest that although blamed it mostly on pilot error, also criticized the Ministry of Defense for not equipping the helicopters with night vision goggles and inadequate maintenance checks that compromised safety.  

The original Puma HC1 had served well from when it first came into service in 1971 but the War in Afghanistan started to show its limitation as it struggled to cope with the hot-and-high conditions of the country’s mountainous terrain, relegating the aircraft in this war to a limited but still useful support role, but nonetheless spurred an upgrade so that the aircraft could be used to its full potential. The new upgrade included improved performance and avionics and went into full operation from 2015, another piece fit for the modern era. The aircraft is planned to remain in service until at least 2025 where it is expected to be replaced by a new helicopter via the New Medium Helicopter programme.  

Many have questioned whether the Puma upgrade was worth the money just to keep it in service for another 10-years while a new replacement is being planned, and whether it would have perhaps been more cost-effective to have just waited for the new medium helicopter replacement.  

The helicopter uses two 1,800shp Turbomeca Makila 1A1 turboshaft powerplants; is 18.20m in length and 5.14m in height with a 15.09m main rotor diameter; and it has a maximum speed of 309km/h.   

The Puma HC2 is based at RAF Benson and flies with the 230^th Squadron, providing tactical air-mobility; the 28^th Squadron, training support helicopter crews for the RAF; and the 33^rd Squadron, also providing tactical air-mobility. The helicopter also flies with the Falcons parachute display team.   

Main Takeaways  

• The RAF’s Medium Support Helicopter.   

• Can be armed with two 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Guns for self-defense.  

• Can be used in a wide range of support roles in both active and non-active combat zones.  

• Can be used to evacuate passengers, such as noncombatants.  

• Combat support roles can see it used for tactical movement of troops, weapons, ammunition, and stores on battlefields.  

• Can hold cargo both internally and underslung.  

• Used to extract casualties and respond to medical emergencies on the frontline.  

• Can also be used for humanitarian and disaster-relief operations.  

• Covert ability can make it good for special forces missions.  

•  Better at operating in more compact urban areas compared to the larger Chinook.  

• Can quickly be prepared for C17 transport and quickly reassembled at location.  

• Able to operate within many harsh environments.  

• Expected to be retired in 2025 and replaced with a new Medium Helicopter.  

Griffin HAR2 

The Griffin is a multi-role helicopter as the roles it can take cross a wide area which includes a support role where it can carry up to six fully-equipped troops or 8 if essential to the operation. The helicopter can also be used for firefighting via usage of Bambi buckets which are underslung from the helicopter. It can also perform in search and rescue operations, be used in force protection, be used to supply military aid to civilian authorities, and also has roles within the ISTAR area which covers things like intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance.  

The Griffin also has night vision equipment as well as a FLIR/TV turret allowing the helicopter to adequately operate during the night. Its main usage is for firefighting and search and rescue across the region from its Cyprus base, from which it has been based and operated from since 2003. As can probably be realized the helicopters are not used in operations beyond the region of where it is based and so is regionally localized unlike the other helicopters covered here which are used for global operations. Some of these helicopters are also based in locations within the UK but these ones are only used for training, where they have a different colour scheme.

The helicopter has one 1,800shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3D Turbo Twin-Pac turboshaft powerplant; is 17.11 meters in length and 3.48m in height with a 14.02m main rotor diameter; maximum takeoff weight is 5,397kg; maximum allowed speed is 259km/h; maximum range with payload is 695km; maximum altitude is 20,000ft.  

The helicopters are based at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and are flown by the 84^th Squadron who provide vital air-lift and search and rescue capability.  

Main Takeaways  

• Multirole helicopter with primary purpose for firefighting and search and rescue across the region from its Cyprus base.  

• Can also be used in a support role to carry a small number of troops. 

• Can be used in ISTAR roles if needed.

Combat Aircraft  

Combat aircraft are those that get down and dirty to secure the skies from enemy aircraft and also perform strategic strikes against targets on the ground or at sea, such aircraft are very fast and have supreme maneuverability as to make themselves difficult targets, can quickly begin, perform, and finish operations as soon as possible, and makes them a formidable force during combat operations.  

As it stands the RAF currently have two combat aircraft in operation both of which are fighter/strike jets.  

