Royal Air Force

This article is about the air force of the United Kingdom. For other uses, see Royal Air Force (disambiguation) and RAF (disambiguation).
Royal Air Force

Royal Air Force emblem
Founded 1 April 1918 (98 years)
Country United Kingdom
Allegiance Elizabeth II
Type Air force
Role Aerial warfare
Size 34,200 Regular
1,940 RAuxAF
2,220 Air Force Reserve[lower-alpha 1]
Air Staff Offices Whitehall, London
Motto(s) Latin: Per Ardua ad Astra
"Through Adversity to the Stars"[1]
March Royal Air Force March Past
Aircraft Approx. 373 (2015)[2]
Website www.raf.mod.uk
Commanders
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford KCB CBE
Notable
commanders		 Lord Trenchard
Lord Portal
Insignia
Ensign
Logo
Roundels
Fin flashes
Pilot's Brevet
Aircraft flown
Attack Panavia Tornado
Eurofighter Typhoon
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II (Testing)
General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper
Electronic
warfare		 Boeing E-3 Sentry (AEW)
Fighter Eurofighter Typhoon
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II (Testing)
Helicopter Boeing Chinook
Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma
Agusta A109E Power
Westland Sea King
Multirole helicopter Bell 412 Griffin HAR2
Trainer helicopter Eurocopter AS350 Squirrel HT1
Bell 412 Griffin HT1
Reconnaissance Britten-Norman Islander CC2A
Beechcraft Super King Air R1
Raytheon Sentinel R1
General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper
Panavia Tornado GR4A
Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint
Trainer BAE Hawk
Beechcraft Super King Air R1
Short Tucano T1
Grob G 115 Tutor T.1
Grob G 109 Vigilant T.1
Grob G103a Twin II Viking TX1
Transport Boeing C-17 Globemaster III C-17ER
Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules
Airbus A330 MRTT Voyager
Airbus A400M
BAe 146 CC.2/C.3

The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's aerial warfare force. Formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918,[3] it is the oldest independent air force in the world.[4] Following victory over the Central Powers in 1918 the RAF emerged as, at the time, the largest air force in the world.[5] Since its formation, the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history, in particular, playing a large part in the Second World War where it fought its most famous campaign, the Battle of Britain.[6]

The RAF's mission is to support the objectives of the British Ministry of Defence (MoD), which are to "provide the capabilities needed: to ensure the security and defence of the United Kingdom and overseas territories, including against terrorism; to support the Government’s foreign policy objectives particularly in promoting international peace and security."[1] The RAF describe its mission statement as "... [to provide] An agile, adaptable and capable Air Force that, person for person, is second to none, and that makes a decisive air power contribution in support of the UK Defence Mission."[7] The mission statement is supported by the RAF's definition of air power, which guides its strategy. Air power is defined as: "The ability to project power from the air and space to influence the behaviour of people or the course of events."[8]

Today the Royal Air Force maintains an operational fleet of various types of aircraft,[9] described by the RAF as being "leading-edge" in terms of technology.[10] This largely consists of fixed-wing aircraft, including: fighter and strike aircraft, airborne early warning and control aircraft, ISTAR and SIGINT aircraft, aerial refueling aircraft and strategic and tactical transport aircraft. The majority of the RAF's rotary-wing aircraft form part of the tri-service Joint Helicopter Command in support of ground forces. Most of the RAF's aircraft and personnel are based in the UK, with many others serving on operations (principally Afghanistan) or at long-established overseas bases (Ascension Island, Cyprus, Gibraltar, and the Falkland Islands). Although the RAF is the principal British air power arm, the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm and the British Army's Army Air Corps also deliver air power which is integrated into the maritime, littoral and land environments.

History

Origins

While the British were not the first to make use of heavier-than-air military aircraft, the RAF is the world's oldest independent air force: that is, the first air force to become independent of army or navy control.[4] It was founded on 1 April 1918, with headquarters located in the former Hotel Cecil, during the First World War, by the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). At that time it was the largest air force in the world. After the war, the service was drastically cut and its inter-war years were relatively quiet, with the RAF taking responsibility for the control of Iraq and executing a number of minor actions in other parts of the British Empire. The RAF's naval aviation branch, the Fleet Air Arm, was founded in 1924 but handed over to Admiralty control on 24 May 1939.

The RAF developed the doctrine of strategic bombing which led to the construction of long-range bombers and became its main bombing strategy in the Second World War.[11]

Second World War

A later version of the Spitfires which played a major part in the Battle of Britain.
Further information: Air warfare of World War II

The RAF underwent rapid expansion prior to and during the Second World War. Under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan of December 1939, the air forces of British Commonwealth countries trained and formed "Article XV squadrons" for service with RAF formations. Many individual personnel from these countries, and exiles from occupied Europe, also served with RAF squadrons. By the end of the war the Royal Canadian Air Force had contributed more than 30 squadrons to serve in RAF formations, similarly, approximately a quarter of Bomber Command's personnel were Canadian.[12] Additionally, the Royal Australian Air Force represented around nine percent of all RAF personnel who served in the European and Mediterranean theaters.[13]

The Avro Lancaster heavy bomber was extensively used during the strategic bombing of Germany.

In the Battle of Britain in 1940, the RAF (supplemented by 2 Fleet Air Arm Squadrons, Polish, Czecho-Slovak and other multinational pilots and ground personnel) defended the skies over Britain against the numerically superior German Luftwaffe. In what is perhaps the most prolonged and complicated air campaign in history, the Battle of Britain contributed significantly to the delay and subsequent indefinite postponement of Hitler's plans for an invasion of the United Kingdom (Operation Sealion). In the House of Commons on 20 August, prompted by the ongoing efforts of the RAF, Prime Minister Winston Churchill eloquently made a speech to the nation, where he said "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few".[14]

The largest RAF effort during the war was the strategic bombing campaign against Germany by Bomber Command. While RAF bombing of Germany began almost immediately upon the outbreak of war, under the leadership of Air Chief Marshal Harris, these attacks became increasingly devastating from 1942 onward as new technology and greater numbers of superior aircraft became available. The RAF adopted night-time area bombing on German cities such as Hamburg and Dresden, and developed precision bombing techniques for specific operations, such as the "Dambusters" raid by No. 617 Squadron,[15] or the Amiens prison raid known as Operation Jericho.

