Royal Air Force (RAF): News

"The Embraer Phenom 100 business jet was selected to provide multi-engine pilot training to armed forces aircrew in the United Kingdom. The contract with Affinity Flight Training Services will provide five aircraft to the U.K Ministry of Defence’s Military Flying Training System, (UKMFTS) program. The contract includes support services and an option for additional follow on aircraft. The Fixed Wing programme is intended to replace the elementary, multi-engine and basic flying training that is currently delivered on aging platforms with a new fully integrated solution that provides state-of-the-art training aircraft, ground based training devices and courseware all derived from the training design developed by Ascent Flight Training, the training service provider of the MFTS programme in UK. In 2014, Affinity was selected by Ascent Flight Training to provide and operate the aircraft selected for the MFTS programme.

“We are very proud to be selected in such an important programme for United Kingdom´s Ministry of Defence”, said Jackson Schneider, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. “The Phenom 100 is a very reliable, cost-effective and easy to operate aircraft that was also selected to provide flight training services to major international airlines”.



The UKMFTS takes United Kingdom armed forces aircrew from initial training through, elementary, basic and advanced flying training phases preparing them for their arrival at their designated operational conversion units. The system is operated by Ascent Flight Training, a consortium formed by Lockheed Martin and Babcock International under a Private Finance Initiative contract for the UK's Ministry of Defence.

The Phenom 100 has a capacity for four passengers in its normal configuration, but it can carry up to seven passengers with a single crew. The aircraft is fitted with two rear-mounted Pratt & Whitney Canada PW617-F turbofan engines. It has a maximum speed of 772 km/h and a service ceiling of 12,500m."

More about Phenom 100 platform: http://www.embraerexecutivejets.com/en-us/jets/phenom-100e/pages/design.aspx

Source: http://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/archive-world-worldwide-news-air-force-aviation-aerospace-air-military-defence-industry/global-defense-security-news/global-news-2016/february/2367-embraer-phenom-100-jets-selected-to-provide-multi-engine-training-to-british-aircrews.html

This is the balance of the RAF training upgrade

The UK Ministry of Defence has signed contracts worth £1.1 billion ($1.58 billion) to cover the remaining fixed-wing elements of its Military Flight Training System (MFTS) infrastructure. The deals span the provision of a trio of new aircraft types and related ground-based training equipment.

Worth around £500 million and awarded to Elbit Systems/KBR joint venture, Affinity Flying Services, on 2 February, the aircraft package will lead to the introduction of the Grob G120TP – to be named the “Prefect” for the UK – Beechcraft T-6C (below) and Embraer Phenom 100.

“Elbit Systems and KBR will evenly support and benefit from the programme,” says the former, of the private finance initiative deal. In addition to supplying the new trainers, Affinity will also be responsible for providing maintenance and support services for the entire fleet of types.

Selected in October 2014, Affinity’s fixed-wing package comprises 23 G120TPs, 10 T-6Cs and five Phenom 100s, which will be used for elementary, basic and multi-engine pilot training, respectively. Full operational capability for the system – which will replace the UK’s in-service Grob G115 Tutors, Short Tucano T1s and Beechcraft King Air 200/350s – is scheduled during 2019.

Embraer says its subcontract with Affinity "includes support services and an option for additional, follow-on aircraft". Additional demand is expected to stem from the MoD's late 2015 decisions to retain some of its Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical transports in service, and also to acquire nine Boeing P-8A maritime patrol aircraft.

Also included in the £1.1 billion project cost, which will cover activities until May 2033, are contracts awarded to Lockheed Martin and Babcock. These will “deliver all of the ground-based training equipment and infrastructure”, according to Ascent Flight Training; the MoD’s training system partner for MFTS.

“Modern training aircraft selected specifically to meet the bespoke needs of the UK’s armed forces will deliver optimised training, alongside high-tech simulators and classroom trainers,” says Ascent managing director Paul Livingston.

