The RAF Typhoons from XI (Fighter) Squadron that are in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia taking part in this year’s Spears of Victory exercise are flying daily sorties as part of a large coalition of nations.
During the exercise the nations are flying together in mixed groups to conduct air operations against a simulated peer adversary. Each contingent during the missions is practicing conducting defensive counter air and offensive counter air operations, as well as air interdiction training against live and simulated threats.
“The RSAF and the RAF have a strong alliance that has continued to develop here on Spears of Victory 24, we look forward to working together in the future."
Colonel Alshehri Saeed
Royal Saudi Air Force Exercise Director
“The missions that are flown on Spears of Victory 24 are the centre piece of the exercise. Pilots and aircrew on a multinational exercise are able to build relationships through shared experiences."
Squadron Leader Hodgkinson
UK Detachment Commander
In addition to the RAF Typhoons taking part, the Royal Saudi Air Force are flying their Typhoons, Tornados and F-15s. F-16s are taking part from, Greece, and the UAE. The Saudi F-15s have been joined by others from Qatar, with the French Air and Space Force detachment contributing Rafales. The Pakistan Air Force are flying their JF-17s. The Royal Air Force of Oman are also flying Typhoons. The US contribution this year has been to allocate KC 135 sorties to add to the Air to Air Refuelling capability. In total, over 60 aircraft are taking part in the exercise this year.
“Whilst on Spears of Victory, a number of us will take part as the Mission commander, Deputy Mission commander, or a Package Lead.
“During one sortie I was the Air to Air package lead. What that means is whilst I am leading a formation of Typhoons, I'm also feeding into the bigger picture and in charge of other assets within the area of operations. With this being a network enabled exercise I not only have the situational awareness of my own formation, but also what other call signs are doing and that is a critical element of modern warfighting."
Flight Lieutenant ‘Boz’
RAF Typhoon pilot on the exercise
“This is an extremely important training opportunity for everyone who has deployed, the force enablers get the opportunity to work alongside strategic partners in the region as well as the fighter pilots who are carrying out the missions.
“We are all able to demonstrate the Combat Air capacity of the Typhoon Force, now, as never before, we strive for excellence in air dominance – collaborating with allies that have come together in a demonstration of their commitment to stability in the Broader Middle East."
Squadron Leader Hodgkinson
The two week exercise ends on February 15th.