Cold War era

Further information: Cold War
The Handley Page Victor bomber was a strategic bomber of the RAF's V bomber force used to carry both conventional and nuclear bombs.

Following victory in the Second World War, the RAF underwent significant re-organisation, as technological advances in air warfare saw the arrival of jet fighters and bombers. During the early stages of the Cold War, one of the first major operations undertaken by the Royal Air Force was in 1948 and the Berlin Airlift, codenamed Operation Plainfire. Between 26 June and the lifting of the Russian blockade of the city on 2 May, the RAF provided 17% of the total supplies delivered during the event, using Avro Yorks, Douglas Dakotas flying to Gatow Airport and Short Sunderlands flying to Lake Havel.[16]

The Avro Vulcan was a strategic bomber used during the Cold War to carry conventional and nuclear bombs.

Before Britain developed its own nuclear weapons the RAF was provided with American nuclear weapons under Project E. However following the development of its own arsenal, the British Government elected on 16 February 1960 to share the country's nuclear deterrent between the RAF and submarines of the Royal Navy, first deciding on 13 April to concentrate solely on the air force's V bomber fleet. These were initially armed with nuclear gravity bombs, later being equipped with the Blue Steel missile. Following the development of the Royal Navy's Polaris submarines, the strategic nuclear deterrent passed to the navy's submarines on 30 June 1969.[17] With the introduction of Polaris, the RAF's strategic nuclear role was reduced to a tactical one, using WE.177 gravity bombs. This tactical role was continued by the V bombers into the 1980s and until 1998 by Tornado GR1s.

For much of the Cold War the primary role of the RAF was the defence of Western Europe against potential attack by the Soviet Union, with many squadrons based in West Germany. With the decline of the British Empire, global operations were scaled back, and RAF Far East Air Force was disbanded on 31 October 1971. Despite this, the RAF fought in many battles in the Cold War period. In June 1948 the RAF commenced Operation Firedog against Malayan terrorists during the Malayan Emergency. Operations continued for the next 12 years until 1960 with aircraft flying out of RAF Tengah and RAF Butterworth. The RAF played a minor role in the Korean War, with flying boats taking part. From 1953 to 1956 the RAF Avro Lincoln squadrons carried out anti-Mau Mau operations in Kenya using its base at RAF Eastleigh. The Suez Crisis in 1956 saw a large RAF role, with aircraft operating from RAF Akrotiri and RAF Nicosia on Cyprus and RAF Luqa and RAF Hal Far on Malta as part of Operation Musketeer. The Konfrontasi against Indonesia in the early 1960s did see use of RAF aircraft, but due to a combination of deft diplomacy and selective ignoring of certain events by both sides, it never developed into a full-scale war.

One of the largest actions undertaken by the RAF during the cold war was the air campaign during the 1982 Falklands War, in which the RAF operated alongside the Fleet Air Arm. During the war, RAF aircraft were deployed in the mid-Atlantic at RAF Ascension Island and a detachment from No. 1 Squadron was deployed with the Royal Navy, operating from the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes.[18][19] RAF pilots also flew missions using the Royal Navy's Sea Harriers in the air-to-air combat role.[20] Following a British victory, the RAF remained in the South Atlantic to provide air defence to the Falkland Islands, based at RAF Mount Pleasant (built 1984).

Recent history

A Tornado GR4 in flight during Operation Iraqi Freedom

With the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the RAF's focus has returned to delivering expeditionary air power.[21] Since 1990 the RAF has been involved in several large-scale operations, including: the 1991 Gulf War, the 1999 Kosovo War, the 2001–present War in Afghanistan, the 2003 invasion and war in Iraq and most recently the 2011 intervention in Libya.

Typhoons and Red Arrows flypast for the 90th Anniversary of the RAF, 2008

The RAF's 90th anniversary was commemorated on 1 April 2008 by a flypast of 9 Red Arrows and four Typhoons along the Thames, in a straight line from just south of London City Airport Tower Bridge, the London Eye, the RAF Memorial and (at 13.00) the Ministry of Defence building.[22][23][24]

Harrier GR9 at Kandahar Airfield, marking the end of Harrier air operations in Afghanistan in 2009

Four major defence reviews have been conducted since the end of the Cold War: the 1990 Options for Change, the 1998 Strategic Defence Review, the 2003 Delivering Security in a Changing World and the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review. All four defence reviews have resulted in steady reductions in manpower and numbers of aircraft, especially combat aircraft such as fast-jets. As part of the latest 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, the BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4 maritime patrol aircraft was cancelled due to over spending and missing deadlines.[25] Other reductions saw total RAF manpower reduced by 5,000 personnel to a trained strength of 33,000 and the early retirement of the Joint Force Harrier aircraft, the Harrier GR7/GR9.

A Typhoon on QRA intercepts a Russian Tupolev Tu-95 bomber approaching UK airspace.[26]

In recent years fighter aircraft on Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) have been increasingly required to scramble in response to efforts made by the Russian Air Force to approach British airspace.[27] On 24 January 2014 in the Houses of Parliament, Conservative MP and Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Andrew Robathan, announced that the RAF's QRA force had been scrambled almost thirty times in the last three years: eleven times during 2010, ten times during 2011 and eight times during 2012.[28]

RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and RAF Lossiemouth in Moray both provide Quick Reaction Alert, or QRA, and scramble their fighter jets within minutes to meet or intercept aircraft which give cause for concern. Lossiemouth generally covers the northern sector, while Coningsby provides QRA in the south. Typhoon pilot Flight Lieutenant Noel Rees describes how QRA duty works. "At the start of the scaled QRA response, civilian air traffic controllers might see on their screens an aircraft behaving erratically, not responding to their radio calls, or note that it’s transmitting a distress signal through its transponder. Rather than scramble Typhoons at the first hint of something abnormal, a controller has the option to put them on a higher level of alert, ‘a call to cockpit’. In this scenario the pilot races to the hardened aircraft shelter and does everything short of starting his engines."[29]

On the 4th of October 2015, a final stand-down saw the end of more than 70 years of RAF Search and Rescue provision in the UK.[30] The RAF and Royal Navy's Westland Sea King fleets, after over 30 years of service, were retired. A civilian contractor, Bristow Helicopters, has taken over responsibility for UK Search and Rescue, under a Private Finance Initiative with newly purchased Sikorsky S-92 and AgustaWestland AW189 aircraft. While the Royal Navy's SAR force will continue to operate until the end of the year, the new contract means that by 2016, all UK SAR coverage will be provided by Bristow's.