Ascent says it expects to achieve initial course capability with the G120TP in late 2017, followed by the Phenom 100 in mid-2018 and the T-6C in early 2019.

Other parts of the tri-service MFTS infrastructure already in use include the Royal Air Force’s BAE Systems Hawk T2 advanced jet trainers and King Air 350 Avengers used by the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm for observer training.

Industry sources suggest a contract for the rotary-wing aspect of MFTS could be signed within two months. This will provide replacements for the Airbus Helicopters AS350s and Bell Helicopter 412s operated by the tri-service Defence Helicopter Flying School. Candidate types include models on offer from AgustaWestland and Airbus Helicopters.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/uk-signs-11bn-deal-for-new-military-training-fleet-421501/

RAF Tornado successfully trials BriteCloud protection system

Finmeccanica is hopeful that the Royal Air Force will be the launch customer for its BriteCloud active decoy, following the completion of a series of tests of the system onboard the service’s Panavia Tornado GR4 combat aircraft.

Initial evaluation testing was carried out in the USA at dedicated radio-frequency (RF) facilities in October, the first test of the expendable active decoy from the Tornado.

“Now that we've done successful tests on the Tornado we're working hard towards securing our first order for operational deployment,” Jon McCullagh, campaign manager for electronic warfare at Finmeccanica Airborne and Space Systems, tells Flightglobal.

“We're in talks with the UK and are hoping that [it] will be the first nation to carry the BriteCloud into operations.”

A number of BriteCloud systems were purchased by the RAF to perform the testing, during which the decoy – which simulates the RF signature of an aircraft to deter threats – performed to plan and managed to automatically detect radar threats and jam them.

BriteCloud is a self-contained digital radio frequency memory jammer that is carried in a 55mm chaff and flare dispenser. It detects and identifies RF emissions and, on finding a match, applies algorithms and emits a deception signal.

“No further trials have taken place with the UK, as the October tests were deemed successful, although it is likely that further trials will take place to verify and extend the operational advantage provided by BriteCloud,” McCullagh adds.

When the decoy was launched in 2013, Saab committed to offering it as a protection system for its Gripen fighter, but so far none have been purchased. The new Gripen E/NG will also be able to carry the decoy.

McCullagh says the ease of integration and the standard flare dispenser fit means the potential customer base is extensive, and the system is in full production, ready for a launch customer.

I have read many times that all round visibility in a fighter is very important. Examples are the big head rest in the F35 along with its large helmet that restricts movment and visibility. Also many pilots have complained that two seat versions of the MiG 29 have poor rear visibility. That being the case, the canards on the Typhoon are very big and along way forward. The placing of them right under the cockpit would restrict very severly the visibilty under the front lower areas of the aircraft. Just how much effect would it have ? If an Su 35 with poor visibilty in that area matched against another without that blind spot how different would the outcome be ? Big question I know and difficult to be specific. But the WVR combat of the Typhoon has been questioned following exercises with Indian Su 30 and also against Pakistani F 16's.

UK Wants To Be Europe's F-35 Avionics Sustainment Hub

The United Kingdom plans to bid for the rights to be the avionics sustainment hub in Europe for the F-35 joint strike fighter program, according to Philip Dunne, UK defense procurement minister.

“We will be making a proposition to the JPO [F-35 Joint Program Office] for the avionics hub for Europe utilising a UK MoD facility, working with industry, and that’s going to be decision for the JPO and ultimately of the DoD,” Dunne said during an April 15 trip to the US. “We’re putting forward, we think, a highly competitive proposition and we hope to get a conclusion to that later this year.”

The JPO has made competing sustainment amongst the partner nations of the F-35 program a key part of its global sustainment plan. As part of that strategy, the office divided the world into three zones — North America, Europe and the Pacific — with the intent of creating specific hubs for parts of the sustainment portfolio.