F-35B Lightning  

This multirole combat jet aircraft operates alongside the Typhoon which is the other combat aircraft operated by the RAF. The aircraft can be used for air-to-surface strikes, air-to-air missions, can perform electronic warfare, and is also able to gather intelligence as well with its advanced sensors. The jet is also outfitted with stealthing technology to help keep the enemy guessing. They have also been used in operations to police the skies of NATO countries to deter Russia.  

The aircraft’s powerful sensors also provide supreme situational awareness and secure data links enable the pilot to share intelligence to other platforms, and also can use the intelligence to decide on the usage of weapons or electronic capabilities.  

The aircraft can also perform short takeoffs and vertical landings meaning it can operate from aircraft carriers and take advantage of short airstrips making it highly strategic and as such useful in numerous operations around the globe. This will also come in very useful when the aircraft become a staple part of operations using the UK’s new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.  

The F-35B had been a long time in the making as the next-generation aircraft of its type (being the first ever 5^th-generation fighter jet) with work going on for their creation since the 1990s (although the search for a new aircraft had begun as far back as the early 1980s) in cooperation with the United States. The RAF only officially got the first batch in 2018 and of which were operational by 2020, the rest of the ordered F-35B’s are scheduled to arrive by 2025 bringing the total to 48. There are future plans beyond this to order more of the jets, with plans to have potentially as many as 138 in service, although it is possible this number will be reduced with the potential of the MoD to focus on the development of the future Tempest jet.  

The aircraft are usually armed with two air-to-air missiles and also two guided bombs carried internally (which is useful to decrease drag and radar signature), it also has the ability to fit a 25mm gun pod as well as underwing pylons that enables carriage of stores up to 6,800kg. The aircraft have one Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan powerplant; is 15.60m in length and 4.36m in height with a 10.70m wingspan; maximum takeoff weight is 27,216kg; maximum speed is Mach 1.6; combat radius exceeds 833km using internal fuel; and the maximum altitude is 50,000ft.  

The aircraft are as seen very new and perhaps the most modern military jet aircraft to currently exist, so much so that when crashes occur there is often a rush to salvage it before an adversary, such as Russia or China, attempts to do so, which may give them knowledge of classified advanced technologies incorporated into the aircraft. One of the most recent crashes of one happened in the South China Sea earlier in Fenbruary with the US-operated aircraft being lost overboard (there were seven injuries but no deaths), and since China has disputed claims over the area there are worries that they may try and salvage it.  

The first UK-crash of the aircraft happened in November 2021 over the Mediterranean during a routine operation, the pilot was safely recovered, and the aircraft, including all sensitive equipment, were largely salvaged with the help of the US and Italy. An investigation into the incident is ongoing but early indications suggest some of the covers and engine blanks on the craft were not removed before takeoff. 

There have been several other US crashes of the aircraft which has included grounding of the fleet temporarily while an issue with the aircrafts fuel tubes were dealt with. So, as can be seen, this new aircraft still has some hitches that need ironing out, but this should become less common as the aircraft becomes more established.  

The aircraft are based at RAF Marham and fly with the 17^th Squadron, which performs operational testing and evaluation of the aircraft; the 207^th Squadron, which trains the next generation of pilots for the aircraft from the RAF and Royal Navy; the 617^th Squadron, which is the UK’s first F-35B Lightning Squadron; and the 6^th RAF Police Lightning Squadron, responsible for providing and assuring a controlled operating environment for the Lightning at RAF Marham and also on overseas operations and exercises.  

The aircraft will also be flown by the Royal Navy as well with 809 Naval Air Squadron being setup in 2023 to be the first Royal Navy Squadron to fly the F-35.  

Main Takeaways  

• Can perform air-to-surface strikes and air-to-air missions.  

• Able to perform electronic warfare.  

• Can use advanced sensors to gather valuable intel.  

• Uses stealthing technology to keep ahead of the adversary.  

• Able to perform short takeoffs and vertical landings, enabling advantage of aircraft carriers and short landing strips.  

• Carries weapons internally to reduce drag and radar signature.  

• Can equip underwing pylons to hold extra stores.  

• Usually armed with two air-to-air missiles, two guided-bombs, and can also fit 25mm gun pod.  

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Typhoon FGR4  

The Typhoon FGR4 is a 4^th-Generation fighter jet. Originally the Mk 2 variant of this aircraft was limited to an air-to-air role but has since been upgraded to its current FGR4 status to enable it to be a precision multi-role combat aircraft which can perform numerous and vast operations. The capable and extremely agile aircraft can be used for air policing, peace support, and within high-intensity conflict zones. The pilot has access to a throttle and stick interface combined with an advanced cockpit and helmet equipment assembly enabling the pilot to conduct various important functions for all aspects of air operations.  

