RAF chief details UK operation

Steyr

**VIDEO IN THE LINK**

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/04/14/355564/libya-raf-chief-details-uk-operation.html

Defence
DATE:14/04/11
SOURCE:Flight International

RAF chief details UK operation
By Craig Hoyle


The UK Royal Air Force gave the Eurofighter Typhoon its first offensive use on 12 April, when one of its aircraft dropped precision-guided bombs on two Libyan targets.

A joint formation of one Typhoon and one RAF Panavia Tornado GR4 ground-attack aircraft identified three main battle tanks held by forces loyal to Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi to the south of the opposition-held town of Misrata, the Ministry of Defence says.

"The Typhoon successfully engaged two tanks with [Raytheon] Enhanced Paveway II precision-guided bombs, while the Tornado hit another tank with a Paveway IV," it confirms. The aircraft conducted the mission from their forward operating base at from Gioia del Colle in Italy.

Hailing the action as "a significant milestone in the delivery of multi-role Typhoon", chief of the air staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton says the attacks were conducted "very successfully and very accurately".

While the UK's Eurofighters lack the ability to carry the wide range of weapons and sensors being employed by its Tornado GR4s over Libya and Afghanistan, Dalton told the Royal Aeronautical Society's Aerospace 2011 conference in London that this is "by design and by definition".

RAF Typhoons can now only deploy 454kg (1,000lb) Paveway II-series weapons, but their capabilities are to be progressively enhanced, he says. "The bringing in of Paveway IV, [MBDA's] Brimstone and Storm Shadow is all in the programme for the next three to four years."

© Geoffrey Lee/Planefocus

The RAF had previously dropped Paveway II-series weapons only in training


Armed with 226kg Paveway IVs and lightweight dual-mode Brimstone air-to-surface missiles, Tornado GR4s had until 12 April performed all air strikes conducted by the RAF in support of operations to protect Libyan civilians from pro-Gaddafi forces.

"It has become the norm for each GR4 to take on four or six targets, each of which has been positively identified," Dalton says, while providing an insight into the mechanics of the targeting process during the UK's Operation Ellamy contribution to the NATO-led campaign against Libya.

A typical cycle starts with a Raytheon Systems Sentinel R1 intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance aircraft operating out of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus using its synthetic aperture radar to search a wide area for armoured threats. Information is passed to a Boeing E-3D airborne warning and control system aircraft acting as a command and control platform out of the same base.

© Cpl Dave Blackburn/Crown Copyright

Two Sentinel R1s are supporting operations from RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus

Strike aircraft are then cued to conduct a closer check of items of interest using on-board sensors such as the Rafael Litening III targeting pod, before executing their attacks.

Ground moving target information data gathered by US Air Force Northrop Grumman E-8C JSTARS surveillance aircraft can also be relayed to the RAF aircraft via the E-3D.

"Operation Ellamy has proved further validation of the combat ISTAR concept," Dalton says. "Air power has succeeded in denying the regime the conventional use of their artillery, armour and other vehicles. They have found it impossible to hide in streets and around corners, because we now have the technology to find them, and absolutely the weapons to take them out."

He adds: "It is the very combination of our airborne command and control capability of the E-3D Sentry, combined with the critical intelligence collection capability of the Nimrod R1 and Sentinel R1 that are so critical to our success to date."

The RAF's first offensive use of the Typhoon came as France and the UK called on their NATO allies to take on a more active role in prosecuting ground threats in Libya. Although multiple nations are involved in NATO's Operation Unified Protector, many have so far assigned their fighters only to policing the UN-mandated no-fly zone over the country.

However, Dalton singles out the contribution made by the Royal Danish Air Force's detachment of Lockheed Martin F-16s, which is operating out of Sigonella air base in Sicily. "Denmark has proved to be a very willing and capable partner. They've done much more in terms of air-to-ground than we thought they were likely to get involved in," he says. The RDAF says that as of 13 April, its aircraft had flown 90 missions and dropped 166 precision-guided bombs in support of the campaign.

Also highlighting the involvement of military aircraft from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in the wider operation, he adds: "Overall, we've seen a great deal of coming together."

LondonIrish90

He adds: "It is the very combination of our airborne command and control capability of the E-3D Sentry, combined with the critical intelligence collection capability of the Nimrod R1 and Sentinel R1 that are so critical to our success to date."

This statement says it all. Too bad David Cameron seems hell bent on removing the Sentinel and the Nimrod from the RAF over the next year or two.

Funny how aircraft capable of gathering intelligence such as these are absolutelycritical to air strike operations in just about every theatre of war going, yet this fact doesn't seem to matter much when it comes to the tory cuts. :rolleyes:

Raging_Ninja

LondonIrish90 wrote: »

This statement says it all. Too bad David Cameron seems hell bent on removing the Sentinel and the Nimrod from the RAF over the next year or two.