Italy will provide heavy airframe maintenance for Europe, with the UK potentially gaining extra business in the future if Italy cannot handle the workload. Turkey will be the first of three European heavy engine maintenance facilities to come online, to be followed by Norway and the Netherlands.

In the Pacific, Japan and Australia will be responsible for heavy airframe maintenance for the northern and southern Pacific regions. Australia will be the center of heavy engine maintenance starting in 2018; Japan will follow as an engine maintainer three to five years later.

The JPO is now gearing up for the next wave of sustainment competition, and the UK has zeroed in on avionics as an area where it can secure ownership for Europe — a move that the Tory government likely believes would provide a boost in job opportunities.

More on the RAF's Rivet Joint or Airseeker RC-135 aircraft. No toned down colour scheme here, back to the good Cold War old days! More at link.

The United Kingdom are the only Rivet Joint operator in the world outside the United States.

The first of three Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers (64-14833) scheduled to be converted to RC-135W configuration for the Royal Air Force arrived at prime contractor L-3 Communications’ facility at Majors Field, Greenville, Texas in December 2010.

British pilots, navigators, electronic warfare officers, intelligence operators and airborne maintenance technicians from No. 51 Squadron all began training at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, in January 2011 undertaking around 2000 sorties and around 35,000 flying hours.

In March 2011 the remaining two Nimrod R.1s that provided electronic intelligence with No.51 Squadron at RAF Waddington were retired from service leaving a three-year gap of having nothing in the UK’s ISR mission until the UK received their first RC-135W ZZ664 in December 2013. ZZ664 was deployed to the middle East in April 2015 and it was expected it would be deployed for around 6 months.

The Second RC-135W Airseeker ZZ665 (ex-USAF/64-14838) was delivered direct from L-3 Communications’ facility in Texas to RAF Mildenhall as ‘SAME 40’ on September 13th 2015. Both RC-135Ws would normally be based at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire but due to continued runway work there the unit is currently flying from RAF Mildenhall when not deployed on operations.

The third and final RC-135W Airseeker (ZZ666) is currently being converted from KC-135R (64-14840) to RC-135W configuration and is due to be delivered to the RAF by 2018.”



https://theaviationist.com/2016/05/19/the-brand-new-raf-rivet-joint-aircraft-fried-daesh-communications-with-massive-jamming-attack-in-libya/

Thales Watchkeeper UAV to Be Full Operational By April 2017


Despite a three-month slippage of its Initial Operating Capability 2 milestone, previously scheduled for April, the British Army’s Watchkeeper UAV is still expected to reach Full Operating Capability by the target date of April 2017.

Answering a written Parliamentary question on June 28, British Minister of State for Defence Earl Howe said that “the Watchkeeper programme will declare Initial Operating Capability 2 standard by July 2016,” instead of April as previously scheduled.

“An initial set of release to service recommendations for the Watchkeeper system at Equipment Standard 2 should be provided by March 2017,” he said in his written answer to Lord Moonie, adding that “This will provide sufficient clearance for the Army to fly the Watchkeeper system in that configuration, and support delivery of Full Operating Capability by the target date of April 2017.”

Watchkeeper, developed for the British Army by Thales and Israel’s Elbit Systems, has had its share of technical hitches, but now appears to be back on track. As of late June, it had logged over 2,000 flight hours and 1,000 sorties, a Thales spokeswoman said June 30, including both flight trials activity and Army flying.

Regarding the Watchkeeper £80 million support contract awarded June 29, she said it is “a flexible support contract providing a range of services to the Army including spares, repair activity, integrated logistics, engineering, deep storage maintenance and training support for Watchkeeper,” and has a duration of 38 months.

As those services “are sized to meet an indicative level of Army flying training [and] also sustain the readiness of the Army to meet potential operational commitments, the indicative flying hour profile within this contract is less relevant” than with standard availability-based contracts.