The Typhoon has been used for precision attack missions within all of its current operations but as it stands the Typhoons most typical role is that of protecting the territorial skies of Great Britain as well as that of its overseas territories such as the Falklands Islands, within these roles the Typhoons act under a quick reaction alert to meet any potential threats in the skies and attempt to escort them away or if needed engage them in combat for the defense of the Nation/territory. Within this quick reaction alert role, the Typhoons have also been used to reinforce NATO air defense in areas such as the Baltic and Black Sea regions to deter countries such as Russia.  

The Typhoon is able to take on a variety of targets thanks to its multi-role capability and its various weapons, for example within the air-to-air role it has three weapons it can utilise, an infrared-guided short-ranged air-to-air missile; a ramjet-powered, radar-guided, beyond-visual-range Meteor; and an advanced medium-ranged air-to-air missile. These weapons are used in conjunction with the Captor radar and PIRATE electro-optical targeting system aboard the aircraft and this paired with the aircrafts supreme performance and maneuverability make the aircraft formidable to face.  

When on ground attack and close air support missions the Typhoon has access to GPS/laser-guided Enhanced Paveway II and Paveway IV bombs as well as Brimstone guided missiles of which are usually used with the Litening III targeting pod. A regular configuration for an armed reconnaissance and close air support roles includes the Litening III, Paveway IV, and the Brimstone rockets, as well as an internal 27mm Mauser cannon.  

The Paveway IV comes along with cockpit-programmable impact angle, impact direction and fuse delay features to enable precise tailoring of target effects. The 27mm internal gun is ideal for warning shots and if needed accurate attacks against targets such as light vehicles and personnel threats.  

The Eurofighter Typhoon, as it is more widely known, was developed as a multinational collaboration between the NATO-member countries of UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and also initially France before they left over disagreements and made their own fighter jet. The Typhoon came into active operation in 2003. The FGR4 upgraded variant came into operation from 2008 and made the jet multirole with air-to-ground strike capabilities instead of just air-to-air fighter role.  

The jets use two Eurojet EJ200 turbofan powerplants at 20,000lb st with afterburning; are 15.96m in length and 5.29m in height with a 11.09m wingspan; weighs 10,000-21,000kg depending on if it is loaded or not; maximum speed is Mach 1.8 and can brake off to Mach 1.5 at 35,000ft in less than 2 minutes and 30 seconds; maximum altitude is 55,000ft;  

The Typhoon jets are based at RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Coningsby. The jets fly with many Squadrons including the 1^st (F) Squadron, part of Northern Quick Reaction Alert defending the UK’s airspace; the 12^th Squadron, a special joint Squadron between the RAF and Qatar Emiri Air Force Squadron; the 29^th Squadron, a Typhoon Operational Conversion Unit; the 3^rd (F) Squadron, first frontline RAF Squadron to operate the Typhoon and key part for defense of UK airspace.

The 4^th RAF Police (Typhoon) Squadron, providing security and protection for the Typhoon Force; the 41^st Squadron, a squadron for fast jet test and evaluation, focusing on the Typhoon capability and tactics development; the 6^th Squadron, part of Northern Quick Reaction Alert defending UK airspace; II (AC) Squadron, also part of Northern Quick Reaction; the IX (B) Squadron, that delivers adversary training and contributes to UK Quick Reaction Alert; and the XI (F) Squadron, securing the skies and providing superior air defense at home and on operations. The jets also fly with the Typhoon Display Team.  

A future aircraft, known as Tempest, that is being developed by Team Tempest is planned to potentially replace the Typhoon jets sometime in the future.  

Main Takeaways  

• Multirole aircraft that can perform air-to-air and air-to-surface operations and strikes.  

• Primarily used in Quick Reaction Alert to defend UK skies and overseas territories from foreign incursions.  

• Also used in NATO missions to deter countries such as Russia in the Baltics.  

• Air-to-Air weapons include infrared-guided short-ranged air-to-air missiles; ramjet-powered radar-guided beyond-visual-range Meteor; and advanced medium-range air-to-air missile.  

• Ground attack and close air support weapons include GPS/laser-guided Enhanced Paveway II and IV bombs, and Brimstone guided missiles used with the Litening III targeting pod.  

• There is also a 27mm Mauser cannon primarily for warning shots, but also if needed to counter light vehicles and personnel threats.  

