Number 34 Expeditionary Air Wing

The Royal Air Force has six UK-based Expeditionary Air Wings that can deploy for operations overseas. They bring together all the elements needed to support operations, which as well as the aircraft and the engineering and operations support elements, include accommodation, personnel, medical and welfare services, catering, and Force Protection which protects the bases as they are established.

Deployed Operational Training

The Royal Air Force has to meet increasing demands, especially to operate from new and challenging environments. We need to train our personnel to establish and operate a deployed base in an environment where self-support is vital, both to be effective and to make sure that safety, understanding of the environment, working with NATO partners, and good working practices become second nature.

Exercise Deployed Titan took place at RAF Fairford in September 2006 in order to give 34 Expeditionary Air Wing the opportunity to practice in a safe and controlled environment."

As well as the personnel and assets from RAF Waddington, elements were brought in from elsewhere. For example Ground Based Air Defence using Rapier missiles from the Royal Artillery joined the exercised and the Army also took the opportunity to test its deployable laundry service, recognising the need for personnel to have access to hygienic clothes during active service.

34 EAW recently stood down after 18 months on standby from 1 July 2008 until 31December 2009.