A joint investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and the Guardian revealed that, “despite taking delivery of dozens of Watchkeeper, the British Army only had 6 trained pilots for the 33 Watchkeeper aircraft delivered by the autumn of 2015,” British Forces TV reported Oct. 6, 2015, adding that “most are now boxed up, sitting in storage.”

The pilot shortage is one reason why, since January 2014, Watchkeeper has only logged 400 sorties and 1,000 flight hours, after a still-unexplained suspension of flight activity between September 2013 and January 2014.

The Guardian story added that, “despite the gloomy statistics, the forecast is more promising. The Army is set to begin the first operational conversion courses to train Watchkeeper pilots later this year, with 24 pilots due to complete it in two years' time, rising to 100 pilots before the project’s Full Operational Capability deadline arrives in 2017,” which is the date confirmed by Lord Howe.

Britain signed an agreement for the purchase of aircraft P-8A and attack helicopters AH-64E



July 11, 2016 at opened at Farnborough International Air Show, the British Government has signed intergovernmental agreements with the United States to acquire through the Foreign Military Sales US program (FMS) nine Boeing P-8A Poseidon basic patrol aircraft and 50 attack helicopters Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian.

The cost of the agreement for the purchase of nine aircraft P-8A is 3 billion pounds (about 4 billion US dollars, payment will be made within 10 years), and 50 AH-64E helicopters - to $ 2.3 billion in the price of the purchased aircraft P-8A comes in. and weapons (anti-ship missiles Boeing Harpoon II and antisubmarine torpedoes Mk 54) and sonar-buoys.

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/2013692.html

Brimstone 2 finally declared operational with UK Tornado GR4

• Flight trials on UK Typhoon IPA 6 already under way

• Typhoon firing trails scheduled for the first quarter of 2017

Following successful completion of a series of delayed operational evaluation trials in February 2016, the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has finally declared an initial operating capability (IOC) for the Brimstone 2 low collateral precision strike surface-to-air weapon with its Tornado GR4 multirole combat aircraft. IOC was achieved in May but formally announced on 13 July at the Farnborough International Airshow 2016.

Nonetheless, the IOC is some 43 months beyond the originally projected October 2012 in-service date, and 66 months since demonstration and manufacture (D&M) approval in March 2010 under the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) - MBDA Portfolio Management Agreement (Interim).

Selected in March 2010 to meet the UK MoD Selective Precision Effects At Range (SPEAR) Capability 2 requirement under the Complex Weapons pipeline, Brimstone 2 is the RAF designator for what MBDA going forward will refer to simply as 'Brimstone' - essentially to distinguish it from the earlier single-mode millimetre wave (mmW; operating at the near optical wavelength of 94 Ghz) Brimstone and Dual Mode Brimstone (DMB) variants.

However, Brimstone 2 adds significant capability over the in-service DMB, which it is intended to replace in the RAF Tornado GR4's precision strike inventory. Brimstone 2 stocks for the RAF were provided for under the 2010 D&M contract.

Housed in a new, more robust modular airframe, the mmW Brimstone/DMB tandem penetrator warhead has been replaced with an insensitive munition (IM)-compliant warhead, manufactured by TDW in Germany, which retains the same capability against armour as the original warhead but delivers enhanced capability against non-armoured targets. An IM-compliant Vulcan rocket motor, sourced from Roxel, replaces the ATK motor used in the earlier mmW Brimstone and DMB. All three enhancements are designed to considerably extend the air carriage life of the missile beyond the earlier DMB capability.

A summary of the Royal Air Force participation in the war against Islamists

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/2151666.html

The UK has signed a $125 million contract to develop upgraded Predator drones from US weapons maker General Atomic; buying the new aircraft may push the deal to $1 billion.

Read more: https://sputniknews.com/military/201612051048162413-UK-wants-new-predator-drones/

An RAF A400 going into the Mach loop. Video at link




https://theaviationist.com/2017/01/08/photographers-capture-airbus-a400m-at-low-level-through-the-mach-loop-for-first-time/

Found this, just a smile photo.

