Control of the Air

A vital aspect of Control of the Air is the Force Protection (FP) required to ensure that airpower can projected safely from an airfield; whether that be back in the UK, in a friendly Host Nation, or in a hostile environment such as Afghanistan. This vital role is being conducted by 15 Sqn and 34 Sqn RAF Regt at Kandahar Airfield (KAF) and Bastion Airfields. The Sqns conduct both foot and vehicle patrols beyond ‘the wire’ to deter insurgent activity that could threaten air operations or personnel and equipment at the airfield. Tornado GR4s from KAF have conducted Litening III imagery reconnaissance missions to directly support 15 Sqn in their FP task this week.

Intelligence and Situational Awareness

39 Sqn’s aircraft numbers in theatre have increased this week. The speed and ease of construction of a Reaper is greatly enhanced by it being delivered almost in kit form. Reapers have continued to support ISAF Ground Commanders in a variety of tasks throughout RC(SW) and RC(S). 39 Sqn now has additional resilience to allow for increased tasking or planned maintenance on the Reapers.

Nimrod R1 aircraft of 51 Sqn, based from RAF Waddington, operating out of 902 EAW’s Middle Eastern Airbase have played pivotal roles in major ISAF operations. The work has helped identify suspicious activity and cross cue the information to other Coalition ISR platforms. The support of Nimrod’s ‘gold standard’ capabilities is keenly sought by Coalition commanders.

RN SKASaCs helicopters have been actively supporting Task Force Helmand and Task Force Leatherneck this week. The information is used in great detail in planning operational missions and the helicopter can also be retasked to other higher priority task while airborne.

Air Mobility/Lift

Air Travel problems across the UK compounded the R&R flights before Christmas, however, huge efforts by RAF personnel throughout the AT chain, including Army Movements staff, ensured that everyone who was due home before Christmas did get home. The necessary rerouting of flights through the 2^nd Air Line Of Communication, at 901 EAW B Flight’s location in the Middle East, caused unprecedented numbers of passengers to handled through this challenging week. The 901 EAW B Flight’s close relationship with other Coalition Forces based there paid huge dividends, with particular assistance from Dutch colleagues.

VC10s of 101 Sqn, based at 902 EAW, clocked up an impressive feat in the run up to Christmas. The Air-to-Air refuellers of 101 Sqn marked 101 days of continuous Ops by launching 2 aircraft together to rehearse buddy-buddy refuelling, an essential operational requirement. They also were programmed to refuel Rafale and Super Etendard combat aircraft from the French Aircraft Carrier Charles De Gaulle, which is a routine example of the types of Coalition aircraft that the 101 Sqn VC10s have refuelled over their remarkable 101 days of continuous ops over Afghanistan.

The Comms Fleet has had a busy week carrying VIPs into and around theatre. The Comms Fleet is often used to backfill taskings around the Middle East and Afghanistan, whether that be personnel or equipment that need to be moved urgently.

Attack

The Tornado GR4s of 14 Sqn have spent the majority of their effort this week supporting Op HAMKARI with both armed overwatch and ISR missions. However, nearly half of their sorties this week have been supporting Task Force Helmand and wider UK operations. On top of some significant Counter-IED reconnaissance work Ground Commanders were assisting in achieving their intent by several Shows of Presence and Shows of Force.

Editor: Sqn Ldr P R Lipscomb.

Photography: RAF/MOD Crown Copyright 2010.