• Very distant plans to potentially replace the Typhoon with the future Tempest fighter jet.  

Future Aircraft  

This is a special section that showcases three aircraft that are potential future aircraft the RAF may one day use, although it is entirely possible that these concepts may never come to fruition, and instead some other next-generation aircraft come along instead. I would not be surprised if there are many concepts in the works that have not been officially released. But the three shown here are promising and seem likely to come about at some point.  

This section includes four aircraft, a future concept fighter jet and a future weaponized drone for ISTAR, an upcoming early-warning aircraft, and also another type of drone optimized to work alongside the future fighter jet, but also have promise in operating independently.  

Protector RG Mk 1 (MQ-9B)  

Earlier in this post we went over the currently operational MQ-9A drone. The MQ-9B is described as the successor to the MQ-9A and that it will be the next-generation of remotely piloted medium-altitude, long-endurance aircraft. The drone will be armed just like the MQ-9A is and will likewise be used across missions that involve intelligence, surveillance, targeting, and reconnaissance, bringing it under the ISTAR grouping of aircraft. The unmanned drone will be able to fly for up to 40-hours at a time, which is around twice as long as the MQ-9A Drone. 

The drone will also be able to be flown anywhere in the world by personnel safely located at RAF Waddington, far out of harms way. The aircraft will also be able to operate in airspace that is cluttered and unsegregated, due to new detect and avoidance technology that helps prevent it from being a hazard to other aircraft and itself. The drone will also land and takeoff by itself, meaning it is more flexible and less deployment preparation is required.  

Like other drones, it includes a complex suite of advanced sensors that are very important for its ISTAR capabilities. One of the most advanced sensors will be the high-definition electro-optical infra-red camera which is complemented by the drone’s increased endurance, allowing unparalleled and ongoing reconnaissance across the electro-magnetic spectrum. The drone will be able to respond quickly to unfolding events and gives commanders increased flexibility in their decision-making. It can perform various strategic tasks from things such as close air support and disaster relief operations.  

When we went over the MQ-9A drone, it was also stressed that the MoD wished for the replacement to be using UK-made weapons rather than US-made ones, and this still remains the plan, with the plan to use next-generation, low-collateral, precision-strike weapons made in the UK, including the Brimstone 3 missile and Paveway IV laser guided bombs made by UK companies such as MDBA and Raytheon UK.  

It is planned for the drone to enter service by 2024 at the earliest, and when it does the MQ-9A drone will likely be retired from service around that time. The drone programme for the Protector was first announced in 2015, a prototype took its first transatlantic flight in 2018, and the first Protector drone took its maiden flight in 2020. So, it seems things are on track. The 31^st Squadron will be the first Protector Squadron.  

The drone is 11.43m in length, a little longer than the MQ-9A; and it has a 24m wingspan, around 3m longer than the MQ-9A.  

Wedgetail AEW1

The Wedgetail will be the RAF’s new early-warning aircraft that will replace the E-3D Sentry (which went out of service in 2021). So that will put it within the ISTAR role. Three (cut down from the original order of five in the 2021 defense review) of these aircraft have been ordered. The new Wedgetail aircraft are planned to come into active operation from 2023.

This aircraft will fill the role and requirement of the UK’s Airborne Early Warning and Control capability and will also contribute to NATO’s Airborne Early Warning force. It is described as an aircraft that will give a technological edge in increasingly complex battlespace. It will allow pilots to track and target adversaries more effectively. It can track multiple airborne and maritime targets at the same time.

The information it gathers will provide needed situational awareness to keep ahead and will direct assets such as fighter jets and warships.

Personnel of the RAF are training with the Royal Australian Air Force in learning to pilot and use the new aircraft. The Royal Australian Air Force has seen great success in the usage of the Wedgetail in operations against ISIS in both Iraq and Syria. The aircraft is also used by Turkey and South Korea.

The E7 is made from a modified standard Boeing 737 airliner that carries a sophisticated Northrop Grumman active electronically-scanned radar and mission computer system. The radar covers a huge 4-million square kilometers for up to 10 hours.

Its specific purposes involve producing and disseminating a recognised air picture as well as providing air battle management and command and control. It will also dynamically manage air-to-air refueling plans; and will assist in the coordination of combat search and rescue.

The aircraft will include electronic countermeasure resistance; secure voice communications; modern tactical datalinks and Beyond Line of Sight IP Communications; will have modern Electric Support Measure equipment; and Electronic Warfare Self-Protection.