Structure

The professional head of the RAF is the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford. The CAS heads the Air Force Board, which is a committee of the Defence Council. The Air Force Board is the management board of the RAF and consists of several high-ranking officers.

Command

Authority is delegated from the Air Force Board to the RAF's command. While there were once individual commands responsible for bombers, fighters, training, etc., now only the Air Command exists, headquartered at RAF High Wycombe.[31]

Groups

Groups are the subdivisions of operational commands; these are responsible for certain types of operation or for operations in limited geographical areas. As from July 2014, four groups exist. Additionally there is an expeditionary air group.

Stations

Phased Array Ballistic Missile Early Warning System at RAF Fylingdales.

An RAF station is ordinarily subordinate to a group and it is administratively sub-divided into wings. Since the mid to late 1930s RAF stations have controlled a number of flying squadrons or other units at one location by means of a station headquarters.

As the Air Force has reduced in size and modernised, the squadrons and aircraft types have tended towards groupings at fewer, larger bases. Examples include the ISTAR fleet at RAF Waddington and the Support Helicopter fleet of Puma and Chinook aircraft split between RAF Odiham and RAF Benson. Nearly the entire transport fleet now resides at the hub of RAF Brize Norton, following the closure of RAF Lyneham. The continuous reduction in aircraft numbers since the end of the Cold War made it uneconomical to support operations at multiple bases.

The RAF still operates a number of overseas bases to support global operations. RAF Akrotiri is a key staging post for operations in the Middle East, and RAF Mount Pleasant enables a vital air bridge between the United Kingdom and the Falkland Islands, as well as providing a base for Typhoon air defence aircraft.

Wings

Primary RAF Flying Stations Fast Jet: Red, ISTAR: Blue, Transport: Orange, Support Helicopter: Green Training: Yellow

A wing is either an operational sub-division of a group or an administrative sub-division of an RAF station.

Independent Wings are a grouping of two or more squadrons, either flying squadrons or ground support squadrons. In former times, numbered flying wings have existed, but recently they have been created only when required. For example, during Operation Telic, Tornado GR4 wings were formed to operate from Ali Al Salem and Al Udeid air bases and the Tornado F3 equipped Leuchars Fighter Wing at Prince Sultan Air Base; each of these were made up of aircraft and crews from several squadrons.

On 31 March 2006, the RAF formed nine Expeditionary Air Wings (EAWs) to support operations. They were established at the nine main operating bases; RAF Coningsby, RAF Cottesmore, RAF Kinloss, RAF Leeming, RAF Leuchars, RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Lyneham, RAF Marham and RAF Waddington numbered Nos 121, 122, 325, 135, 125, 140, 38, 138 and 34 EAWs respectively. These units are commanded by a Group Captain who is also the parent unit's Station Commander. The EAW comprises the non-formed unit elements of the station that are required to support a deployed operating base, i.e., the command and control, logistics and administration functions amongst others. They are designed to be flexible and quickly adaptable for differing operations. They are independent of flying squadrons, Air Combat Support Units (ACSU) and Air Combat Service Support Units (ACSSU) who are attached to the EAW depending on the task it has been assigned.[33]

A wing is also an administrative sub-division of an RAF station. Historically, for a flying station these were normally Operations Wing, Engineering Wing and Administration Wing and each wing was commanded by an officer of wing commander rank. Early in the 21st century, the model changed, with Engineering Wing typically being split into Forward Support Wing and Depth Support Wing, while Administration Wing was redesignated Base Support Wing.

Squadrons

A flying squadron is an aircraft unit which carries out the primary tasks of the RAF. RAF squadrons are somewhat analogous to the regiments of the British Army in that they have histories and traditions going back to their formation, regardless of where they are based, which aircraft they are operating, etc. They can be awarded standards and battle honours for meritorious service. Whilst every squadron is different, most flying squadrons are commanded by a wing commander and, for a fast-jet squadron, have an establishment of around 100 personnel and 12 aircraft.

The term squadron can be used to refer to a sub-unit of an administrative wing or small RAF station, e.g., Air Traffic Control Squadron, Personnel Management Squadron etc. There are also Ground Support Squadrons, e.g., No 2 (Mechanical Transport) Squadron which is located at RAF Wittering. Administrative squadrons are normally commanded by a squadron leader.

Training Schools

The RAF Schools consist of the squadrons and support apparatus that train new aircrew to join front-line squadrons. The schools separate individual streams, but group together units with similar responsibility or that operate the same aircraft type. Some schools operate with only one Squadron, and have an overall training throughput which is relatively small; some, like 3 FTS, have responsibility for all Elementary Flying Training (EFT) in the RAF, and all RAF aircrew will pass through its squadrons when they start their flying careers. 2 FTS and 6 FTS do not have a front-line training responsibility - their job is to group the University Air Squadrons and the Volunteer Gliding Squadrons together. 2 FTS's commanding officer holds the only full-time flying appointment for a Group Captain in the RAF, although he is a reservist.

The British military operate a number of joint training organisations based at RAF Stations:

Flights

RAF Mount Pleasant, home to No. 1435 Flight providing air defence for the Falkland Islands

A flight is a sub-division of a squadron. Flying squadrons are often divided into two flights, e.g., "A" and "B", each under the command of a squadron leader. Administrative squadrons on a station are also divided into flights and these flights are commanded by a junior officer, often a flight lieutenant. Because of their small size, there are several flying units formed as flights rather than squadrons. For example, No. 1435 Flight is based at RAF Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands, maintaining air defence cover with four Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.

Personnel

Members of the RAF Regiment on parade, 2013

At its height in 1944 during the Second World War, more than 1,100,000 personnel were serving in the RAF. The longest-lived founding member of the RAF was Henry Allingham, who died on 18 July 2009 aged 113.[35]

As of 1 January 2015, the Royal Air Force numbered some 34,200 Regular[36] and 1,940 Royal Auxiliary Air Force[37] personnel, giving a combined component strength of 36,140 personnel. In addition to the active elements of the Royal Air Force, (Regular and Royal Auxiliary Air Force), all ex-Regular personnel remain liable to be recalled for duty in a time of need, this is known as the Regular Reserve. In 2007 there were 33,980 Regular Reserves of the Royal Air Force, of which 7,950 served under a fixed-term reserve contract.[38] Publications since April 2013 no-longer report the entire strength of the Regular Reserve, instead they only give a figure for Regular Reserves who serve under a fixed-term reserve contract.[39] They had a strength of 7,120 personnel in 2014.[40] All personnel figures exclude the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and its associated University Air Squadron.