Funny how aircraft capable of gathering intelligence such as these are absolutelycritical to air strike operations in just about every theatre of war going, yet this fact doesn't seem to matter much when it comes to the tory cuts. :rolleyes:

Militaries are expensive, and I think the Tory's are coming to realise the fact that Britain is no longer economically capable of global military operations.

At best, Britain is now a regional power with a small capability for global operations, highlighted by the fact that it is only barely capable of keeping 10,000 troops in Afghanistan.

Utrinque Paratus

Raging_Ninja wrote: »

Militaries are expensive, and I think the Tory's are coming to realise the fact that Britain is no longer economically capable of global military operations.

At best, Britain is now a regional power with a small capability for global operations, highlighted by the fact that it is only barely capable of keeping 10,000 troops in Afghanistan.

Britain still has the 3rd largest defence budget in the world and will continue to have, most countries are making defence cuts.

The 4th largest Navy, is one of 5 nuclear powers and has the third largest helo fleet.

You forget there are also 25,000 British troops in Germamy, 4,000 in Canada, 3,000 in Cyprus, 5,000 in NI, 700 in the Falklands etc.

Hardly a small capability for global operations, infact after the US it has the most rapidly deployable brigades in the world. (16 air assault bde and 3 commando bde).

LondonIrish90

Raging_Ninja wrote: »

Militaries are expensive, and I think the Tory's are coming to realise the fact that Britain is no longer economically capable of global military operations.

At best, Britain is now a regional power with a small capability for global operations, highlighted by the fact that it is only barely capable of keeping 10,000 troops in Afghanistan.

I would have to disagree completely - wishful thinking on your part I think!

With the Queen Elizabeth Class super carriers, Type 45 destroyers (£1 billion a pop), Astute Class Submarines (also £1 billion a boat), and the upgrading of the Trident nuclear weapons programme, the United Kingdom will be considered a truly global military force for a long time yet.

Adding to that, David Cameron has pledged to ensure Britain still punches well above its weight as a military power, even giving a repreive to defence cuts for this year above many other things.

Utrinque Paratus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nsxjWDl7Lk

Captain Chaos

LondonIrish90 wrote: »

With the Queen Elizabeth Class super carriers, .

They will only have one carrier. They can't afford to run two carriers. It's too expensive now to cancel the second so when it's built it will be either mothballed or sold off. The current carrier is being modified to catapults and arrestor gear to operate the F-35C as the UK MoD have taken the very wise decision imo of ditching the F-35B.

The first carrier will not have any fighters for it's first few years until the F-35C is ready which is looking like a 2017-2018 IOC right now. The Fleet Air Arm is in a right state over the next 7 years at least.

Utrinque Paratus

Captain Chaos wrote: »

They will only have one carrier. They can't afford to run two carriers. It's too expensive now to cancel the second so when it's built it will be either mothballed or sold off. The current carrier is being modified to catapults and arrestor gear to operate the F-35C as the UK MoD have taken the very wise decision imo of ditching the F-35B.

The first carrier will not have any fighters for it's first few years until the F-35C is ready which is looking like a 2017-2018 IOC right now. The Fleet Air Arm is in a right state over the next 7 years at least.

None the less.

The vessels will displace approximately 65,600 tonnes each,[4] over three times the displacement of the current Invincible class. They will be the largest warships ever built in the UK and the most capable aircraft carriers outside of the U.S. Navy.[24]

LondonIrish90

Captain Chaos wrote: »

They will only have one carrier. They can't afford to run two carriers. It's too expensive now to cancel the second so when it's built it will be either mothballed or sold off. The current carrier is being modified to catapults and arrestor gear to operate the F-35C as the UK MoD have taken the very wise decision imo of ditching the F-35B.

The first carrier will not have any fighters for it's first few years until the F-35C is ready which is looking like a 2017-2018 IOC right now. The Fleet Air Arm is in a right state over the next 7 years at least.

From what I have read, it is unlikely that there will be many prospective buyers, and that it could be kept in a state of "extended readiness", although I'm not completely sure what that actually means.

In any case, the concept of power projection will have become something of an unknown to the navy by the time the carrier/carriers are in service - it seems the government with their claims that "the navy will be in great shape at the end of the decade" are hoping and praying that we have a quiet few years, which seems unlikely.

Utrinque Paratus

LondonIrish90 wrote: »

From what I have read, it is unlikely that there will be many prospective buyers, and that it could be kept in a state of "extended readiness", although I'm not completely sure what that actually means.

In any case, the concept of power projection will have become something of an unknown to the navy by the time the carrier/carriers are in service - it seems the government with their claims that "the navy will be in great shape at the end of the decade" are hoping and praying that we have a quiet few years, which seems unlikely.

Thats right.

Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010

On 19 October 2010, the government announced the results of its Strategic Defence and Security Review. Only one carrier is certain to be commissioned; the fate of the other is undecided. The second ship of the class may be placed in "extended readiness" to provide a continuous single carrier strike capability when the other is in refit or to provide the option to regenerate more quickly a two carrier strike ability. Alternatively the second ship may be sold with "cooperation with a close ally to provide continuous carrier-strike capability".[21]

Raging_Ninja

Is 40 aircraft enough to provide both a decent CAP as well as a strike capability?

As for the army. Everything I've read says that in order to field a force for Falklands, Gulf War 1 & 2, the British had to cannibalize the rest of the army in order to come up with the equipment necessary to go war.

Even the current intervention in Libya is pushing the RAF to its limit, as posted in another thread here, and that's a (relatively) limited exercise right on NATO's doorstep.

Steyr

Utrinque Paratus wrote: »

Britain still has the 4th largest defence budget in the world and will continue to have, most countries are making defence cuts.

Fixed for you.

1. United States Of America
2. China
3. France
4. United Kingdom

Utrinque Paratus

Steyr wrote: »

Fixed for you.

1. United States Of America
2. China
3. France
4. United Kingdom

Out of date due to the fact the pound is now stong against the Euro, thus the UK is third, but it fluctuates.

Utrinque Paratus

Raging_Ninja wrote: »

Is 40 aircraft enough to provide both a decent CAP as well as a strike capability?

As for the army. Everything I've read says that in order to field a force for Falklands, Gulf War 1 & 2, the British had to cannibalize the rest of the army in order to come up with the equipment necessary to go war.

Even the current intervention in Libya is pushing the RAF to its limit, as posted in another thread here, and that's a (relatively) limited exercise right on NATO's doorstep.

The RAF is going through a period of transition as is the RN, but with in a few years the modernisation process will be complete.

At present resorces are going to the army.


quote
As for the army. Everything I've read says that in order to field a force for Falklands, Gulf War 1 & 2, the British had to cannibalize the rest of the army


.....Where do you get your nonsense from ? at the time of the Falkland the UK had 60,000 troops in Germany as well as around 2,000 tanks there.

Steyr

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/04/15/355641/libya-raf-typhoon-hits-fresh-target-with-help-from.html

Aircraft
DATE:15/04/11
SOURCE:Flight International

RAF Typhoon hits fresh target, with help from Tornado
By Craig Hoyle


One of the UK Royal Air Force's Eurofighter Typhoons has again been in action against Libyan ground forces, with the type continuing to work in concert with the service's Panavia Tornado GR4 fleet.

The Ministry of Defence confirms that a two-aircraft formation comprising one Typhoon and one Tornado attacked equipment being operated by forces loyal to Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi on 14 April.

© Cpl Babbs Robinson/Crown Copyright

Typhoons are now using their Enhanced Paveway II precision-guided bombs in anger

The UK aircraft "hit a heavy equipment transporter and a munitions store in the Misrata area using [Raytheon] Enhanced Paveway II and Paveway IV bombs," the MoD says in an operational update. Its Tornado GR4s also attacked one main battle tank and one armoured vehicle south of the Libyan capital Tripoli using MBDA dual-mode Brimstone air-to-surface missiles on the same day.

Flightglobal understands that the Typhoon's latest combat use of the 454kg (1,000lb) Enhanced Paveway II, along with its debut employment in Libya on 10 April, was enabled by a Tornado GR4 designating its targets using a Rafael Litening III targeting pod. Such co-operative targeting has previously been performed by RAF Blackburn Buccaneers for Tornado GR1s during the 1990-91 Gulf War, and by Dassault Mirage 2000s during the French air force's debut combat use of the Dassault Rafale in Afghanistan.

© Goose gallery on flightglobal.com/AirSpace

The RAF used Buccaneers to desingate targets for its Tornado GR1s during the 1900-91 Gulf War


The decision to use targeting services provided by the Tornado GR4 stems from a shortage of adequately trained Typhoon pilots, as illustrated in information published by the UK House of Commons' Public Accounts Committee on 15 April.

In evidence given to the committee on 9 March, two senior RAF officials revealed that only a fraction of the service's 48 Typhoon pilots were qualified to conduct air-to-ground missions, in line with its requirements for the fleet.

"We have eight pilots trained in the ground-attack role because that is all we need," said Air Vice Marshal Stephen Hillier, air officer commanding the RAF's 2 Group organisation. However, he added: "If we want to deploy that aircraft on an air-to-surface mission, we can do it." The UK's Typhoon force will achieve full multi-role readiness in 2018, with the bulk of the fleet to remain in use until 2030.