The aircraft will be able to fly up to 41,000ft and have a crew of 12 which includes 2 pilots and 10 mission crew. It will have a cruise speed of 530mph. It will use 2 CFM56-78 Turbofan powerplants. It is 33.6m in length and 12.5m in height. The aircraft will be based at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland.

There has been some controversy over the lack of competition there was to replace the E-3D Sentry aircraft, with Boeing being chosen straight up.

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Tempest  

The Tempest is an in-the-works concept next-generation combat jet (it would be a 6^th-generation fighter jet), and it is being hyped up quite extravagantly on the RAF website, where it talks about the aircraft itself, and also the team behind it, as well as the different benefits the programme is providing, such as to the UK economy.

There seems to be a lot of excitement around it. I guess this is not too much of a surprise as this aircraft is tipped to replace the well-known Typhoon fighter as the UK’s next big mainline fighter jet, so, it is quite the big project. The development is currently a joint collaboration between the UK, Sweden, Italy, and to a limited extent Japan.  

You may find it a bit surprising that a 6^th-generation fighter jet is already being worked on, despite the world’s first 5^th-generation fighter jet only having gone into operation in 2018 – but then again that is already almost 4-years away, and as we know new technological developments seem to just come faster and faster now. It is possible that further orders of the F-35B may be cancelled so that full-focus can be placed upon the Tempest development.  

For now, the Tempest remains a concept but with the level of enthusiasm and work that is going on within Team Tempest, it does seem that this has an almost certain possibility of becoming a reality in the near future. The plan is for the Tempest (or whatever they decide to call it by that point) to have its first flight by 2035, and it is hoped to go on to replace the Typhoon jet as the next-generation main combat aircraft.  

Now as we go over this, it is reminded that a lot of this stuff is still in the works, and so things are subject to change and be tweaked, and information can be limited on certain areas. First of all, the aircraft will include a next-generation flight control system, which is described as flexible and software-driven which allow easy and rapid changes of the aircraft’s capability to suit the needs of the operator.  

The aircraft is being designed to be highly-adaptable, allowing it to be suited for a wide-range of varying operations, and the ability to change software and hardware, which includes weapons, sensors, and fuel-tanks. The aircraft is also planned to be hard to detect, keeping it safer from threats, while being able to get a good picture of the battlefield while also carrying a ‘significant payload’ – ominous!  

And speaking of adaptability, the aircraft is planned to be able to either be piloted in-person or unmanned, whatever best fits the situation at-hand. This is known as optionally-manned and if you follow new advancements in military technology, it is likely something you’ll be hearing more and more, especially with the launch of the US’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle programme in 2017 aiming to replace the aging M2 Bradley, as it is deemed to no longer be able to keep up with modern advances through upgrading.

If you want to go really big, the whole area of manned, unmanned, and optionally-manned capability in one is called Scalable Autonomy, perhaps something else we will be hearing about more and more as military technology is improved.  

The Tempest will include a more efficient power system that enables greater range and endurance thanks to a higher thrust-to-weight ratio. The generated electrical power will also be delivered more ‘intelligently’ to the Tempest’s many high-technology systems, which allows for things such as more advanced sensors. Improved propulsion will allow superior performance, range, and payload capability. And with better cooling of the air system, the aircraft will emit less of a thermal signature, helping to keep it hidden.  

Cockpit technology is also designed to be more intelligent including a system that measures gesture control and tracks the pilot’s eyes, detecting the workload of the pilot and determining the level of fatigue or mental stress.

The cockpit itself will be virtualized, with no single physical dial or screen, but will provide augmented and virtual reality interactive displays via the Pilot’s own helmet, with controls displayed in-front of the pilot’s eyes – hopefully not too distracting! There is also haptics integrated giving the pilot a more real feel within the virtualized software. The Tempest Team have also mentioned looking into virtual reality assistants for the pilots flying the aircraft, as well as other pilot support concepts. It all sounds very sci-fi! I wonder what they’d name such a virtual assistant, Jerry perhaps?

Communication systems will be configurable to adapt to the situation, providing secure and seamless communication by a network that connects across all spaces – air – land – sea – space, providing crucial advantage.  

The Tempest plans to include highly-integrated advanced sensors, which will help with intelligence, quick decision-making, the Tempest’s engagement with a range of non-kinetic effectors including electronic warfare jamming and directed energy weapons, and communications that are fast, secure, and resilient. All of this aims to give the operator as much as an advantage as possible beyond the adversary. There are also plans for sensors to be changed easily – enabling, again, easy adaptation to the mission or operation at-hand.  

