Extra RAF jets announced as Defence Secretary visits Afghanistan

The UK is to send two additional Royal Air Force Tornado jets to Afghanistan, the Defence Secretary has announced on a visit to British forces serving there.

Dr Liam Fox, on his second visit to Afghanistan since being appointed Secretary of State, confirmed that the two Tornado GR4 aircraft have been sent from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, arriving at Kandahar Airfield tomorrow (Thursday 12 August).

The deployment follows a request by the Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), General David Petraeus, for an increase in air support to provide greater protection to ground forces. The aircraft will join the eight RAF Tornado GR4s already provided to support the multinational pool and will boost flying hours by 25 per cent, or an extra 130 flying hours per month.


Tornado GR4 with Raptor Reconnaissance Pod

Dr Fox, currently on his way back to the UK, said before leaving Afghanistan:

“The deployment of these two extra aircraft is another illustration of the UK Government’s commitment to achieving success in operations in Afghanistan. Tornado GR4s provide essential air cover to our service personnel on the ground and leading the fight against deadly IEDs from the air.

“The intelligence these assets provide to coalition forces will enable commanders to have the eyes in the sky that they need to protect their troops and help increase security for local people.”

Following discussions, the Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, and the Defence Secretary, have agreed that the extra Tornados will deploy for three months.

Joined on the visit by the Chief of Joint Operations Air Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, the Defence Secretary also visited Forward Operating Bases as well as units based at Camp Bastion and Kandahar Airfield.

Dr Liam Fox is shown around a Tornado GR4

They saw first hand today the training of Afghan National Security Forces, which is ahead of schedule and represents the key to enabling British forces to eventually leave Afghanistan.

The latest encouraging figures show that the training of Afghan forces is making excellent progress. Already, 134,000 Afghan soldiers and 106,000 Afghan policemen have been trained, putting ISAF ahead of schedule for achieving its target of 171,000 fully-trained soldiers and 134,000 police by the end of 2011.

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.”

RAF Tornado Squadron hands over duties in Afghanistan

After three months providing 24/7 close air support and reconnaissance to coalition forces in Afghanistan, the RAF's IX (Bomber) Squadron handed over their duties to Number II (Army Cooperation) Squadron yesterday, Tuesday 13 April 2010.

For the past three months IX (B) Squadron, normally based at RAF Marham in Norfolk, have been operating their Tornado GR4s from Kandahar Airfield (KAF) in Afghanistan.

Throughout this period the squadron has amassed nearly 1,600 flying hours, equivalent to nine months flying back in the UK.

They have also launched over 450 aircraft on nearly the same number of operational tasks in support of ground troops.

Of these, IX (B) Squadron has undertaken nearly 40 Ground Close Air Support (GCAS) missions; these are short notice and urgent missions to support coalition forces under fire.

GCAS can often defuse a situation purely by the aircraft overflying the area as a 'Show of Force' or 'Show of Presence', thus dispersing Taliban fighters.

Equally, if not more importantly, IX (B) Squadron has undertaken critical reconnaissance and surveillance sorties using the Litening 3 and RAPTOR reconnaissance pods, helping ground forces locate and avoid possible roadside IEDs.

The LuftRAFfe: British pilot and German navigator share Tornado in first-ever join combat flights

By Christopher Leake, Daily Mail

An RAF pilot and an aviator from the Luftwaffe have flown together on a combat mission for the first time since Britain and Germany were bitter Second World War enemies.

The two airmen joined forces in the skies above Afghanistan in the war against the Taliban.

Last night, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that an RAF flight lieutenant had piloted a Tornado GR4 supersonic jet with a German navigator behind him in the cockpit.


Afghan allies: A tornado GR4, like the one piloted by two airmen from Britain and Germany

The Luftwaffe major - the equivalent of a squadron leader in the RAF - speaks perfect English and is said to have fitted in well with his British counterparts at Kandahar air base.

The pair provided 'top cover' --alerting British and US ground troops on Taliban positions. It is understood that although their Tornado was loaded with bombs, they were not deployed.

