Ops Update 28 Nov 2010

Control of the Air

‘Trinity Ops’ sits in the heart of ISAF Joint Control situated at Kabul International Airport. Trinity is manned by coalition Air Force personnel and is directly involved in assisting ISAF Troops In Contact (TIC). At a moment’s notice Trinity Ops can go from routine control of Close Air Support assets on airborne stand-by in ‘CAS taxi-ranks’ to a controlled frenzy of activity dealing with multiple TICs. A trial has just successfully concluded of BACN (Battlefield Airborne Communications Node), effectively an airborne repeater station that allows improved coverage of Northern Afghanistan. Such was the performance of BACN it is hoped to be brought into full service before the end of this year.

RAF Waddington based 8 Sqn AWACs E-3Ds have completed a rehearsal of concept exercise, EX AIR KHANJAR, in the United Arab Emirates, alongside the Typhoons of XI Sqn. The airborne Command & Control assets offer information superiority to Commanders and act as a force multiplier to the already potent Typhoon aircraft, from RAF Conningsby based XI Sqn, that they have been exercising with.

Intelligence & Situational Awareness

RAPTOR pods fitted to Tornado GR4s have achieved an impressive 100% of their planned missions across wide swathes of Afghanistan. The gathered imagery is processed by deployed personnel from RAF Marham’s Tactical Imagery Wing is an extremely valued contribution to Counter-IED operations by ISAF ground Commanders.

Much like RAPTOR missions, Reaper is tasked to support operations well beyond the Task Force Helmand mission area and its ISR contribution is used dynamically in ISAF intelligence fusion centres. Once again Reaper’s Combat ISTAR pedigree has delivered precision effect in attacking positively identified insurgents committing hostile acts against ANSF and ISAF forces.

RAF Waddington based Nimrod R1’s deployed to a Middle Eastern airbase have continued to provide “Gold Standard” intelligence, according to coalition partners, for its support to the major ANSF led ISAF offensive against Insurgent held territory within Kandahar province.

Air Mobility/Lift

RAF Brize Norton’s VC10s deployed to support Op HERRICK have continued to supply air-to-air refuelling for numerous coalition nations operating in the airspace above Afghanistan.

A remarkably busy period for the HS 125s of the RAF’s Communications Fleet, which included transporting the PUS Mrs Ursula Brennen and the Chief of the Defence Staff of their initial tour of the Afghanistan and the Middle East.

Of note this week for the C-130 Hercules deployed to 904 EAW at Kandahar Airfield was the first Air Drop of CDS containers in Op HERRICK 13 to support 16 Air Assault Brigade Units.

RAF Merlins In Action In Afghanistan

Attack

Tornado GR4s of Number 14 Sqn deployed at Kandahar Airfield have had one of their busiest weeks so far in their tour. They flew all of their tasked sorties plus also launched (Ground) Close Air Support sorties in direct support to ISAF ground Troops In Contact. Dual Mode Seeker Brimstone has once again provided potent and precise effect in stopping insurgents positively identified in emplacing IEDs.

In the same week several Shows of Force have achieved the Ground Commanders intent of deterring enemy activity and allowing friendly ground troops to either evade or break contact from insurgents.

Editor: Sqn Ldr P R Lipscomb.

Photography: RAF/MOD/Crown Copyright 2010.