Page 11 - issue19.04.2019

Royal Air Force News Friday, April 19, 2019 P11

Lighting strikes

Warrior nations

F-35 stealth fighter debut on

TRAINING MISSION: F-35, top,
Typhoon, inset, and Rivet Joint,
inset below
Nato’s UK- based war game

AN ESTIMATED 10,000 troops Typhoons is a simulated recovery of Lossiemouth, Prestwick and battlespace during the two-week Nato training aims and forms a
from 13 nations, including 800 a downed pilot under the control of Stornoway airports as well as exercise. crucial part of the Alliance’s exercise
RAF airmen and women, are an E-3 AWACS surveillance aircraft from Leeming, Coningsby, MAcr Ash said: “Joint programme.
taking part in the multinational supported by Voyager air-to-air Mildenhall, Marham exercises like this Among the nations taking
joint training mission which takes refuelling tankers. and Brize Norton. are critical for UK part in Nato’s biannual big-ticket
place in the UK every six months. Typhoons from 1(F) Sqn and Ground forces will platforms to provide training drill are Belgium, Canada,
This year the Air Force is 6 Sqn are operating alongside focus on working with interoperability, Denmark, Estonia, France,
contributing to the 59 aircraft which UK F-35s carrying out a range of close air support at the share knowledge and Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
will operate alongside 35 warships and surface-to-air and air-to-surface RAF bombing range at develop cutting edge the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, the
five submarines from Allied nations. combat missions over land and sea. Tain, supported by the tactical procedures.” UK and the US.
Air units will coordinate with A spokesman added: “We are Spadeadam Electronic The exercise has also Defence Secretary Gavin
maritime and land forces, exercising conducting joint operations against Warfare Training Range in delivered a chance for Williamson said: “Led by the UK,
Intelligence, Surveillance and a range of current and future Cumbria. RAF crews to work alongside Joint Warrior allows key Nato allies
Reconnaissance (ISR), air defence, threats. This has involved a range of The RAF’s Rivet Joint surveillance a US Navy-operated Poseidon to tackle complex warfare scenarios
air mobility and attack. air, surface, sub-surface, sea control and intelligence gathering aircraft P8 ahead of the maritime patrol to ensure that the international
Among the scenarios being and maritime security roles.” operated by 51 Sqn is providing aircraft’s delivery to the UK in 2020. community stands fit and ready to
played out by the F-35s and Jets will operate from RAF communications links across the Joint Warrior is closely aligned to work to face any threat together.”

Hall pass in Corsica

as rally king roars

● Sport
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