New Weapons Targeter Equips Harrier GR9 In Afghanistan
Harrier GR9A

New Weapons Targeter Equips Harrier GR9 In Afghanistan

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The Ministry of Defence is buying new U.S.-built targeting pods for its GR9 Harrier front line jets.

Lockheed Martin in Florida is providing Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) [url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/index.cfm?storyid=277000F4-1143-EC82-2EFDF8261BDD430C]under the terms of an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) issued by the Royal Air Force late last year.

"The MoD selected Sniper ATP for its proven combat capabilities and low-risk integration benefits," said Hugh Woods, program manager at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

The units are being delivered this month and would be completed in June. The deliveries come at the same time as the UK is increasing troop levels in Afghanistan and extending the tours of Harrier units in theatre. The GR9 version of the veteran jump jet began deploying to Afghanistan last month and will eventually replace the GR7A model.

On arrival the first two in theatre were off engaging Taliban targets the same day. The rugged GR9A is capable of dropping GPS-guided ordnance at night and in foul weather.

Test flights by the RAF found the Sniper to offer high-quality video and infrared capabilities to assist pilots in identifying potential targets on the ground at longer ranges than current systems. One of the features of Sniper is its ability to detect weapons caches and even individuals on the ground beyond their hearing of the jet.

More Hawks will take flight under new contract

Improved availability of Hawk training aircraft has been guaranteed under a £74 million contract with BAE Systems.

RAF Hawks climbing to success The contract, awarded by Lord Drayson, Defence Procurement Minister, will also save around £18 million in support costs over the next four years.

As prime contractor, BAE Systems will work in a close partnered relationship with the MOD, the Royal Navy, RAF and industry partners Babcock Defence Services in delivering the Hawk Integrated Operational Support (HIOS) programme. Lord Drayson said:

"This contract will transform the way we support Hawk and will guarantee aircraft as training requirements dictate.

"It is an excellent example of the Defence Industrial Strategy in action where we are working more closely with industry to ensure the future sustainment of this vital military requirement. Our contract with BAE Systems will ensure that this continues."

Under the HIOS programme, the MOD brings together all aspects of Hawk T Mk1 support.

The partnering approach provides aircraft depth maintenance through BAE Systems' prime-contractor Babcock Defence Services, to provide the number of aircraft for flying training squadrons across the UK.

Typhoon Reaches New Capability Milestone



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Typhoon fires its first ASRAAMThe Eurofighter Typhoon has passed another milestone on its journey to become a fully operational Royal Air Force (RAF) multi-role combat aircraft, with the first firings of Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (ASRAAM) from a front line squadron aircraft.

Four ASRAAM were successfully launched by Typhoon F2s of No 3 (Fighter) Sqn based at RAF Coningsby, near Sleaford, Lincolnshire, at the Aberporth weapons range in Cardigan Bay, Wales, during the week 26 February to 02 March 2007.

These successful firings represent a further step towards Typhoon’s planned take over of the southern element of the United Kingdom’s Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) air defence stance, which 3 (F) Squadron will undertake from the middle of this year (2007).

“The first front-line firings of ASRAAM represent a significant milestone in the Typhoon Force’s progress towards operational deployment,� said Wing Commander Lol (correct) Bennett, Officer Commanding 3 (F) Squadron.

“The fact that we were able to let one of our most junior pilots fire one of the missiles is a Typhoon fires its first ASRAAMtestament to the overall weapon system integration,� he added.

Squadron Qualified Weapons Instructor, Flight Lieutenant Chris Layden, said: “These firings demonstrate that Typhoon and ASRAAM are a winning combination providing lethality in the air-to-air arena�.

The MBDA ASRAAM missiles will, together with AIM-120C-5 Advanced Medium-Range Missiles (AMRAAM), form the initial operational air defence weapons system to be deployed by Typhoon. ASRAAM was first test fired from a Typhoon in May 2005 belonging to No 17 (Reserve) Squadron, the Operational Evaluation Unit.

The Typhoons involved all operated from their home base at Coningsby, flying to Wales to launch their missiles at flare packs being towed by Mirach target drones over the sea. One missile was launched on each of four sorties during the week, the first of which was on Monday 26 February 2007.

Typhoon is the product of a four-nation development programme involving Germany, Spain and Italy as well as the UK. These four countries have announced their intention to eventually acquire a total of 620 of these aircraft.

Initially Typhoons are being flown in the air defence role, but their capabilities are being continually developed to eventually encompass a full multi-role function.

Typhoon fires its first ASRAAMThe first Typhoon to enter RAF service was handed over at the end of June 2003. After 17 ® Squadron, which evaluates equipment and combat techniques, came 29 ® Squadron which serves as the Operational Conversion Unit, training air and ground crews to operate the aircraft.

No 3 (F) Squadron formed as the first front-line Typhoon squadron on 01 April 2006, and will be joined at RAF Coningsby by the second front-line unit, No XI (F) Squadron at the end of this month (March 2007).