The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve is another reserve element of the RAF, however unlike the ones described above, they have no call-up liability. Instead, they are responsible for the management and operation of the Air Training Corps, Combined Cadet Force RAF Sections (CCF(RAF)), Volunteer Gliding Squadrons, Air Experience Flights, University Air Squadron and the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme.

Figures provided by the International Institute for Strategic Studies from 2012 showed that Royal Air Force pilots achieve a relatively high number of flying hours per year when compared with other major NATO allies such as France and Germany. RAF pilots achieve 210 to 290 flying hours per year.[41] French and German Air Force pilots achieved only 180 and 150 flying hours across their fleets respectively.[42]

Officers

Main article: RAF officer ranks

Officers hold a commission from the Sovereign, which provides the legal authority for them to issue orders to subordinates. The commission of a regular officer is granted after successfully completing the 32-week-long Initial Officer Training course at the RAF College, Cranwell, Lincolnshire. Other officers also train at RAF Cranwell, but on different courses, such as those for professionally qualified officers.

The titles and insignia of RAF officers were chiefly derived from those used by the Royal Navy, specifically the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) during World War I. For example, the rank of Squadron Leader derived its name from the RNAS rank of Squadron Commander. RAF officers fall into three categories: air officers, senior officers and junior officers.

Other ranks

Main article: RAF other ranks

Other ranks attend the Recruit Training Squadron at RAF Halton for basic training, with the exception of the RAF Regiment, which trains its recruits at RAF Honington.

The titles and insignia of other ranks in the RAF were based on that of the Army, with some alterations in terminology. Over the years, this structure has seen significant changes: for example, there was once a separate system for those in technical trades, and the ranks of Chief Technician and Junior Technician continue to be held only by personnel in technical trades. RAF other ranks fall into four categories: Warrant Officers, Senior Non-Commissioned Officers, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers and Airmen.

All Warrant Officers in the RAF are equal in terms of rank, but the most senior Non-Commissioned appointment is known as the Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer.[43]

Branches and trades

A Tornado WSO of No. 12 Squadron
An RAF Regiment Gunner

The majority of the members of the RAF serve in support roles on the ground.

Specialist training and education

The Royal Air Force operates several units and centres for the provision of non-generic training and education. These include the Royal Air Force Leadership Centre and the Royal Air Force Centre for Air Power Studies, both based at RAF Cranwell, and the Air Warfare Centre, based at RAF Waddington and RAF Cranwell. NCO training and developmental courses occur at RAF Halton and officer courses occur at the Joint Services Command and Staff College at Shrivenham.

Aircraft

British military aircraft designations generally comprise a type name followed by a mark number which includes an alphabetical rôle prefix. For example, the Typhoon F2 is designated as a fighter by the 'F', and the second variant of the type to be produced.

Air defence and strike aircraft

The Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 is the RAF's only air defence fighter aircraft, with a total of six squadrons based across RAF Coningsby and RAF Lossiemouth,[58][59] following the retirement of the Panavia Tornado F3 in late March 2011.[60] Their task is to defend UK airspace. In October 2007 it was announced that MoD Boscombe Down, RNAS Culdrose and RAF Marham would also be used as Quick Reaction Alert bases from early 2008, offering around-the-clock fighter coverage for the South and South West of UK airspace when a direct threat has been identified.[61] The RAF has five front-line and one reserve Typhoon units; 3 Squadron, 11 Squadron and 29 Squadron (Operational Conversion Unit) based at RAF Coningsby, with 1 Squadron, 2 Squadron and 6 Squadron based at RAF Lossiemouth. On 23 November 2015 it was announced that two additional front-line Typhoon squadrons will be formed consisting of Tranche 1 versions.[58][62]

The mainstay of the strike fleet are the four squadrons of Tornado GR4s.[63] These supersonic aircraft can carry a wide range of weaponry, including Storm Shadow cruise missiles, laser-guided bombs and the ASRAAM missile.[64] Since June 2008, the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 has also been capable of being deployed operationally in the air-to-ground role.[65] The RAF has three operational Tornado units, with [66] 9 Squadron, 12 Squadron and 31 Squadron based at RAF Marham. RAF Lossiemouth is home to the reserve 15 Squadron.[67]

The Tornado was previously supplemented by the Harrier GR7/GR9 in the strike and close air support roles, and to counter enemy air defences. The Harrier fleet was withdrawn in December 2010 following the Strategic Defence and Security Review; the Tornado GR4 is due to retire in March 2019 and be replaced by the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 Lightning II. On 23 November 2015 it was announced that a total of 138 F-35B's will be ordered.[68][69]

Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 
Tornado GR4 

Airborne early warning and reconnaissance aircraft

The Sentry AEW1, based at RAF Waddington, provides airborne early warning to detect incoming enemy aircraft and to co-ordinate the aerial battlefield. The Sentinel R1 (also known as ASTOR – Airborne STand-Off Radar) provides a ground radar-surveillance platform based on the Bombardier Global Express long range business jet. These were supplemented in 2009 by four ( a fifth was added later) Beechcraft Shadow R1 aircraft equipped for the ISTAR role over Afghanistan.[70] Three more Shadow aircraft will be procured as per the 2015 Defence Review. The Tornado GR4A is fitted with cameras and sensors in the visual, infra-red and radar ranges of the spectrum.[71]

Ten MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned aerial vehicles have been purchased to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are operated by No. 39 Squadron RAF based at Creech Air Force Base and 13 Squadron at RAF Waddington.[72] Three Britten-Norman Islanders are operated by the Station Flight of RAF Northolt, involved in "photographic mapping and light communications roles".[73]

Three Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint have been ordered to replace the Nimrod R1 fleet in the signals intelligence role in 2014. The Nimrod fleet was retired in 2011, and the RAF will share signals aircraft of the US Air Force until the RC-135s enter service.[74] The aircraft will be Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker tankers converted to RC-135W standard in the most complex combined Foreign Military Sales case and co-operative support arrangement that the UK has undertaken with the United States Air Force since the Second World War. In RAF service, they will be known as the Airseeker.[75] Airseeker received its first operational deployment in August 2014, when it was deployed to the Middle East to fly missions over Iraq and Syria as part of Operation Shader.[76]

Sentry AEW1 
Sentinel R1 
Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint 
MQ-9 Reaper 

Helicopters

An important part of the work of the RAF is to support the British Army by ferrying troops and equipment at the battlefield. However, RAF helicopters are also used in a variety of other roles, including support of RAF ground units and heavy-lift support for the Royal Marines. The support helicopters are organised into the tri-service Joint Helicopter Command (JHC), along with helicopters of the British Army and Royal Navy.