RAF A330 Voyager carrying submarine search supplies is first RAF plane to land in Argentina for a very long time.

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/zz333#f9a8c91

The British Air Force received the first training aircraft T-6S Texan II

February 16, 2018 at the British airbase Valley arrived from the United States the first two turboprop training aircraft Beechcraft T-6C Texan II received by the Royal Air Force of the ten ordered. The planes have British military numbers ZM325 and ZM326. Ten T-6C aircraft (the British military designation Texan T.1) will be used in the Valley for the main stage of training for the Air Force and the British Navy in 2019 as part of the new UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) on a contract basis for a contract between the UK Department of Defense and Affinity Flying Services Limited, a joint venture between Elbit Systems UK (British branch of Elbit Systems) and British group Kellog Brown and Root Limited (KBR).



https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3099719.html

The first four British F-35B fighters arrived in the UK

June 6, 2018 at the British air base Marham (County of Norfolk) arrived, making a non-stop flight from the United States, the first four multipurpose fighter Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II, actually received the combat composition of the Royal Air Force of Great Britain. The aircraft entered the arsenal of the famous 617th Squadron Dambusters of the Royal Air Force, which became the first line squadron to be re-equipped with F-35B fighters (previously the squadron was equipped with Tornado GR.4A fighter bombers, reactivated as a squadron on the F-35B on April 17, 2018 ).











https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3232529.html

UK signs for E-7 AEW&C aircraft

The UK has signed for five Boeing E-7 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft for USD1.98 billion, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 22 March.

The E-7 (also known as the E-737) aircraft are being procured to replace the Royal Air Force's (RAF's) six Boeing E-3D Sentry AEW1 aircraft that have fallen behind the US Air Force (USAF's) Block 40/45 upgrade path and are becoming increasingly unserviceable.

While the MoD did not disclose exactly when deliveries would take place, it did say it would be during the early 2020s. When they arrive, the E-7s will likely join the rest of the RAF's intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) force at Waddington in Lincolnshire.

Based on the 737 airliner, which is also the basis for the P-8A Poseidon maritime multimission aircraft that the RAF will begin receiving later this year, the E-7 is already in service with Australia as the Wedgetail (six), South Korea as the Peace Eye (four), and Turkey as the Peace Eagle (four). The MoD has not disclosed what name the UK aircraft might receive.

Unlike the mechanically-scanned radar of the E-3D Sentry, the E-737 AEW&C is built around a multirole electronically scanned array (MESA) radar that provides a 360° coverage at ranges in excess of 322 km for aerial targets and 241 km for patrol boat-sized surface contacts (these ranges can be significantly increased if the radar's power is focused in a particular direction, rather than applied in a general sweep). The Northrop Grumman MESA affords the E-7 an area coverage of 4 million sq km, with the aircraft having an endurance of 10 hours.

https://www.janes.com/article/87390/uk-signs-for-e-7-aew-c-aircraft

The first basic patrol aircraft P-8A Poseidon for the UK

It was reported that on July 13, 2019, the first basic patrol aircraft Boeing P-8A Poseidon, built for the British Royal Air Force (British designation Poseidon MRA 1), made its first flight at the airfield of a Seattle-owned Boeing Corporation. The aircraft with its own name Pride of Moray has a British military number ZP801 and temporary US registration N456DS.





https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3707058.html

The British Air Force received the first base patrol aircraft P-8A Poseidon

According to the British Ministry of Defense, on October 31, 2019 at the Boeing corporation in Seattle (Washington, USA), a ceremony was held to transfer to the Royal Air Force the first Boeing P-8A Poseidon base patrol aircraft built for them (the British designation Poseidon MRA 1). The plane with its own name Pride of Moray has the British military number ZP801 (provisional U.S. registration N456DS) was transferred to the 54th squadron of the British Air Force and flew to the Jacksonville Florida U.S. Air Force Base on the same day on October 31. The arrival of the aircraft in the UK is scheduled for March 2020 ..