Until now, RAF and Luftwaffe pilots and navigators have flown together only on slow-moving C-130 Hercules transport aircraft in Afghanistan as part of a reciprocal scheme under which air crew are seconded to other Nato countries.

The new era of co-operation, however, has not prevented wags in the RAF's 31 Squadron, based at Marham, Norfolk, from cracking the odd joke about the German navigator.

An RAF source said: 'There was a bit of banter when it was discovered that an RAF pilot was to fly with a Luftwaffe navigator. But he proved to be an outstanding professional and made a valuable contribution to protecting troops on the ground.

'When you are in the air, there is only one issue: are you able to do your job to the required standard? In this navigator's case, he proved himself more than up to the job.' The German navigator is not only of a more senior rank than his British counterpart, he is also paid more.

The source added: 'Squadron personnel understand that German air crew received about £100 a day more than their British counterparts while in Afghanistan.

'This caused a fair amount of grumbling among the British air crew, but there was nothing they could do about it. Let's face it, the Government isn't likely to raise their pay.'

Another squadron source said: 'The Second World War was a long time ago and we are more than happy to work closely with our German allies against a common enemy.'

The Tornado flown by the Anglo-German crew on 18 missions between December and January was armed with 500lb laser-guided Paveway IV bombs and Brimstone air-to-ground missiles.

The Luftwaffe navigator --who, like the RAF pilot, cannot be identified for security reasons - was posted to Afghanistan at the request of the German government, which wanted him to work with 31 Squadron, considered one of the RAF's best.

The Luftwaffe operates a fleet of 115 Tornado fighter-bombers.

PICTURE of the day: 31 Squadron ops - GR4 Tornado

My sister: The war lady in the all-female Tornado crew

Nikki Thomas, a fast jet-navigator serving in Afghanistan, on fighting the Taliban and 'helmet hair'

By Janine Thomas for the Times

I’m on the phone to Nikki, my little sister, and we’re gossiping away about the usual stuff, boys, shoes, bombs. Yes, bombs. Squadron Leader Nikki Thomas is a fast-jet navigator serving in Afghanistan. She and her pilot, Juliette “Jules” Fleming, are the RAF’s first all-female Tornado crew in the country. They have clocked up more than 35 missions in the war zone in the past three months.

We hear much about the husbands, fathers, sons and brothers out there; but what of the mothers, wives, sisters and daughters? Of the 30 Tornado GR4 air crew of the RAF’s 31 Squadron on active duty in Afghanistan, four are women — Nikki and Jules among them.

What drove them into what seems the most macho of work? We’ve all seen Top Gun: what does it take to be Top Girl? And, for that matter, what is it like to be Top Girl’s sister? Whenever my mobile rings with an unknown number, I think it’s Nikki and leap on it. I know I can’t call her back and may not be able to speak to her for another week. A week with no contact, when your sister is fighting a war on the other side of the world, can seem an eternity.

Nikki chats away about her mates, the food, the little things. She never tells of the danger she puts herself in saving lives on the ground. She will say: “Oh, we had an interesting moment today but it was all good.”

Last week’s “interesting moment” made the news. I opened the paper to see a story about Nikki and Juliette chasing off a Taliban rocket team who were threatening Kandahar airbase. Usually her work is top secret, but I managed to wrench the details of this story from her.

“We were tasked to search for potential rocket teams and identified a group of men digging in a ditch quite close to base,” she told me. “Their actions looked suspicious and the idea that they might be setting up to fire on our base meant that we needed to do something fast.

“Jules took the aircraft out to about 15 miles from the ditch and we descended rapidly to fly over the men, at about 100ft and 500mph. An aircraft flying that fast and low is a pretty terrifying sight. The guys ran for their trucks and careered off. There were no rocket attacks that evening.”

Kandahar is home to 20,000 international troops. Although it is not the most austere base in theatre, it has been turned into a mud pit by recent rain. Taliban rocket attacks are a weekly occurrence. When the siren sounds, you have a few seconds to hit the ground — and fast.