The large twin-rotor Chinook, based at RAF Odiham provides heavy-lift support and is supported by the Puma HC2 medium-lift helicopter based at RAF Benson. The only helicopters not coordinated by the JHC are the search and rescue helicopters of the RAF and RN, and those RN helicopters that are normally based on board a ship such as a destroyer or frigate. The only dedicated Search and Rescue assets left within the RAF are the Griffin HAR.2s based at RAF Akrotiri in the Cyprus Sovereign Base Areas. However, all UK military helicopter aircrew routinely train and practice the skills necessary for SAR, and the support helicopters based in the UK are available to the Government under Military Aid to the Civil Authorities in case they are needed.

Chinook HC2 
Puma HC2 
Bell Griffin HAR2 

Transport and air-to-air refuelling aircraft

Further information: AirTanker Services

The RAF operate the C-17 Globemaster III in the heavy strategic airlift role, originally leasing four from Boeing. These were purchased, followed by a fifth delivered on 7 April 2008 and a sixth delivered on 8 June 2008. The new aircraft entered frontline use within days rather than weeks. The MoD said there was "a stated departmental requirement for eight" C-17s and a seventh was subsequently ordered, to be delivered in December 2010.[77] In February 2012 the purchase of an eighth C-17 was confirmed;[78] the aircraft arrived at RAF Brize Norton in May 2012.[79]

More routine strategic airlift transport tasks are carried out by the Airbus A330 MRTT, known as the Voyager in RAF service. The first Voyager arrived in the UK for testing at MoD Boscombe Down in April 2011,[80] and entered service in April 2012.[81] The Voyager received approval from the MoD on 16 May 2013 to begin air-to-air refuelling flights and made its first operational tanker flight on 20 May 2013 as part of a training sortie with Tornado GR4s. By 21 May 2013, the Voyager fleet had carried over 50,000 passengers and carried over 3,000 tons of cargo.[82] A total of 14 Voyagers are due to form the fleet, with 9 allocated to sole RAF use. As the Voyagers lack a refueling boom, the RAF has requested a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the USAF allowing the UK access to tankers equipped with refueling booms for its Boeing RC-135W Airseeker SIGINT aircraft.[83]

Shorter range, tactical-airlift transport is provided by the Hercules, the fleet including both older C-130K (Hercules C1/C3) and newer C-130J (Hercules C4/C5) variants, based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. The 14 C-130J-30 extended variants operated by the RAF will remain in service until 2030 at least.[84] The Airbus A400M Atlas will replace the RAF's fleet of Hercules C1/C3 (C-130K) transport aircraft.[85] Originally, 25 aircraft were ordered, although the total is now 22. The A400M will be known as the Atlas in RAF service.[86]

No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron replaced the Queen's Flight in 1995 and operate the Agusta A109 and BAe 146 CC2 in the general air transport and VIP transport roles. The squadron is based at RAF Northolt in west London. Aircraft operate with a priority for military needs over VIP transport. Two additional BAe 146s were purchased in March 2012 from TNT Airways and were refitted by Hawker Beechcraft on behalf of BAE Systems for tactical freight and personnel transport use.[87][88] The aircraft, designated as the BAe 146 C Mk 3, arrived in Afghanistan in April 2013.[89]

C-17 Globemaster III 
Airbus A400M 
Hercules C5 (C-130J) 
Airbus Voyager 

Training aircraft

Elementary Flying Training, as well as Multi-Engine Lead-In training, is conducted on the Tutor T1. Basic fast jet training is provided on the Tucano T1 and initial helicopter training on the Squirrel HT1, at which stage aircrew gain their 'wings'. Multi-Engine aircrew, Weapon Systems Officer (WSO) and Weapon Systems Operator (WSOp) students are trained on the King Air to gain their wings before a posting to an Operational Conversion Unit. Advanced jet flying training is now provided on Hawk T2 for fast jet aircrew and helicopter pilots complete a course on the Griffin HT1, before they are sent to their OCU, which trains them on a specific aircraft type in preparation for service with a front-line squadron. The OCUs use modified operational aircraft, such as the Typhoon T3, as well as sophisticated simulators and ground training.

Tutor T1 
Short Tucano 
BAE Hawk T2 
King Air T1 

Air Cadets, CCF and University Training

The Tutor equips the fourteen University Air Squadrons, which provide University students an opportunity to undertake an RAF training syllabus based loosely on EFT to get them to and beyond solo standard. These units are co-located with Air Experience Flights, which share the same aircraft and facilities and provide air experience flying to Air Cadets and CCF cadets. The Volunteer Gliding Squadrons also provide air experience flying to cadets using the Vigilant T1 motor-glider or the Viking TX1 conventional glider.

Since April 2014, the Vigilant and Viking fleets have been grounded due to air-worthiness issues. As of March 2016, a 'recovery plan' is in place which will see Viking schools merged and expanded and significant reduction of the Vigilant fleet, which is to be retired by 2019.[90]

Tutor T1 
Viking T1 
Vigilant T1 

Future aircraft

The F-35B Lightning II is intended to enter service around 2020 under the Joint Combat Aircraft programme.[91] On 19 July 2012 the Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond, in a speech in the USA, indicated that the UK would initially receive 48 F-35B to equip the Navy's carrier fleet and would announce at a later date what the final numbers would be. Jon Thompson, MOD Permanent Secretary, told the House of Commons Defence Select Committee, in late 2012: "Our commitment over the first 10 years is for 48 F-35B". An order for the first 14 aircraft on top of the four already procured for operational test and evaluation is expected later in 2013. The first four of 14 production aircraft were ordered in November 2014.[92] On 24 May 2015 there was a further order for four aircraft,[92] while further contracts will be placed for the remaining six aircraft. The remaining six aircraft were ordered on 3 November 2015,[92] with expected delivery in 2016. In November 2015, the government commitment to order 48 F35B aircraft by 2023,[93] 24 of which will be available for carrier duties.[94] The 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review stated the intent for the UK to purchase 138 F-35 aircraft over the life of the programme.[94]