The first Boeing P-8A Poseidon base patrol aircraft received by the Royal Air Force (Poseidon MRA 1) (own name Pride of Moray, British military number ZP801, provisional U.S. registration N456DS). Seattle (USA), 10/31/2019 (c) Woodys Aeroimages

This aircraft ZP801 (temporary U.S. registration N456DS) made its first flight in Seattle on July 13, 2019, after which a search and aiming system and other special equipment were installed on it.

On July 11, 2016, the UK government signed an intergovernmental agreement with the United States to acquire nine Boeing P-8A Poseidon base patrol aircraft through the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The cost of the agreement is 3 billion pounds; payment will be made within 10 years. The price also includes weapons (anti-ship missiles Boeing Harpoon II and anti-submarine torpedoes Mk 54) and sonar buoys.

The delivery of all nine R-8A aircraft to the British side (military numbers ZP801 - ZP809) is scheduled for 2020-2021. As part of the British Air Force, these aircraft will be the armament of the 120th and 201st squadrons based on the Lossimuth Air Station in Scotland, and the British government will spend about 100 million pounds to create the appropriate infrastructure at this base. The first R-8A, however, was temporarily transferred to the 54th squadron, which is part of the retraining of the British Air Force personnel (OCU) on E-3D, RC-135V, P-8A and Sentinel R.1 aircraft.

The announcement of plans to acquire nine Boeing P-8A base patrol aircraft was one of the significant points published by the UK government in November 2015, National Security Strategy and Strategic Defense and Security Review 2015 - SDSR 2015).

The purchase of R-8A aircraft will restore the potential of the base patrol and anti-submarine aircraft, completely lost by the United Kingdom after the previous “Strategic Defense and Security Review” (SDSR-2010, October 2010) announced the cancellation of the Nimrod base patrol aircraft program MRA.4 and the complete cessation of conversion to this option and decommissioning of these aircraft (moreover, several Nimrod MRA.4 machines that completed the conversion have already been scrapped).

Senior leaders of the British Air Force and Navy have repeatedly expressed concern that the actual liquidation of the British base patrol aircraft following the results of the SDSR-2010 has the most negative impact on the combat stability of the British naval strategic nuclear forces, represented by four Vanguard-type ballistic missile submarines equipped with ballistic missiles Trident II.

The UK became the third actual foreign recipient of R-8 aircraft after India (which received eight P-8I aircraft from 2012 to 2015 and ordered four more, with the intention of acquiring another 10) and Australia (which ordered 12 R-8A aircraft, started delivery in 2017 , so far nine aircraft have been delivered). In addition, to date, Norway (five R-8A aircraft with delivery in 2021–2022) and New Zealand (four aircraft with delivery in 2023) have also ordered R-8A aircraft and announced plans for their purchase also in South Korea and Saudi Arabia

The U.S. Navy has so far ordered 117 R-8A aircraft, of which about 85 have been delivered since 2012.

https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3823297.html

First British P-8A Poseidon base patrol aircraft arrives in the UK

https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3923341.html

Gratuitous photo from the past, a Lightning landing at RAF Gutersloh probably in the 1960s, showing the very different view of health and safety rules at the ends of runways back then.

George1 wrote:First British P-8A Poseidon base patrol aircraft arrives in the UK

https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3923341.html

The second P-8A was handed over to the RAF in the US a couple of days ago.

The E-7 is due in 2023 or so.

Key Aero
@key_aero
·
Feb 14
MILITARY NEWS: The #RAF has halved its number of operational #Boeing E-3D Sentry AEW1 airborne early warning & control aircraft, in preparation for the E-7A Wedgetail.

Read the full story by Khalem Chapman here: https://key.aero/article/uk-sentry-fleet-halved-less-12-months

Another from the past, this time a Vulcan, not on a landing approach. My caption is "Shit I left my earplugs at home"