RAF and Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan) Weekly Ops Update 22 – 28 Jan 12

Air Mobility and Lift

The VC10s of 101 Sqn, successfully completing all of their planned missions. Thorough planning and flexibility have ensured that they delivered over 120 tonnes of fuel to coalition aircraft. The main receivers continue to be from the US Navy utilising the ‘probe and drogue’ capability of the VC10 with 25 deliveries to a number of variants of F-18. The remaining fuelling brackets were also in support of the US Navy and its’ EA6B Prowlers. This was critical to ensuring that coalition airpower delivered armed overwatch, Shows of Force or Close Air Support to troops on the ground across Afghanistan.

Attack

Despite a period of extremely inclement weather in Afghanistan this week, the Tornado GR4s of 12(B) Sqn, operating from 904 EAW at Kandahar have continued to deliver their key capabilities in support of a number of coalition ground forces. There were two Shows of Force (SofF), which were carried out to deter a range of insurgent activity across Afghanistan. The first was in support of US troops operating in Konduz province in RC(N). The second involved ISAF troops extracting a large cache of weapons and explosives in RC(E) where the SofF was sufficient to deter any potential action by insurgents in the area. Once again the Sqn undertook a number highly successful RAPTOR missions to collect data on Points of Interest, which provide essential intelligence data in support of ground commanders.

ISTAR

Intelligence and Situational Awareness

The 39 Sqn Reaper detachment, operating from Kandahar airfield continue to provide detailed imagery and intelligence crucial to ground commanders. This week they have delivered approx 107 hours of full motion video (FMV). The FMV products are used extensively by ground forces operating as part of Task Force Helmand and the US Marine Corps of Task Force Leatherneck.

The Sentinel R1 aircraft of V(AC) Sqn continued to keep a watchful eye on ground activity in Afghanistan and quickly report any new activity to ground commanders. Primarily, their tasking was in support of operations being undertaken across Helmand province. The majority of the activity was to provide pattern of life data in support of a number of disparate operations led by the US Marine Corps of Task Force Leatherneck and UK ground forces operating as part of Task Force Helmand. Sentinels GMTI product continues to be highly sought after and this week saw V(AC) Sqn fly approximately 30 hours.

Editor: Sqn Ldr N J Mcallister

RAF/MOD Crown Copyright 2012.