Tag: RAF
Affinity – Taking Flight Training Seriously
The 50,000 flight hours milestone celebrated by the Royal Air Force and the Affinity Group was an important achievement for the company. In only seven years, Affinity evolved from a ten-employee startup to a group of 180 professional personnel operating a fleet of 42 aircraft training aircraft in three bases, supporting the elementary, basic, and multi-engine pilots training for the RAF and Royal Navy. With this proven record, Affinity has established itself as a role model for other countries looking for a similar approach to military training.
RAF Tests an Innovative Anti A2AD Concept – Pitting Drone Swarms...
The Royal Air Force (RAF), in partnership with Leonardo, successfully conducted a live trial of a ‘swarming drones’ capability targeting a simulated enemy air defense radar. The demonstration showed how a swarm of BriteCloud-equipped drones overwhelmed the threat radar systems with electronic noise.
New Defensive Suites for RAF Shadows
The UK Ministry of Defence has chosen Leonardo/Thales protection system to protect the RAF Shadow ISTAR fleet. This single-source selection by the MOD follows the recent SALT III international trials hosted by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration in Sweden. There, the integrated Miysis/Elix-IR system, using a jamming waveform developed by the UK MOD’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, proved its ability to defeat Infra-Red missiles in live-fire exercises.
RAF Launches a 3-Year Study of UAS Threats & C-UAS Requirements
The Royal Air Force has selected Leonardo to support the next stage of their research and development program, exploring the current and future threat posed by hostile drones, and evaluating a range of technologies for counter-drone capability. The three-year program will commence in early 2020. Leonardo counter-drone technology has already seen use with the RAF and is under contract for the Italian Army and Air Force. In 2018 and 2019, following drone sightings at Gatwick and Heathrow airports, elements of Leonardo’s counter-drone technology were deployed by the RAF to allow airport operations to resume.
Britain’s Protectors to Carry Brimstone Missiles
MBDA will provide integration of the Brimstone precision guided strike missile onto the SkyGuardian drone to enhance the capability of RAF Protector GR Mk1 drone to engage a wide range of targets (stationary, fast moving, land and sea) under all weather conditions.
London Set to Develop a New Fighter for the 2030s
UK Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson unveiled today a concept model of a brand new next-generation combat aircraft being developed exclusively in the UK. The Tempest, as the futuristic fighter plane is called, could be ready for operations with the Royal Air Force in less than two decades, as the first Typhoons begin to be phased out of service.
RAF Strikes Daesh Drone Facility in Mosul
WIth drones causing significant concern to coalition forces, RAF Typhoons targeted Daesh drone facility near Mosul while RAF reapers launch Hellfire missiles at enemy targets in Mosul and Kirkuk.
New Brimstone Demonstrates Enhanced CAS Responsiveness
MBDA's Brimstone air-to-surface missile has passed an operational evaluation by the Royal Air Force (RAF) that confirmed the performance of the weapon’s latest technical enhancements. These include a new warhead and propulsion system conforming to insensitive munitions (IM) standard and more robust airframe, improving the weapon's G loading and maneuverability.
RAF to Retain Tornado Strike Fighters for Another Year
The Royal Air Force ( RAF) will extend the service of no. 12 (Bober) Squadron operating Tornado GR4, which currently takes part in the air campaign against ISIL in Iraq. The squadron's Tornados will will be maintained in service for an additional year, until March 2017 the British Defence Secretary has announced during a recent visit in Baghdad.
Typhoons and Su-30MKI Joined for Training in the UK
Indian Air Force Su-30MKI and RAF Typhoon aircraft are operating in mixed formations as part of the fourth Indradhanush exercise, a 10 day deployment demonstrating trans continental air power projection. This year the deployment includes 190 personnel operating Su-30 fighters, IL-78 tankers, C-17 strategic and C-130J tactical airlift aircraft
Two Lancaster Bombers fly together for first time in 50 years
At RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire two Lancaster Bombers took to the skies today for the first formation flight of this aircraft type since the 1960s. The Lancaster “Thumper”, which is part of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight has been joined by the Canadian Lancaster “Vera” from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Ontario. The two Lancasters will visit some 60 air shows and public events across the UK over the next 5 weeks and today’s flying was in rehearsal for tomorrow’s first public engagement at the Bournemouth Air Show this weekend.
The ‘Dambusters’ will be the first British unit to receive the...
The Royal Air Force has announced that 617 Squadron, the famous ‘Dambusters’, will be the first operational squadron using F-35B Lightning II aircraft. According...
Brimstones for Reapers?
The US Air Force is looking at equipping its General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft with British-developed Brimstone missiles, to reduce collateral damage. The...
Chief of RAF: Britain Should Reconsider Sentinel Phaseout
The decision to scrap the Sentinel spy plane under defense cuts is to be reviewed. According RAF Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, during the six month Libyan campaign the aircraft has played a ‘pivotal’ role in spotting and identifying Colonel Gaddafi's forces. Dalton insists the Sentinel R1 should be retained within his air forces’ force structure.