For the full article click here for the Times Online

All female Tornado crew cruise over Afghanistan

Tornado Pilot Flight Lieutenant Juliette Fleming and her navigator, Squadron Leader Nikki Thomas, are currently the only all female Tornado crew working in Afghanistan. Their role is to provide close air support to troops on the ground.

Flt Lt Fleming, known as Jules, is actually the only female Tornado pilot in Afghanistan at the moment, but she insists, she is just 'one of the boys' amongst her colleagues from 31 Squadron, based at Royal Air Force Marham in Norfolk.

She joined the RAF ten years ago, and after a tour in Iraq last year, Christmas 2009 will see her flying as part of the Tornado Force on Operation HERRICK. She said:

"Our role out here is Close Air Support. It's all about supporting the troops on the ground, whether that is searching for Improvised Explosive Devices [IEDs], providing armed over watch of patrols taking place or being on ground alert, on call, for when troops are in contact with the enemy.

"Since October I've flown over 20 missions, which has been almost 100 hours in the air. We've been supporting all the Allied troops, including the Americans and our British Army colleagues."

Flying in the back seat of the Tornado jet is navigator Sqn Ldr Nikki Thomas, making them the only female crew on their Detachment.

Sqn Ldr Thomas, who is Flt Lt Fleming's Flight Commander on the ground, said:

"We usually fly together as it makes it easier to share a bedroom, just the one alarm clock going off at the same time in the morning!"

She already has several tours of Iraq under her belt and is the 'Warlord' for the Squadron in HERRICK, responsible for running the day-to-day operations:

"Really for me the best bit of my role is the operational flying. To spend years training to do a job and to do it well it is very satisfying, and you really get to see the results on Operations.

"It may also sound really cheesy but life on a Squadron is brilliant, everyone pulls together to get the job done and everyone has a vital role to play."

SCRAMBLE!

It’s amazing how quickly things can change here – the other day was typical of how within a few hours the circumstances can change from one extreme to the other.

We’ve had a fairly quiet period recently, with very few aircraft ‘scrambles’ (this is where we get an urgent tasking to get a pair of armed Tornado aircraft airborne to support ground troops in need of immediate air support) then yesterday it suddenly all happened within the blink of an eye. The call came from the Operations desk and the crew bolted out the door shouting “SCRAMBLE!”.

Before anyone even got near the scramble bell – fashioned out of a fired-out 110mm artillery shell and a couple of 27mm aircraft round (bullet) casings – the groundcrew were hot on the crew’s heels and in the minibus to get to the flight line, a few hundred metres away.

The crew-in was slick, having already ‘cocked’ the jet (a term derived from cocking a weapon, which, with a 27mm cannon and armed with precision guided bombs and missiles, the Tornado GR4 definitely qualifies as), both aircraft were ‘wheels-up’ and overhead the ground troops over 100 miles away within minutes.

On this day we launched the Ground-Close Air Support (GCAS) aircraft twice more, on what was anticipated to be a ‘quiet day’. It is this sort of requirement that gets the whole of the engineering shift fired up and motivated about being out here.

By Flt Lt David Hirst

Goldstars squadron takes to the Afghan skies

31 Squadron have now been at the helm of the Tornado detachment at Kandahar Airfield Base or KAF as it is known, Southern Afghanistan for 3 weeks. It is the culmination of 3 months of exercises, briefings, jabs, fitness tests and simulated rocket attacks preparing to take over from the Lossiemouth Tornado Wing who finish their own 4 month deployment after taking over from the Harrier Force in June.

Whilst 31 Squadron will escape the blistering heat of summer, they will be missing their families and loved ones over the Christmas and New Year season making the Christmas parcels and blueys all the more important. Fortunately, the welfare facilities at Kandahar are top notch and there are ample telephones and internet facilities to get in touch with the folks back home.The professionalism of the aircrew and engineers has led to a seamless handover between the Lossiemouth Wing and 31 Sqn. The true test of this came when within 3 minutes of calling “on-state” the Ground Alert was scrambled. Aircraft were airborne and providing armed overwatch of a developing situation on the ground less than 27 minutes later – 31 Squadron had started their tour.

