Air Defence
Air Defence
In addition to operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, the RAF provides the front line air defence for the UK. Until recently, this task fell to the Tornado F.3 Force, though it is now shared with the typhoon fleet.
Under a three-step programme (the steps known as tranches), the UK has a commitment to buy 232 Typhoons, with 55, 89 and 88 in tranches 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Initial examples were delivered in 2003 to 17(R) Squadron, the Operational Evaluation Unit, followed by 29(R) Squadron, the Operational Conversion Unit at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire. A total of 53 tranche 1 Typhoon T.1s and F.2s were delivered to the RAF as Block 1s (the early two-seaters), Block 2s (with the initial air-to-air capabilities) and Block 2Bs. Of these, 43 will be upgraded under the R2 retrofit (part of the Capability insertion Upgrade) to Block 5 standard to become T.3s or FGR.4s.
On 31 March 2006, 3(F) squadron stood down on Harriers, re-forming the next day with Typhoons in the air defence role. Two days earlier XI(F) squadron had officially stood up as the initial multi-role typhoon unit, and at some point in 2008 it will be the first to take the typhoon to Afghanistan to relieve the Harriers.
No.XI(F) squadron is tasked with developing the Typhoon’s air-to-surface capability with Block 5 aircraft, which is due to achieve a full operating capability in 2008. The first Block 5 was delivered to RAF Coningsby, on 6 August 2007, and on 14 November the type received a release-to-service to permit the use of laser-guided bombs (Paveway II) in conjunction with the Litening III pod. At that point, all Block 5 Typhoon F.2 single-seaters were re-designated as FGR.4s and two-seaters as T.3s.
Typhoons began Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) duty at RAF Coningsby on 29 June 2007, with 3(F) squadron the first assigned. standard QRA fit is two 200 gallon (1,000 litre) supersonic fuel tanks, four AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and four AIM-132 Advanced short-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (ASRAAM). Typhoon F.2s from both 3(F) and Xi(F) Squadrons made the aircraft’s first QRA scramble on 17 August 2007, intercepting a Russian Tupolev TU-95Ms Bear-H outside the UK’s 200 nautical mile (370km) Exclusive Economic Zone. In early 2008, Typhoons will take over the southern QRA alert completely, instead of sharing it with the Tornado F.3 force, although it will be later this decade before it assumes the northern QRA at RAF Leuchars.
It was planned that 6 Squadron would be next with Typhoons, becoming the first with the type at RAF Leuchars. However, the recent deal for 72 Typhoons for Saudi Arabia may change this plan, and it will also extend the service career of the Tornado F.3.
In early 2008, the F.3 remains in service with XXV(F) squadron at RAF Leeming, and 43(F), 56(R) and 111(F) squadrons at RAF Leuchars. The operational squadrons usually have around 15 aircraft and 20 aircrews on strength, while 56 (R) has a smaller complement of 12 crews to fulfil its operational conversion role. One crew from each squadron is assigned to 1435 Flight to provide air defence for the Falkland islands. At the end of March 2008 XXV(F) squadron will disband, followed soon afterwards by 56(R) squadron, its training role passing to 43(F) squadron. At this point it is planned that 36 F.3 aircrews will be available for the two surviving squadrons and flight.