Exercise Crimson Warrior held in October through to 5th November 2020, was the largest military exercise run by the RAF in the UK for over a decade.
The exercise saw the RAF, Royal Navy and United States Marine Corps and United States Air Force fast jets, Air Mobility aircraft and helicopters operating from a number of RAF Stations across the Country. At its peak, Crimson Warrior saw over 70 aircraft conducting high intensity tactical training together over the North Sea and North East of England.
A development of the regular Cobra Warrior exercises, widely regarded as the most challenging training for aircrew and the final step for those seeking to qualify as Qualified Weapons Instructors (QWI), Qualified Multi-Engine Tactics Instructors, QWI Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance and Qualified Space Instructors Course.
The Voyager deploying forward from RAF Brize Norton took part in the exercise, providing vital air-to-air refuelling (AAR) support for the fast jets. The RAF’s sole AAR tanker provided dynamic support to the fast jets by utilising its two underwing pods for refuelling, providing the ability to operate a towline, often with a number of receivers to refuel at once.
Wing Commander Mike Udall, Officer Commanding 101 Squadron said:
“Exercise Crimson Warrior offered Voyager Force a superb opportunity to expose our crews to an operational training environment while gaining valuable experience working with aircraft from HMS Queen Elizabeth and our allies. Providing safe, reliable and timely air to air refuelling is a key exercise enabler. It demonstrated Voyager’s unique role in Defence both at home and overseas.”
Wing Commander Mike Udall
Officer Commanding, Number 101 Squadron
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For the first time, the A400M Atlas took part in this combined air operations exercise, with XXIV and LXX Squadron’s each playing an active role in the exercise. Developing tactical capabilities of the A400M, XXIV Squadron combined a low-level training sortie whilst simulating the insertion of paratroopers on one occasion. LXX Squadron simulated an enemy paratroop drop, which also involved fast jets to simulate enemy threat radars and provide Electronic Warfare training.
Sergeant Ben Worley, Air Loadmaster, LXX Squadron said:
“During both exercises the A400M simulated both red and blue air, encountering enemy forces. This provided essential training to the crews both on the A400M and on the fighter force; as the first time an A400M had been involved in an exercise with multiple aircraft from other nations and stations from around the UK. There were many points learnt from our involvement and the Atlas Force are looking forward to being able to join future exercises.”
Sergeant Ben Worley
Air Loadmaster, Number LXX Squadron
The exercise developed and tested the tactical leadership skills of aircrew and supporting personnel within highly complex training scenarios. Aimed to develop their abilities to devise, plan and practice tactics and procedures in a realistic environment against a capable simulated adversary.