Day to day life here became routine vey quickly, the engineers turn spanners 24 hours a day on 12 on/12 off shifts, whilst the aircrew plan, brief and fly sorties 7 days a week. 31 Sqn is also supported admirably by operational and admin support staff and a small home team are on call to provide welfare support for families at home.

The one thing that cannot be escaped here is the dust and the evening scent that drifts across the accommodation from the on-base sewage treatment works, affectionately known as ‘poo pond’.

Flt Lt Jim Harkin, 31 Squadron

Bang on Target

ICE-COOL RAF pilots launched a pinpoint attack on the Taliban to save Our Boys.

They fired on guerillas lurking just 100 metres from British troops.

It was the first time such a high-risk mission had been carried out in Afghanistan and one tiny slip would have been fatal for the UK forces.

The Top Gun team swooped in their Tornado jets after getting a mayday call.

Brit squaddies were pinned down near Lashkar Gah in lawless Helmand province.

Squadron Leader Tim Lindsay, 33, told the Daily Star Sunday: “It’s what we call ‘danger close’, meaning it’s close enough for our fire to provide a hazard to the friendly troops.”

But Tim and fellow flier Wing Commander James Linter used a combination of the latest weaponry and old-school skills to ensure they didn’t hit their own men.First the pilots zoomed in with state-of-the-art Raptor targeting pods.

They provided real-time TV and infra-red images on screens in the jets’ cockpits.

Pictures were beamed down to the troops to ensure they had the right targets.

The squaddies then fired green smoke canisters to mark their own positions.

Tim said: “If you rush in there may be a risk you put ordnance where it isn’t meant.” He and W/Cdr Linter put their 990mph jets into shallow dives and opened up with 1,700-rounds-a-minute Mauser 27mm cannons.

It was the first time UK pilots had used them in anger in Afghanistan.

Dad Tim added: “I’ve never strafed danger close before.

“To be firing your gun with friendlies 100 metres away is something you never see – it’s certainly something you cannot do in training.

“We were able to make them break contact and stop the enemy forces firing. Our troops were able to get back safely to base another way. You are trained to cope with all these pressures and the training does kick in.”

It was one of a series of firsts for the Tornado Wing, which replaced Harriers protecting Our Boys in the spring.

The force, from 12 (Bomber) Squadron with elements of 617 Squadron – the historic Dambusters – and 14 Squadron, battled 50C heat to fly six missions a day.

They were extra-busy during the Afghan elections and watched over UK soldiers battling in the huge Panther’s Claw offensive.

They were also the first to use the brand-new Brimstone guided missile in action, destroying a Taliban sniper position.

The missile has a smaller blast area, lessening risks to innocent bystanders.

W/Cdr Linter said: “We have got a range of weapons we can use and the gun was particularly good.

“There are British and coalition soldiers who owe their lives to the work we have done.”

On the ground and in the air - brothers deployed to Afghanistan

While Army Warrant Officer Class 2 Mark Boardman is helping to improve the infrastructure in Helmand province, his brother, RAF pilot Flight Lieutenant Richard Boardman, is flying overhead in the Tornado GR4, providing tactical reconnaissance to troops on the ground.

WO2 Mark Boardman, aged 36, is in the Royal Engineers. He is currently based at Lashkar Gah with the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team where for the past six months he has been working as part of a multi-national group to improve everyday life for Afghans; from constructing schools to installing an oxygen generator in a hospital that supplied oxygen for 20 beds.

He said:

"The effect you can have on ordinary people's lives is massive. The highlight of my tour was enabling a contract to improve Bost Airport. Its development will create local jobs and improve trade, and in so doing help with Afghanistan's reconstruction."

Flt Lt Richard Boardman, aged 35, is from 14 Squadron, based at Royal Air Force Lossiemouth, Scotland.

