Page 5 - issue17.05.2019

Royal Air Force News Friday, May 17, 2019 P5

News

RAF game changer

to hunt extremists

Typhoon takes on surveillance role in

l Continued from front:
The RAF crews have switched
from precision bombing raids Iraq and Syria to safeguard UK streets
following the collapse of Daesh’s
self-styled caliphate, operations
have focused on halting efforts
by hard-line jihadis who fled to
regroup and mount more terror
attacks in the region and coalition
countries.
Gp Capt Jonny Moreton,
Commanding Officer of 903
Expeditionary Air Wing, said: “We
are non-kinetic but maintaining a
steady rate of operations.
“What we’re doing at the
moment is understanding the pitch
on the ground in better detail to
understand where we go next.
“Daesh do not have any territory
per se any more. Clearly there are
small groups throughout Iraq and
Syria that we are interested in and
we are supporting the effort to
understand what that picture looks
like on the ground.
“From a territorial perspective
there is no one place you can say
that actually is now the home of
Daesh.”
Gp Capt Moreton oversees
the current detachment of six
Typhoons, equipped with Paveway
IV guided bombs, Brimstone and
Storm Shadow cruise missiles.
The swing role fighter is
spearheading operations from
Akrotiri following the retirement
of the veteran Tornado earlier this
year.
Gp Capt Moreton added:
“Tornado was the backbone of
combat for the UK for a good 25
years, we are now in a position
where Typhoon has become that
backbone of UK combat air power. SWING ROLE FIGHTER: Typhoon prepares for mission from Akrotiri. PHOTO CPL TIM LAURENCE
Typhoon is now delivering and
she’s doing well.”
He added: “It would be difficult
for us to say that we have defeated
some of the abhorrent things they Estonia joins Mali fight
their ideology, but in terms of
were doing previously we are in a
position now where we can say that
it’s job done. CHINOOK crews have teamed called upon. They seemed to
“Where we are at the moment up with Estonian soldiers in the find it a very valuable training
is pretty much the status quo for battle against jihadist groups in experience.”
a while. We’re not as kinetic as we west Africa. 1310 Flight is deployed
have been previously because the Odiham-based 1310 Flight on Operation NEWCOMBE
targets just aren’t there, we have have been conducting exercises in support of the French-led
very much gone into the overwatch with their Eastern European Operation BARKHANE which
role. allies in Mali. targets Islamist extremists in
“The job here is the de-escalation The Estonian Army Force Mali, Chad and Niger.
effect, most of the time our mere Protection platoon based at Goa The Estonian platoon
presence is enough to de-escalate airfield provides part of the guard commander said: “We aim to
the situation. force for the French airfield. train as we would fight so this While British aircrews are in 27 Squadron assumed command
“We’re still flying at the same Chinook pilot Flt Lt Andy is an excellent opportunity to a non-combat role they take the of 1310 Flight in April, having
rate so for those personnel on the Donovan said: “They were practice what we could be called terrorist threat very seriously as taken over the detachment
ground supporting operations it’s highly professional and seized upon to do.” they are required to fly over and from Chinook crews of 18(B)
pretty much been the same , it’s just the opportunity to board and The UK has contributed three land in combatant-controlled Squadron. The rest of the Flight
the fact that most of the time now disembark aggressively, as they Chinook helicopters to support territory to assist allied troops personnel are from other RAF,
the aircraft aren’t actually dropping would in the field if they were the French in the region. on the ground. Odiham-based Army and Royal Navy units.
on targets.”