RAF and Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan) Weekly Ops Update 11 - 17 Jul 11

Attack

617 Squadron, the ‘Dambusters’, have handed over the mantle of being the resident Tornado GR4 Detachment in Afghanistan to 31 Squadron, the ‘Goldstars’, on 15 July 2011 at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. The seamless transition between RAF Lossiemouth based 617 squadron, and RAF Marham based 31 Squadron, will enable the sustainment of Tornado GR4 operations in Afghanistan, providing Close Air Support and Tactical Reconnaissance for British and Coalition Forces across Theatre. The handover highlighted how the Tornado GR4 continues to sustain concurrent operations in both HERRICK and ELLAMY, providing a vital role in both Theatres.

On a mission supporting US Marines east of Marjeh, Helmand province, a RAF MQ-9 Reaper provided surveillance on a group of insurgents approaching a US battalion. The Reaper crew and US ground troops positively identified the insurgents who were carrying assault weapons. The Reaper fired Hellfire missiles onto the insurgent position. A post attack search by the US Marines confirmed one insurgent killed and two PK 7.62 mm machine guns were recovered from the site. There were no civilian casualties.

ISTAR

Intelligence and Situational Awareness

Sea King Airborne Surveillance and Control (SKASaC) has provided Ground Target Moving Indication for the first time to Camp Bastion’s Force Protection units. The SKASaC provides near real time reporting to ground troops using the aircraft’s cutting edge radar system and is able to transmit information to other aircraft and a wide range of ground units, effectively painting a live picture of activity on the ground below the aircraft and for miles beyond. Also this week, SKASaC has been providing further support to the US Marine Corps Helicopter Assault Force on Operation AERO HUNTER.

Air Mobility and Lift

902 Expeditionary Air Wing’s detachment of VC10 air-to-air tankers have had a busy week refuelling Coalition fast jets over Afghanistan. This week they have supported US Navy FA-18 Hornets operating off the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier, Italian Air Force AMXs, French Air Force Mirages and RAF Tornado GR4s. The air-to-air refuelling capability provided by the VC10s allowed a pair of US Navy FA-18Cs to remain on task and respond to a group of Coalition troops in contact on the ground. On another sortie, French Mirages refuelled and retasked in-flight to provide armed overwatch on a Coalition convoy struck by an IED.

JHF(A)

Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan)

This week JHF(A) demonstrated its multi-national operational capability. On 15 Jul 11, aviation assets were involved in the infiltration, overwatch and exfiltration of 120 Danish ground troops for Op TUFFAAN QIMAT. Two Chinooks and two Apache aircraft were involved in the operation which took place in the vicinity Rahim to conduct a deliberate operation to disrupt and deter insurgent activities

Editor: Flt Lt E A Price

Photography: RAF/MOD Crown Copyright 2011