Project Taranis is a technology demonstrator programme, possibly leading to a future Strategic Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) for both ground attack and reconnaissance roles.[95]

The BAE Mantis is another UCAV under development, with an autonomous capability, allowing it to fly itself through an entire mission. This is a potential candidate to fulfill a requirement for an ISTAR UAV to enter service after 2015 as part of the RAF's Scavenger programme.[96] On 5 October 2015, it was announced that the Scavenger programme had been replaced by "Protector", a new requirement for at least 20 systems.[97] On 7 October 2015, it was revealed that Protector will be a derivative of the MQ-9 Reaper with enhanced range and endurance.[98]

In July 2014 the House of Common Defence Select Committee released a report on the RAF future force structure that envisaged a mixture of unmanned and manned platforms, including a UCAV such as Taranis and further orders of F-35s, a service life extension for the Eurofighter (which would otherwise end its service in 2030) or a possible new manned aircraft.[99]

The Tutor, Tucano and King Air training aircraft are due to be replaced in the next few years through the implentation of the UK Military Flying Training System, a public-private partnership which has seen flying training for the Royal Air Force privatised and handed over to a civilian contractor, although military instructors remain. This will see the introduction of the Grob 'Prefect', the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II and the Embraer Phenom 100 into RAF service.

In November 2015, the Government confirmed in its latest Strategic Defence and Security Review that 9 Boeing P-8 Poseidon aircraft will be purchased for surveillance, anti-submarine and anti-surface ship warfare.[100]

Boeing P-8 Poseidon 
F-35 Lightning II 
A BAE Taranis prototype's test flight 
Novel Air Concept 

Increase of fast jet squadrons

On 20 September 2015, The Sunday Times reported that the number of fast jet squadrons would increase due to threats posed by Islamic State and Russia.[101] This was later officially confirmed by the government in its 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) which outlined the government's commitment to 138 F-35 Lightning IIs and two additional Typhoon squadrons. On 4 December 2015, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford announced his plans for one more combat squadron, in addition to the three outlined in the SDSR, to bring the total number of combat squadrons to ten.[102]

Symbols, flags, emblems and uniform

Royal Air Force Ensign
Queen's Colour

Following the tradition of the other British fighting services, the RAF has adopted symbols to represent it, use as rallying devices for members and promote esprit de corps.

The RAF Ensign is flown from the flagstaff on every RAF station during daylight hours. The design was approved by King George V in 1921, after much opposition from the Admiralty, who have the right to approve or veto any flag flown ashore or on board ship.

British aircraft in the early stages of the First World War carried the Union Flag as an identifying feature, however this was easy to confuse with Germany's Iron Cross motif. Therefore, in October 1914 the French system of three concentric rings was adopted, with the colours reversed to a red disc surrounded by a white ring and an outer blue ring. The relative sizes of the rings have changed over the years and during World War II an outer yellow ring was added. Aircraft serving in the Far East during World War II had the red disc removed to prevent confusion with Japanese aircraft. Since the 1970s, camouflaged aircraft carry low-visibility roundels, either red and blue on dark camouflage, or washed-out pink and light blue on light colours. Most uncamouflaged training and transport aircraft retain the traditional red-white-blue roundel.

The Latin motto of the RAF, "Per Ardua ad Astra", is usually translated as "Through Adversity to the Stars",[103] but the RAF's official translation is "Through Struggle to the Stars".[1] The choice of motto is attributed to a junior officer named J S Yule, in response to a request from a commander of the RFC, Colonel Sykes, for suggestions. The RAF inherited the motto from the RFC.

The Badge of the Royal Air Force was first used in August 1918. In heraldic terms it is: "In front of a circle inscribed with the motto Per Ardua Ad Astra and ensigned by the Imperial Crown an eagle volant and affronte Head lowered and to the sinister."[103] Although there have been debates among airmen over the years whether the bird was originally meant to be an albatross or an eagle, the consensus is that it was always an eagle.[104]

In 2006 the RAF adopted a logotype featuring a roundel and the Service's unabbreviated name (shown at the top of this article). The logotype is used on all correspondence and publicity material and aims to provide the Service with a single, universally recognisable brand identity.

Ceremonial functions and display

Red Arrows

Red Arrows flying in 2011
Main article: Red Arrows

The Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, is the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Scampton, with under-review plans to move to RAF Waddington. The team was formed in late 1964 as an all-RAF team, replacing a number of unofficial teams that had been sponsored by RAF commands.

The Red Arrows badge shows the aircraft in their trademark Diamond Nine formation, with the motto Éclat, a French word meaning "brilliance" or "excellence".

Initially, they were equipped with seven Folland Gnat trainers inherited from the RAF Yellowjacks display team. This aircraft was chosen because it was less expensive to operate than front-line fighters. In their first season, they flew at 65 shows across Europe. In 1966, the team was increased to nine members, enabling them to develop their Diamond Nine formation. In late 1979, they switched to the BAE Hawk trainer. The Red Arrows have performed over 4,000 displays worldwide in 53 countries.[105]

Royal Air Force music

Headquarters Royal Air Force Music Services, located at RAF Northolt, supports 177 professional musicians who attend events around the globe in support of the RAF. RAF Music Services were established in 1921, although the first RAF Director of Music was appointed in 1918. The Music Services were expanded for World War II and in the post war years there were ten established bands. Since then, Music Services has gradually been reduced in size and today comprises:

Overseas deployments

The current or regular overseas deployments of the Royal Air Force are as follows:

Country Dates Deployment Details
Gibraltar 1940s–present RAF Gibraltar No permanently stationed aircraft. RAF aircraft (e.g., Hercules transports) make regular visits.
Cyprus 1940–present RAF Akrotiri
RAF Nicosia 		During the Suez Crisis, Operation Musketeer involved RAF aircraft based on Cyprus. Today, RAF aircraft are stationed at RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus as part of British Forces Cyprus, from where, in 2014, aircraft were deployed in the intervention against ISIS.
Norway 1960s–present Bardufoss Air Station RAF fighter and/or helicopter squadrons undergo winter-training here most years.
Ascension Island 1982–present RAF Ascension Island Used as an air bridge between the UK and the Falkland Islands. United States Air Force personnel are also stationed at this base.
Falkland Islands 1982–present RAF Stanley
RAF Mount Pleasant 		After initial use of the Airport at Stanley, the airbase/airport at Mount Pleasant was built to allow a fighter and transport facility on the islands, and to strengthen the defence capacity of BFFI (British Forces Falkland Islands). BFFI now replaced by BFSAI (British Forces South Atlantic Islands).
United States 2009–present Creech AFB, Nevada Operation of MQ-9 Reaper UAVs by No. 39 Squadron RAF.[106]
Qatar 2005–present RAF Al Udeid, Al Udeid Air Base Previously used in support of British operations in Iraq and Afghanistan (Op. Telic and Op. Herrick respectively), Al Udeid is currently in use as a Middle Eastern base for the RAF as well as being the headquarters for the RAF contribution against ISIL on Op. Shader. Currently an RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft is based there.

The following is an incomplete list of previous deployments:

Country Dates Deployment Details
Canada 1940s–2005 RAF Unit Goose Bay, Canada RAF aircraft trained in low-level tactical flying at CFB Goose Bay, a NATO air force base of the Royal Canadian Air Force.[107]
Bosnia 1995–2007 Various helicopters RAF enforced no-fly zones over the Balkans in the late 1990s and participated in the NATO interventions in Bosnia and Kosovo. RAF helicopters remained to provide support to the United Nations.
Afghanistan and Persian Gulf 2001–2014 Operation Veritas
Operation Herrick 		Chinooks provided airlift support to coalition forces. Additionally Merlin helicopters began tasking in late 2009 following the end of Operation Telic (Iraq). Since late 2004 six BAe Harriers provided reconnaissance and close air support to the ISAF. The Harriers were replaced by an equivalent force of Tornado GR4 in mid-2009. In August 2010, the Tornado force was uplifted to 10 aircraft. Other support units are deployed to Muscat International Airport in Oman, and air bases in the UAE and the Kingdom of Bahrain.[108] Combat operations within Helmand Province ended on 26 October 2014.
Iraq 2003–2011 Operation Telic
Operation Kipion
 During the initial invasion, British strike fighters were used. Support aircraft such as the Hercules C130, Puma helicopter and Merlin helicopter stayed in Iraq until the withdrawal in 2009. The Merlin helicopters were the last RAF aircraft to leave Iraq.[109]
Kenya 2008–2012 Kenya Air Force Laikipia Air Base Semi permanent detachment which involved helicopters giving support to the British Army
Libya 2011 Operation Ellamy Enforcement of no fly zone in Libya according to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973.[110]
Malta 1940–1979 RAF Luqa During the Suez Crisis, Operation Musketeer involved RAF aircraft based on Malta.

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Since April 2013, MoD publications no longer report the entire strength of the Regular Reserve, instead, only Regular Reserves serving under a fixed-term reserve contract are counted. These contracts are similar in nature to the RAuxAF.

