Utilising its Litening III Reconnaisance Pod, the crew of a GR4 spotted unusual activity on the ground in Farah Province this week. This activity was positively identified as Insurgents planting a roadside IED which, as a result of the crews swift reporting action, was safely deactivated by a US EOD team. The pods ability to relay electro-optic and infra-red full motion video to commanders on the ground highlighted the Tornado’s key role in the Counter-IED war; providing 14 IED threat warnings this week alone.

Photography: RAF/MOD Crown Copyright 2011