Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance

A new chapter for the RAF began in January 2005 when 1115 Flight was established at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, to operate US Air Force owned General Atomics M/RQ-1 Predator unmanned air vehicles (UAV). the 45 British tri-service personnel assigned to the unit trained in UAV operations and tactics before becoming ‘A’ Flight of 39 Squadron when it was re-established on 3 January 2007. ‘B’ Flight received the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (Predator B) to fulfil a UOR. The MQ-9s operate from Kandahar to provide a persistent ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) capability to British and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Further MQ-9s have been ordered, while the Joint UAV Experimentation Programme (JUEP) continues to look at UAV applications for other emerging requirements. UAVs are just part of the UK military’s emerging Network Enabled Capability, which will take information gathered from a variety of platforms and collate it into useful packages for the warfighter. RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, is the home of the RAF’s ISTAR activities. Here servicemen are assigned to the three operational squadrons which fly the RAF’s seven Boeing Sentry AEW.1s and three HS Nimrod R.1s, and 54(R) Squadron, which is responsible for ISTAR training and developing techniques. in addition, 5(AC) Squadron is in the process of introducing the ASTOR (Airborne Stand-Off Radar) system into service.

Sentry AEW.1s provide air and sea surveillance, airborne command and control, and weapons control, and serve as communications relay platforms. They are operated by 8 and 23 Squadrons as the British component of the NATO Airborne Early Warning Force. In early 2008, only six of the fleet were airworthy, although Northrop Grumman has been contracted to return the seventh to service by this November.

The Nimrod R.1 electronic intelligence platforms are extremely busy, operating not only in support of ongoing operations but also the routine monitoring of the electronic order of battles of potential enemies. Each carries a sophisticated suite of equipment manned by a crew of 24 reconnaissance-equipment operators, commanded by a mission supervisor.

ASTOR is a ground surveillance and information distribution system designed to provide near real-time data to British and Allied military forces, using a number of integral communications systems. It comprises airborne and ground components manned by servicemen from all three branches of the British armed forces. the Raytheon Sentinel R.1 acts as the airborne sensor platform, carrying a Raytheon Dual Mode AAR/MTI (synthetic aperture radar/moving target indicator). two transportable Ground Stations (GS) will be available to support deployed headquarters, while six mobile GS are being acquired for Division and Brigade formations.

No.5(AC) Squadron stood up at RAF Waddington on April 1, 2004. However, it was only on June 6, 2007, that the first Sentinel was delivered to the RAF. It was hoped that the system would achieve its in service Date (ISD) by the end of 2007 (defined as having two aircraft, two ground stations and two limited combat-ready crews), but this did not happen. An initial Operating Capability is due to be reached 15 months after ISD. it is planned that an ASTOR ground element will deploy to Afghanistan in 2008.

Though more closely associated with their primary maritime reconnaissance role, the Nimrod MR.2s based at RAF Kinloss, Moray, also undertake intelligence and communications support roles. The aircraft’s array of sensors, its large crew and its excellent communications make it ideal for the mission. Nimrods have undertaken electro-optic intelligence surveillance over Afghanistan and Iraq, for which an initial six aircraft were equipped with a Westcam MX15 turreted infra-red and EO sensor under the starboard wing. From the second half of 2007, the rest of the fleet was also due to receive the sensor.

However, the primary role of the Nimrod fleet remains anti-submarine and anti-surface unit warfare in which it is tasked by the Maritime Air Ops Centre at the Joint Northwood HQ and equipped with a wide range of sensors and weapons. The former include the AGM-84D Harpoon anti-ship missile and Sting Ray torpedo: AIM-9 Sidewinders can also be carried for self-defence.

The most frequently-reported role undertaken by the aircraft is search-and-rescue (SAR), for which it acts in support of the Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre, co-located at RAF Kinloss. In SAR operations, Nimrods can provide long-range search capabilities, co-ordinate activities as the On-Scene Commander at major incidents and/or provide support to the helicopters engaged in the rescue.