The control of the low level airspace over Regional Command (South West) (RC(SW)) has been simplified by the introduction of a single coalition organization called OVERLORD. This enhancement merges 2 previously separate organizations and has included an expansion of their control area in a rationalization of Battlespace Management Areas.

Intelligence and Situational Awareness

RAF 39 Sqn Reapers have continued to support ISAF Ground Commanders’ pre-mission planning and dynamic information superiority. Reapers ability to ‘spotlight’ specific objects means that it works effectively in a layered effect with other ISTAR platforms such as Sentinel or SKASaCs, or even coalition assets such as JSTARS, which all provide wide area surveillance.

RN SKASaCs helicopters working from 903 EAW at Bastion Airfield have been actively supporting ISAF Operations in and around RC(SW). Recent significant operational successes for Ground Commanders have given rise to increased exploitation of the Ground Moving Target Indicator and growing confidence in its capability to support ground operations.

Normal resilience and redundancy to cope with unexpected problems and unserviceabilities has been compounded by the poor weather across the UK. Along with many major weather affected airports and airfields across the UK the Strategic Air Transport air bridge has been considerably stretched.

VC10s of 101 Sqn based at 902 EAW in the Middle East have provided essential Air-to-air refuelling to extend the range and time on station for coalitional and UK aircraft involved in supporting ground troops.

The Hercules Detachments of both 901 and 903 EAW have had an extremely busy period this week. On top of their normal support to UK troop and cargo movements they have again had the capacity to help deliver Christmas mail for American coalition colleagues. Additional they helped demonstrate the value of Air Mobility by supporting the USMC with an Air Drop of essential cargo to ground troops.

Attack

Reapers have been used 5 times this week to prosecute precise and proportional attacks against insurgents conducting hostile acts against Afghan and ISAF troops. The versatility of the attacks against a variety of mobile and static enemy forces resulted in no collateral damage whilst executing the ground commanders intent. The great benefit that the Reaper has in tactical patience, the ability to spend considerable time building up detailed situational awareness and positively identify individuals and objects on the ground, has been exploited several times this week when meticulously planned attacks were called off due to civilians and children moved to within potential danger areas.

The Tornado GR4s of 14 Sqn, supported by 903 EAW at Kandahar Airfield, have continued to support Op HAMKARI with armed overwatch and ISR work. In one event a 14 Sqn GR4 conducted a Show of Presence over a group of compounds to deter insurgents from taking up positions against ISAF ground troops. On another urgent Close Air Support mission, when there was no time to use the normal escalation of force as the insurgents were already attacking a Friendly Forces convoy, once the enemy force was positively identified a Paveway IV bomb was released to bring the attack to a halt.

Editor: Paul Lipscomb.

Photography: RAF/MOD Crown Copyright 2010.