New technologies also plan to give an advanced defensive aid system that is able to track, target, and intercept hostile missiles, giving the aircraft a good measure of self-defense.

The Tempest itself is planned to be fitted with next-generation weapons, which may include things like directed energy weapons, hypersonic missiles, and so-called swarming technology that would be assisted by artificial intelligence and machine learning – something that can be scary to some, but it would certainly improve accuracy and capability. The Tempest would also incorporate a flexible payload bay, for an improved weapon loadout and ability to keep weapons internal rather than external, while being able to remain relatively hard to detect at hypersonic speeds.  

Such weapons the Tempest may fit include the next-generation meteor missile – an air-to-air beyond-visual-range missile, and the SPEAR family of weapons, which will be network-enabled precision surface attack missiles.  

The Tempest’s systems, such as the sensors, communications, and non-kinetic effectors will be designed to be highly-integrated with each other, rather than just single pieces of equipment. This means things working in tandem will allow the pilot to have a superior advantage in information, important for decision-making and being a step ahead of their opponent.

Decisions can be made with more confidence as the pilot can rely on a more integrated system rather than information from individual systems. The system may even work alongside other aircraft in a so-called Combat Cloud to mine and coordinate data from many sources, which can be shared with other aircraft.  

So, as you can see this thing has a lot of promise, a lot of new technology, and when looking at AR and VR technology, seems like something out of a sci-fi novel – but it could very well be reality quite soon. It is certainly an aircraft for the networked online digital age if many of the things mentioned come to fruition.  

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LANCA – Unmanned Combat Air System  

The LANCA are very interesting unmanned aircraft that are planned to work alongside combat aircraft such as the Tempest, such as that swarming technology that was mentioned. And this will at least be its initial capability, but there are hopes LANCA can expand to be able to operate as independent uncrewed combat air fleets, this will be significant in that they would utilize artificial intelligence and machine learning – again a bit scary – and also the fact that the LANCA is a drone far more focused on combat compared to other unmanned drones that are more focused on ISTAR, although do have the ability to perform deadly strikes, but which is all still controlled remotely by human operator judgement.  

There is not as much extensive information on the LANCA as there is on the Tempest, but there are a few things. The LANCA will be able to support a range of sensors, effectors, and mission systems making them versatile and flexible. It will enable more tactical options to be considered and used by commanders and manned fighter aircraft during integrated operations. It will also include a flexible payload bay for weapons such as air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons. The LANCA would also include electronic attack and multi-role sensors.  

This kind of thing reminds me of those flash games I used to play where you controlled something like a mothership which was able to create smaller drone units to protect it. It is certainly another very sci-fi like thing! It will be interesting to see if they come to fruition.  

This concept is actually a part of the Future Combat Air System project and is known as an Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle. As it stands the UK is currently workinng in collaboration with France on this. These armed drones are planned to assist fighter jets and have a rough plan of being in operation by 2030. The current development is based off of two prototype precursors made by French and British companies (Dassault Aviation and BAE Systems), the nEUROn and Taranis respectively.

The new jointly-made UCAV was first displayed at a French air show back in 2015.

These new drones are planned to go ahead of fighter aircraft to perform operations that will clear the way for them and other aircraft. They will take the brunt of the most dangerous initial parts of these operations, such as dispatching of anti-air defenses and to get a lock on hostile forces in the area. The aircraft will also incorperate stealth technology to dramatically decrease its radar signature and make them very hard to detect.

Unlike existing drones, such as the Reaper, where their areas of operation need to be cleared of threats towards the drone first, with the UCAV this will not be the case. The UCAV goes in and hits the threatening ground targets. The UCAV will though not be able to take on air targets, which will be left to the usual fighter jets.

Due to its nature it is possible that this drone can decrease the risk to pilots of manned aircraft by taking up the dangerous jobs they would usually perform themselves and allowing these manned craft to head in afterwards when the more dangerous threats have been eliminated.

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Well, there you have it, this has included all the operational aircraft and drones currently used by the Royal Air Force, as well as touching on some possible future aircraft. Next up will be the final part focusing on the United Kingdom, this time looking into what is used by the Royal Navy, once the most powerful Navy in the world, and still today a formidable force, especially with the recent addition of two aircraft carriers.  

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