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 "Frequently Asked Questions". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  2. ↑ Military Aircraft:Written question – 225369 (House of Commons Hansard), parliament.uk, March 2015
  3. ↑ "RAF Timeline 1918–1929". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  4. 1 2 "World War I". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  5. ↑ Air Power and Colonial Control: The Royal Air Force, 1919–1939 By David E. Omissi, Published 1 January 1990, Retrieved 1 February 2014. Page 8.
  6. ↑ BBC: Fact File : The RAF, retrieved 1 February 2014
  7. ↑ "Role of the RAF". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  8. ↑ "Role of Air Power". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  9. ↑ Nick Harvey, Minister of State for the Armed Forces (31 January 2012). "Military Aircraft". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons.
  10. ↑ Royal Air Force: Our high-tech gear, retrieved 1 February 2014
  11. ↑ Tami Davis Biddle, "British and American Approaches to Strategic Bombing: Their Origins and Implementation in the World War II Combined Bomber Offensive," Journal of Strategic Studies, March 1995, Vol. 18 Issue 1, pp 91–144; Tami Davis Biddle, Rhetoric and Reality in Air Warfare: The Evolution of British and American Ideas about Strategic Bombing, 1914–1945 (2002)
  12. ↑ RCAF Archives Archived 18 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine.
  13. ↑ "Explore: 'The Angry Sky'". ww2australia.gov.au. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  14. ↑ "The Few". The Churchill Centre. Retrieved 29 April 2011. The gratitude of every home in our island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of the world war by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.
  15. ↑ Paul Brickhill, The Dambusters
  16. ↑ "RAF Timeline 1945–1949". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  17. ↑ "RAF Timeline 1960–1969". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  18. ↑ Ashworth 1989, p.26.
  19. ↑ Evans 1998, pp. 74–75.
  20. ↑ "Argentine Aircraft Lost – Falklands War 1982". Naval-history.net. 1982-06-15. Retrieved 2010-03-23.
  21. ↑ Royal Air Force: Expeditionary Air Force, raf.mod.uk
  22. ↑ "90th Anniversary Flypast in London". RAF News Archives. 1 April 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  23. ↑ BBC News Media Player
  24. ↑ "Flypast marks RAF's anniversary". BBC News. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  25. ↑ "Lots of Losers in U.K. Defense Review". DefenseNews. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  26. ↑ "MoD image description". mod.uk. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  27. ↑ RAF Typhoons intercept Russian bombers (flightglobal.com), 27 October 2011
  28. ↑ Hansard (publications.parliament.uk), 24 January 2014
  29. ↑ UK Ministry of Defence press release 20th September 2012
  30. ↑ "Farewell to RAF UK Search & Rescue". raf.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  31. ↑ "RAF Command". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  32. ↑ "Airfield Guide: Waddington (RAF)". scramble.nl.
  33. ↑ "RAF Command". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  34. ↑ "6 Flying Training School". RAF.mod.uk. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  35. ↑ "Fly-past for Britain's oldest man". BBC News. 3 June 2006. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  36. ↑ gov.uk MoD – regular personnel, table 2 page 8. 1 January 2015.
  37. ↑ gov.uk MoD – quarterly personnel report, table 4 page 9. 1 January 2015.
  38. ↑ dasa.mod – reserves and cadet strengths, table 4 page 6. April 2012.
  39. ↑ gov.uk MoD – reserves and cadet strengths, table 4 page 13. See note 2. April 2014.
  40. ↑ gov.uk MoD – reserves and cadet strengths, table 4 page 13. April 2014.
  41. ↑ IISS 2012, pp. 171
  42. ↑ IISS 2012, pp. 111–120
  43. ↑ "Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  44. ↑ "Pilot". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  45. ↑ "Weapon Systems Operator". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  46. ↑ "Logistics Officer". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  47. ↑ "Engineer Officer". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  48. ↑ "Flight Operations Officer". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  49. ↑ "The RAF Regiment – Roles". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  50. ↑ "No 26 Squadron RAF Regiment". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  51. ↑ "Aerospace Battle Manager". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  52. ↑ "Intelligence Officer". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  53. ↑ "Medical Officer". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  54. ↑ "Personnel Support". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  55. ↑ "Chaplain". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  56. ↑ "Legal Officer". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  57. ↑ "RAF Police". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  58. 1 2 "Typhoon FGR4". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  59. ↑ Jennings, Gareth (22 September 2014). "RAF Lossiemouth undertakes first QRA North scramble". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 1 February 2015.
  60. ↑ "UK retires last Tornado F3 fighters". Craig Hoyle (Flightglobal). 22 March 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2011
  61. ↑ Air base in front line fully-armed – Salisbury Journal, 29 October 2007
  62. ↑ "Typhoon aircraft relocate to RAF Lossiemouth". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  63. ↑ "Tornado GR4/GR4A". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 15 August 2012
  64. ↑ "UK retires ALARM missile" January 21, 2014
  65. ↑ AirForcesMonthly.August 2008.p9
  66. ↑ "To Boost Strike Force, UK Delays Retiring Jets". Defense News. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  67. ↑ "Orbats – Scramble". Scramble.nl. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
  68. ↑ "UK Tornado fleet to retire in 2019, says BAE". Flightglobal.com. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-04.
  69. ↑ "BBC News – RAF Marham base for Joint Strike Fighter". Bbc.co.uk. 2013-03-25. Retrieved 2013-07-08.
  70. ↑ "UK converts King Air 350s into ISTAR platforms". defence-solutions.co.uk. 13 January 2009. Retrieved 16 February 2009.
  71. ↑ "Tornado GR4A". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  72. ↑ "Armed drones operated from RAF base in UK, says MoD". BBC News. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  73. ↑ "Aircraft and Equipment". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  74. ↑ "Nimrod R1 aircraft in final flight for RAF". BBC News. 28 June 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  75. ↑ Ministry of Defence (2010-12-22). "Rivet Joint joins Future Force 2020". Mod.uk. Retrieved 2013-09-13.
  76. ↑ "Iraq: 'Secret' Surveillance Flights Revealed". Sky News. 16 November 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  77. ↑ Pike, John. "Royal Air Force to Acquire 7th Boeing C-17 Globemaster III". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  78. ↑ "UK to buy eighth C-17 transport". Flight International. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  79. ↑ "New RAF C-17 aircraft touches down in the UK". Ministry of Defence. 24 May 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  80. ↑ "Voyager, biggest plane in RAF history, arrives in UK". BBC News. 19 April 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  81. ↑ "Airbus Military's A330 MRTT begins its service career with the UK Royal Air Force". Airbus. 9 April 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  82. ↑ Hoyle, Craig (21 May 2013). "RAF Voyager launches tanker operations with Tornado". Flight International. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  83. ↑ "RAF, USAF Work On Rivet Joint Refueling Deal.". Aviationweek.com. 5 July 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  84. ↑ "The National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015: A Secure and Prosperous United Kingdom" (PDF). gov.uk. Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  85. ↑ "Royal Air Force – A400M". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  86. ↑ "MOD signs contracts and agreements for new RAF aircraft and weapons". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 2 April 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  87. ↑ "BAE Systems wins £15.5 million MOD contract for the Royal Air Force". BAE Systems. 21 June 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  88. ↑ "BAe 146 C.Mk 3 aircraft delivered to the UK Royal Air Force". BAE Systems. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  89. ↑ "BAe146 C Mk 3". Royal Air Force. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  90. ↑ Brazier MP, Julian. "Air Cadet Aviation Relaunch: Written statement - HCWS605". parliament.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  91. ↑ "U.K. Makes F-35 U-Turn to Cut Costs, Narrow Carrier-Defense Gap." Bloomberg News, 10 May 2012.
  92. 1 2 3 Prince of Wales aircraft carrier ‘makes little sense’ without aircraft to fly from it, The Guardian. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  93. ↑ Defence Review: Fighting old battles?, BBC News. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  94. 1 2 "National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015" (PDF). www.gov.uk. HM Government. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  95. ↑ "Strategic Unmanned Air Vehicles (Experiment) Integrated Project Team". Ministry of Defence. 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  96. ↑ "BAE hails Mantis UAV success, nears Taranis roll-out". Flightglobal.com. 2010-06-30. Retrieved 2013-09-13.
  97. ↑ "'Protector' UAV fleet to replace RAF Reapers". Flightglobal. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  98. ↑ "MoD reveals Reaper derivative will be chosen for Protector". Flightglobal. 7 October 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  99. ↑ "UK sets out post-2030 combat aviation force structure". Janes. 29 July 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  100. ↑ "Defence review: Main developments at a glance". BBC News. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  101. ↑ "RAF squadrons will double to face Isis and Russian threat". The Sunday Times. 20 September 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  102. ↑ "UK Air Chief Hopes To Add Combat Squadron". Defense News. 4 December 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  103. 1 2 Air Ministry Orders A.666/49, 15 September 1949
  104. ↑ W/C F.H. Hitchins. "It's an albatross, it's an eagle ... it's an eagle". Forces.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  105. ↑ Official Red Arrows website. "Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows". Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  106. ↑ "Nevada". RAF. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  107. ↑ "British take their leave from Goose Bay". CBC News. 31 March 2005. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  108. ↑ Tornados Bound for Kandahar, AirForces Monthly, August 2008 issue, p. 8.
  109. ↑ "Iraq (Operation KIPION)". RAF. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-04.
  110. ↑ "Libya – Operation ELLAMY". Royal Air Force. 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.

Bibliography

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