Page 5 - issue03.05.2019
P. 5
Royal Air Force News Friday, May 3, 2019 P5
News
‘Must Daesh, we’re
needed in Estonia’
RAF TYPHOONS have landed XI Squadron fight terror in Middle East, then
in Estonia to spearhead Nato air
defences and face down the threat
from Russia in the Baltic region.
Four of the 11 Sqn combat head to Baltic to face down the Russian threat
jets left Coningsby for Amari air
base, where they will spend four
months on guard against Russian
aggression.
It’s the swing-role fighter’s first
Nato deployment since a major
£450 million weapons upgrade
following the retirement of the
Tornado, earlier this year.
It is also the squadron’s first
operational tour since helping
defeat the Islamist terror group
Daesh in Syria and Iraq.
Officer Commanding XI (F)
Squadron Wing Commander
Paul ‘Pablo’ O’Grady, who led the
detachment said: “It’s been an
incredible year for the Squadron.
We’ve recently completed a tour on
Operation Shader based at Akrotiri
taking the fight to Daesh, which
was an important mission.
“We have quickly turned around
to redeploy to Estonia where we
will spend the next four months
reassuring our Nato allies by
deterring Russian aggression from
the East.”
He said that while Baltic Air
Policing was strategically critical
in reassuring Britain’s Nato allies
that the RAF will stand by them,
the Squadron was also looking to
use the mission to further hone its
combat skills.
They hope to exploit training
opportunities with the British
battlegroup in the region, which is
equipped with Apache and Wildcat
helicopters, and link up with Baltic
and Scandinavian Air Forces.
Wg Cdr O’Grady said: “In
parallel to Baltic Air Policing –
which is our priority – we’re also
getting ready for high-readiness
duties as we become the on-point
Squadron later this year.”
He said that by the end of
September 11(F) Sqn will be on call
to rapidly deploy rapidly anywhere
in the world.
That will be followed by
advanced tactical training in a
multinational exercise to be held in
the Middle East in late autumn.
Back to Baltic Air Policing the
Typhoon force is confident it’s
ready for anything as it takes over WELCOME: (Top) Lt Col Oberstleutnant Sebastian Fiedler, Commander of the Flying Group Tactical Fighter Wing, greets Wg Cdr O’Grady, OC XI (F) Sqn, at Amari Air Base, Estonia. (Right)
from the Germans providing Quick landing in Estonia; (left) RAF groundcrew check the Typhoons PHOTOS: CPL ROB BOURNE
Reaction Alert (QRA) cover in
Estonia. and with Typhoon we’re very lucky because The jet can now fight with AMRAAM and He said: “The Centurion package brings
Wg Cdr O’Grady said: “The it’s serviceable and the software and weapons ASRAAM air-to-air missiles, Paveway IV a huge amount of capability to the aircraft.
challenge is always going to be systems we have now are phenomenal. precision-guided bombs, Storm Shadow and Typhoon is now the bedrock and core of our
getting airborne to meet the “It really has stepped forward in Brimstone air-to-ground missiles and its latest, next-generation Air Force and, integrated with
unknown – that’s what QRA’s like leaps and bounds in the 10 years I have been the Meteor radar guided beyond visual range the F35, can deliver a potent threat across the
in the UK, you never know what flying it.” multi shot missile. globe.
you’re going to get, but my pilots The reason for that is Project Centurion, One man who has seen the Eurofighter “It’s a phenomenally-capable aircraft, we’ve
are so highly trained it should be a which has beefed up the Typhoon’s arsenal to develop since it first came into service in 2005 is just returned from Red Flag – which is the
simple, straightforward process. seven weapons systems including its 27mm Coningsby Station Commander Group Captain hardest Exercise globally – and Typhoon
“They’ve got a fantastic fighter Mauser cannon. Mark Flewin. performed exceptionally well out there.”