While the Tornado jet he flies over Afghanistan is capable of delivering a wide variety of weapons including Brimstone and Paveway IV with breathtaking accuracy, it is in the role of tactical reconnaissance in which this aircraft excels.

Using RAPTOR (Reconnaissance Airborne Pod for Tornado), the aircraft can provide high resolution images from distances in excess of 25 miles (40km), allowing intelligence to be gathered unnoticed. The aircraft's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance role is vital in the battle against deadly improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Flt Lt Boardman said:

"Supporting the troops on the ground is the key reason why we are out here and, for me, that is what makes this tour rewarding: being able to identify IEDs, preventing our guys from getting killed, and being there when needed to provide close air support for troops engaged with the enemy."

Both brothers went to the Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester. WO2 Boardman joined the Royal Engineers in 1989, straight from school. He said:

"I was in the Army Cadets and always wanted to join the Army; whereas for Richard, it was the Air Cadets and a life as an RAF pilot."

Flt Lt Boardman joined the Royal Air Force in 1997 and was the first pilot to fly with RAPTOR, trialling it in the Middle East in 2002. When an aircraft is required for close air support, the pilots sometimes have to scramble and get airborne within minutes. He said:

"It takes me back to the Battle of Britain era, running to your aircraft and taking off moments later; it is the reason why I joined in the first place!"

Marine turned RAF pilot battles IEDs over Afghanistan

Ex-Royal Marine Flight Lieutenant Phil Rossiter has switched services to go from the ground to the air in Afghanistan where he is helping the fight against improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Flt Lt Rossiter is on his first operational tour as an RAF officer but is no stranger to Afghanistan having served at Bagram Air Base in Parvan province as a Royal Marine.

He is now a Tornado GR4 pilot in 14 Squadron, based at RAF Lossiemouth.

Flt Lt Rossiter, who joined the Marines as a 'boy soldier' in 1996, explained:

"I joined the Royal Marines for the physical and mental challenges, but after several years of service I decided I wanted to be tested in a totally different environment.

"The Royal Air Force offered me this challenge and I joined in 2003.

"I had a fantastic time in the Marines and wouldn't change my time with them but flying a Tornado GR4 is as exhilarating as you would imagine it to be!"

While the Tornado jet is capable of delivering a wide variety of weapons, including Brimstone and Paveway IV, with breathtaking accuracy, it is in the role of tactical reconnaissance in which the aircraft excels.

Using RAPTOR (Reconnaissance Airborne Pod for Tornado), the aircraft can provide high resolution images from distances in excess of 25 miles (40km), allowing intelligence to be gathered unnoticed.

The aircraft's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance role is vital in the battle against improvised explosive devices.

A system called Litening III provides real-time imagery to soldiers on the ground enabling them to see round corners and over the walls of Taliban compounds.

Flt Lt Rossiter has found his tour in Afghanistan rewarding:

"It feels good to directly support the troops on the ground. I have an enormous sense of pride in what I do and I know I am doing something worthwhile.

"The intensive pre-deployment training has prepared me well for flying in this challenging environment. There is a sense of accomplishment having completed my first operational tour and supporting the Afghan people to achieve security and peace."

Flt Lt Rossiter returns home this month and said:

"I have missed my family and friends. Rather strangely I have even missed the Lossiemouth weather! After six months in blazing sunshine I hope to go skiing when I get back."

Speaking about his experience over the last few months, he said:

"I want to continue flying on the front line; after all, that is what I joined to do!"

RAF crews return from Afghanistan

Tornado crews from RAF Lossiemouth have returned home after four-and-a-half months in Afghanistan.

The Moray base's 12 (Bomber) Squadron has been based at Kandahar, in temperatures of more than 45C.

The air crew and ground crew left RAF Lossiemouth on 14 June and helped during the Afghan elections, as well as operating in Helmand Province.

SNP MP Angus Robertson said there would be a "great deal of relief" that they completed the tour safe and well.

PICTURES: 12 Squadron Tornado GR4s at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan

12 Squadron Tornado GR4 at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan