Air Support to Op MOSHTARAK

Two Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s were tasked in support of OP MOSHTARAK to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in the semi-desert area to the North of Nad-e-Ali.


The specific task was to search for IEDs in support of 1st Battalion Scots Guards and in order to achieve this, the Tornado crews established contact with the Battalion’s operations room and in particular the Company Forward Air Controller.

The Tornado GR4s, using their LITENING III targeting pods, capable of monitoring activity day or night, identified 4 people digging in 2 separate locations close to or on tracks across the desert which ISAF vehicles use on a regular basis.

The LITENING pod’s high-resolution full motion video of the 4 people digging was fed live into the Battalion’s Operations Room where the Forward Air Controller observed in real-time the activity identified by the Tornados. The Forward Air Controller requested that the Tornados maintained constant surveillance of the identified area. The Tornados were then informed that an Armoured Infantry Platoon had been dispatched to interdict the individuals and were re-tasked to provide armed overwatch of the Platoon during the operation.

As the Warriors approached the area, the individuals of interest ran to a nearby compound. The Tornados maintained constant surveillance and were able to talk the Platoon on to the right compound which was then immediately surrounded. As there was no immediate threat to life, the ground commander did not require the Tornados to carry out an attack, but they were tasked to maintain surveillance and deter any potential escalation of the situation by adopting an overwatch posture. Ground forces proceeded to enter the compound and detained a suspected insurgent without further incident.

The Platoon then carried out detailed searches over the area originally identified by the Tornados to confirm the presence of any IEDs.

In his post mission report the Forward Air Controller said “Due to the professionalism and enthusiasm from both crews of the Tornado formation, the close coordination and the rapid employment of the Platoon, the reaction to this incident was exceedingly fast and effective. I believe the speed of reaction and close co-ordination of everyone involved in the operation has sent a clear message that ISAF forces can appear anywhere at anytime.”

£189m for new equipment in Afghanistan announced

The Government is to provide £189m from the Treasury Reserve for new equipment for UK troops in support of operations in Afghanistan, Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox announced today.


A range of base protection equipment, including surveillance equipment, communications equipment and logistics equipment will be bought with the additional funding. It will enable UK forces to continue to increase the number of bases in Afghanistan as the force thickens in central Helmand, and to partner the Afghan security forces more effectively.

Today's announcement is in addition to the £67m already announced by the Prime Minister on 10 June, for the counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) campaign.

Countering the IED threat faced by our forces in Afghanistan is a top priority. The Secretary of State for Defence said: "There are real challenges; the threat does not stand still and nor does our response. I will make sure that everything possible is done to ensure that our forces have what they need to deal with this indiscriminate threat."

"They deserve nothing less. As I have seen during my visits they are doing fantastic work in Afghanistan in support of the UK's national security."

The Secretary of State has also made it clear when looking to the future that when the Afghan security forces have been sufficiently trained to take control, our troops can withdraw: "...our forces are making progress. In Helmand, the heartland of the insurgency, six districts were under government control in 2008 - now 11 out of 14 are.

"We are also ahead of target in training the Afghan National Security Forces. As soon as they are able to keep their country secure our forces can come home."

The equipment package for operations and pre-deployment training includes the following:
Base equipment (£158m) including:

* secure communications systems
* ground-based ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) systems to protect bases

Dismounted Close Combat equipment (£19m) including:

* Osprey body armour and helmets
* weapons systems including light and heavy machine guns and combat shotguns
* weapon sights and night vision equipment

Other (£12m) including:

* additional MAN logistics support vehicles modified for use in Afghanistan (equipping existing vehicles to Theatre Entry Standard to allow them to deploy)

The C-IED equipment package announced by the Prime Minister on 10 June 2010 (£67m) includes:

* Mastiff protected mobility vehicles
* remote-controlled vehicles
* specialist IED disruptive and exploitation equipment
* highly trained military working dogs

These additional resources are aimed at dealing both with the IED threat of today whilst looking to the future by partnering with the Afghans, to whom responsibility for security will be transferred.

RAF's Reaper logs 10,000 hours over Afghanistan

This article was first published in RAF News, Voice of the Royal Air Force, on 7 May 2010.

The RAF's Reaper programme has achieved the milestone of providing more than 10,000 hours of armed overwatch in support of UK and coalition forces in Afghanistan


The UK Reaper Remotely Piloted Air System (RPAS) has been deployed to Afghanistan since October 2007 and provides a persistent, armed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability.

Since November 2009, Reaper has been supporting operations 24-hours-a-day and more Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft are planned to be delivered later this year.

The RPAS is an integral part of the UK's air power capability. Procured to meet an urgent operational requirement, Reaper is the only RPAS currently in service with the RAF.

Air Vice-Marshal Baz North, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, said:

"10,000 hours in direct support of operations is a significant milestone. Our experience of operating RPAS has confirmed that they have unique capabilities that complement those of traditional combat and ISR platforms; maximum effect is achieved by employing them in a mixed grouping.

"This network-enabled force has delivered a comprehensive combat ISTAR [Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance] capability that provides assured intelligence and situational awareness across the full range of operating environments, through the employment and integration of air, space and cyber systems."

Reaper is flown by 39 Squadron via satellite from a UK operations facility at Creech Air Force Base in the Nevada desert, and provides a range of ISR products to troops on the ground and operational headquarters.

Its primary role is ISR but from May 2008 the system has been armed with Hellfire missiles and laser-guided bombs to enable it to better meet the requirements of ground commanders.

The rules of engagement used for Reaper weapon releases are no different to those used for manned combat aircraft; the weapons are all precision-guided, and every effort is made to ensure the risk of collateral damage and civilian casualties is minimised, including deciding not to release a weapon."

A Royal Air Force 39 Squadron Reaper is unloaded of its offensive weapons at Kandahar Airfield after completing another mission over Afghanistan.

Wing Commander Jules Ball, Officer Commanding 39 Squadron, said:

"The squadron's personnel, from pilots to imagery analysts and support teams, are motivated and dedicated to supporting all our coalition forces and the people of Afghanistan; everyone has played a significant part in the delivery of this landmark achievement. It's absolutely clear that the Reaper plays a vital role in delivering Air's contribution to operations in Afghanistan.

"Our involvement has increased steadily since the MQ-9 Reaper's introduction into the RAF inventory. In fact, in the last 12 months alone, 39 Squadron has more than doubled its operational flying output.

"By supporting coalition forces every minute of every day, there's no doubt that this cutting-edge capability is saving lives and making a difference to those in danger in Afghanistan."

Pictures: Antony Loveless & Corporal Steve Bain RAF