“Most intensely challenging flying � Says RAF Rescue Pilot



The Search and Rescue Crew from RAF ChivenorChivenor’s RAF search and rescue duty helicopter crew was scrambled during the height of last Sunday’s gales to locate and rescue 7 moor-walkers from Dartmoor. Aware that time was their biggest enemy, the RAF crew managed to get airborne only 9 minutes after receiving the initial call. They battled fiercely strong winds, low cloud and rain to get to the group’s last known location before starting a search for the stranded the walkers. This was swiftly accomplished and the helicopter was landed close to the soaked and frozen climbers. The helicopter’s Winchman, Petty Officer Marcus Wigfull, who is a qualified Paramedic, provided immediate emergency medical care to the walkers. One had a suspected broken ankle and had to be carried to the helicopter on a stretcher. The remaining six walkers were guided to the safety of the waiting Royal Air Force Sea King helicopter, which made an immediate take-off and battled through ever-strengthening winds, thickening fog and driving rain to get them to Plymouth’s Derriford hospital for further medical treatment.

The RAF Sea King was settling onto Derriford’s helipad just as the ferocity of the gales reached its peak intensity with the onset of nightfall. Events took an even more dramatic turn just as the RAF crew was touching down at Plymouth’s Derriford Hospital and offloading their casualties. They received a radio call tasking them to return through the storm to locate and rescue another group of nine walkers on Dartmoor. With nightfall now upon them, the RAF crew discharged their first group of survivors to the waiting hospital staff and refueled before taking off and fighting their way back to Dartmoor.

The already low cloud base descended even further and the rainfall increased as the RAF crew flew back to Dartmoor. This forced the aircraft Captain, Squadron Leader Mark Dunlop, to bring the 10-tonne helicopter to a hover so he could see the ground using his night vision goggles. Despite being constantly buffeted by storm-force winds, the RAF crew, operating only on their night vision goggles, made a tortuous flight back to Dartmoor through pitch darkness, lashing rain and gale-force winds. These conditions conspired to reduce the already poor visibility even further. “We flew the final 5 miles below 50 feet as the visibility dropped well below 500 metres,� said Squadron Leader Dunlop adding, “This surely ranks as some of the most intensely-challenging search and rescue flying I have yet undertaken.� The conditions placed a great strain on the crew who relied on their low-level night flying training and teamwork to complete a very demanding and challenging rescue. Yet again, the RAF crew arrived at the reported location to find no one in sight, so they carried out a further search of Dartmoor using their night vision goggles.

Thankfully, the second party of moor-walkers was located and once again the RAF crew The Search and Rescue Crew from RAF Chivenormanaged to place their Sea King helicopter down near the group. The walkers were recovered onto the helicopter before Squadron Leader Dunlop faced the next challenge – how to get them to a hospital at Plymouth. The fastest and safest method of getting them to hospital involved taking off and climbing directly into cloud. Flying blind, they used their on-board navigation equipment and experience of flying using only their instruments to fly themselves and the casualties away from the surrounding hills and back to Plymouth. Despite incredibly adverse conditions, the RAF managed to get their casualties back to Derriford where they were transferred to waiting ambulances before the helicopter crew returned to their base.

Crew:
Captain: Sqn Ldr Mark Dunlop RAF
Co-Pilot: Flt Lt Jon Singh RAF
Multi Sensor System / Winch Operator: Sgt Beano Green RAF
Winchman Paramedic: Petty Officer Marcus Wigfull RN

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RAF Tornado aircraft celebrates 25 years in Service



In 1968 the design studies for the Multi Role Combat Aircraft were initiated leading to the Tornado being produced by a consortium of aerospace industries in the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy. The first British assembled aircraft flew from Warton in Lancashire on 30 October 1974 followed by the first production GR1 flight on 10 July 1979.

Providing a low-level, supersonic, all weather attack capability the Tornado GR has proven itself to be the back bone of the RAFs offensive capability. First seeing combat in the Gulf in 1991 and subsequently serving with distinction in many conflicts across the middle east and Europe to the present day.

RAF Tornado aircraft celebrates 25 years in ServicA programme to upgrade over 140 of the GR1’s to the GR4 standard was instigated in the late 1990’s and completed in 2003. The Tornado has been based at many locations during its distinguished history both in the UK and abroad. Today the Tornado GR4, the latest version of the RAF’s primary attack aircraft, equips seven front-line squadrons at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland and RAF Marham in Norfolk, in addition to the XV ® Squadron Operational Conversion Unit (OCU).

The capable GR4 fulfils the Air Interdiction, Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) and reconnaissance roles employing a vast array of weapons including precision-guided, freefall and retarded bombs, ALARMs, Storm Shadow stand-off missile, RAPTOR reconnaissance pod and the Brimstone anti-tank missile. It also equipped with the Mauser 27mm cannon, and, for self-defence, Sidewinder missiles.