Tactical Imagery Intelligence Wing (TIW)

Tactical Imagery-Intelligence Wing (TIW) is a 1 Group 'Force Element', which conveys a broadly similar status to that of a flying squadron. TIW specialises in the exploitation of Electro-Optical (EO) and Infra-Red (IR) imagery, producing Intelligence Products for customers in direct support of deployed operations. Imagery is derived from a range of sensors, including the Reconnaissance Airborne Pod for Tornado (RAPTOR), carried on the Tornado GR4 and the Digital Joint Reconnaissance Pod (DJRP), carried on Harrier and Tornado GR4. TIW is also engaged in the exploitation of Full Motion Imagery collected by the ever-growing number of UAVs deployed on operations.

TIW formed in April 2002 from II (AC), XIII and 39 (1 PRU) Sqn Reconnaissance Intelligence Centres (RIC). No. 41 (F) Sqn RIC became part of TIW in April 2003. The formal grouping of what were previously four separate RICs brought benefits in ensuring a more coherent approach against a common set of standards.

Traditionally, TIW was considered to be part of the role known as tactical reconnaissance or 'tac recce'. As technology and techniques have evolved, the role of TIW has changed to cover a broad range of Intelligence, Surveillance, Target-Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) tasks.

Officer Commanding Tactical Imagery Intelligence Wing
WING COMMANDER A D HETTERLEY MA BA (Hons) MCMI RAF
OFFICER COMMANDING
TACTICAL IMAGERY INTELLIGENCE WING
ROYAL AIR FORCE MARHAM

Wing Commander Andy Hetterley joined the Royal Air Force in June 1997 as a graduate officer into the Operations Support (Intelligence) Branch. Following initial officer and basic intelligence training Andy’s first tour was as an Imagery Analyst at the Joint Air Reconnaissance Centre at RAF Brampton IN 1998.

After 2 years in post, which included a detachment to the Northern Ireland, Andy was posted to the Joint Force Air Component Headquarters at RAF High Wycombe as one of the Combat Ops Divisions Intelligence and targeting officers. The three years spent on this unit saw Andy participate in the first phase of Op VERITAS and in the planning and execution of the Op TELIC I. On both occasions this was within the Combined Air Operations Centre at Prince Sultan Air Base Saudi Arabia. On completion of that tour in 2003 he was posted to be a Flight Commander on Tactical Imagery Intelligence Wing. During 2 ½ years he undertook 2 detachments into Iraq in support of Op TELIC, 2 to Afghanistan in support of Op HERRICK and ORACLE and one to Al Udeid in Qatar in support of the UK Air Component Commander.

On completion of his tour in January 2006 Andy was promoted to Squadron Leader and posted to the Command Group of the Chief of Defence Intelligence within the Ministry of Defence working as a Staff Officer and later as MA to Director General Intelligence Capability. Following his time in London, Andy was detached as the A2/ Tgts SO2 to the Air Component Commander in Al Udeid and on return to the UK in July 2008 was posted as Support to Operations Squadron Commander at the Joint Service Signals Unit at RAF Digby.

In January 2010 Andy undertook the inaugural Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Qualified Weapons Instructors Course at RAF Waddington and on promotion to Wing Commander in July 2010 was posted to the Advanced Command and Staff Course at the Defence Academy Shrivenham.

At the completion of Staff College, Andy was posted into command of the Tactical Imagery Intelligence Wing, returning to RAF Marham in August 2011 – happy to be in command of a unit involved heavily in operations HERRICK and ELLAMY.