ZJ217 AH.1 CR Pool Wattisham; ex ADSU Wattisham
ZJ221 AH.1 ADSU Wattisham; ex 4Regt/664Sqn
ZJ223 AH.1 4Regt; ex Overseas Deployment
ZJ225 AH.1 4Regt/664Sqn; ex CR Pool Wattisham
ZJ226 AH.1 667 D&T Sqn; trials loan from 4Regt
ZJ229 AH.1 3Regt/663Sqn; ex 3Regt/662Sqn
ZJ231 AH.1 3Regt/663Sqn; ex 3Regt/662Sqn
ZJ232 AH.1 CSP Boeing; ex 673SqnAtlas
ZM402 C.1 24/70Sqn; ex Depth Brize
ZM403 C.1 24/70Sqn; ex Madrid upgrades
ZM404 C.1 Depth Brize Norton; ex 24/70Sqn
ZM414 C.1 Depth Brize Norton; ex 24/70Sqn
ZM418 C.1 Madrid upgrades; ex 24/70SqnChinook
ZA671 HC.4 HC.6A upgrade Boscombe; ex Fleetlands
ZA705 HC.4 HC.6A upgrade Boscombe; ex Fleetlands
ZK562 HC.6 7Sqn; ex CMF Odiham
ZA683 HC.6A 18Sqn; ex CMF Odiham
ZH891 HC.6A CMF Odiham; ex 27Sqn
ZH893 HC.6A 27Sqn; ex CMF OdihamGazelle
XW847 AH.1 Fleetlands; ex 5Regt/665SqnHawk
XX200/CO T.1A AMRO Valley; ex 736NAS
ZK013/D T.2 4Sqn; ex T2 Servicing
ZK014/E T.2 T2 Servicing; ex 4Sqn
ZK019/J T.2 T2 Servicing; ex 4Sqn
ZK023/N T.2 4Sqn; ex T2 Servicing
ZK024/O T.2 4Sqn; ex T2 Servicing
ZK032/FH T.2 T2 Servicing; ex 25SqnHercules
ZH868 C.4 24/47Sqn; ex MADG Cambridge
ZH878 C.4 MADG Cambridge; ex 24/47Sqn
ZH887 C.5 MADG Cambridge; ex 24/47Sqn WFU
ZH888 C.5 MADG Cambridge; ex 24/47SqnLightning
ZM152 F-35B f/f Fort Worth on the 12/6Merlin
ZH862 HM.2 820NAS; ex 824NAS
ZJ990/AA HC.3A MLSP upgrade to HC4A; ex 845NAS
ZJ124/H HC.4 846NAS; ex MLSP Yeovil
ZJ128/M HC.4 Yeovilton; ex MLSP YeovilPuma
XW214 HC.2 28/33/230Sqn; ex P2MF Benson
XW214 HC.2 Op Toral; ex 28/33/230Sqn
XW216/G HC.2 P2MF Benson; ex 28/33/230Sqn
XW220/K HC.2 28/33/230Sqn; ex Op Toral
XW224 HC.2 P2MF Benson; ex 28/33/230Sqn
ZJ957 HC.2 28/33/230Sqn; ex Op ToralShadow
ZZ506 R.1 RSL Hawarden upgrade to R2 ICM; ex 14Sqn
ZZ507 R.1 RSL Hawarden upgrade to R 1+ f/fTyphoon
ZJ801 T3 BAE Warton for FI testing by road; ex RTP
Coningsby
ZJ920/920 FGR4 12Sqn; ex 29Sqn
ZJ947/947 FGR4 6Sqn; ex 1Sqn
ZJ949/949 FGR4 TMU Coningsby; ex 11Sqn
ZK301/301 FGR4 2Sqn; ex 1Sqn
ZK310/310 FGR4 6Sqn; ex 1Sqn
ZK312/312 FGR4 11Sqn; ex 3Sqn
ZK320/320 FGR4 2Sqn; ex 1Sqn
ZK327/327 FGR4 12Sqn; ex 29Sqn
ZK321/321 FGR4 2Sqn; ex 1SqnSpeaking at the Chief of the Air Staff’s Air & Space Power
Conference in London on the 17th July, the head of the RAF announced
the continuation of No 8 Squadron as the unit to operate the Boeing
E-7 Wedgetail AEW&C platform as it replaces the Boeing E-3D Sentry
AEW1; the reformation of No 23 Squadron as the service’s dedicated
unit for space operations; and the reformation of No 216 Squadron as
an experimental unit dedicated to developing ‘swarming’ technology
for UAVs.
The Royal Air Force is on track to restore its lapsed maritime patrol
aircraft capability within the next nine months, according to Air
Commodore Rich Barrow, senior responsible owner for the service’s
Boeing P-8 and E-7 acquisitions.
Speaking at the Royal International Air Tattoo on 19th July, Barrow
said, “From 1 April next year, we are going to have UK maritime patrol
capability operating from UK soil for the first time in a number of
years.”
The UK’s first two P-8A Poseidon MRA1 crews have already
completed training at the NAS Jacksonville in Florida, while other
members of its personnel have retained maritime patrol experience
via Project Seedcorn placements with the USN and other nations over
the past decade.
The U.K.’s first aircraft is now having its mission system equipment
installed at Boeing s Tukwila, Washington site, having been transferred
from the manufacturer s nearby Renton final assembly facility. After
supporting initial training at Jacksonville from later this year, it will be
flown to RAF Kinloss early in 2020, ahead of being moved to its home
base at RAF Lossiemouth, following the completion of runway
resurfacing work. Missions will include providing protection for the
Royal Navy s continuous at-sea deterrent force of Vanguard-class
nuclear attack submarines.
The RAF has lacked a dedicated maritime patrol aircraft capability
since 2010, when the last of its Nimrod MR2s were retired.
Meanwhile, the service is also making early preparations for its
future use of the E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control
system aircraft from RAF Waddington. No 8 Squadron will transition
onto the 737-based type from the E-3D Sentry, with initial operational
capability planned for the second half of 2023.
Barrow says the U.K.’s plan is to “stay in lock-step” with lead
Wedgetail operator, the Royal Australian Air Force, with regard to
future updates to the E-7 system. “It’s a lot smarter if we work together
with them and effectively co-fund stuff going forward. The capabilities
that we will be able to build onto that platform going forward and the
capabilities that its [Northrop Grumman Mesa active electronical ly-
scanned array] radar has inherently in it are absolutely huge.”
Leonardo has begun flight-testing new weapon wings for the
AW159 Wildcat helicopter that will carry anti-ship missiles for the
Royal Navy. Performed using a Wildcat HMA2 (ZZ513), the trials began
on 2nd July from the manufacturer s facility in Yeovil in the southwest
of England.
Flights have so far been in a clean configuration at low and high
speeds and at high altitudes; this phase of testing is nearly complete.
Future evaluations will take place with dummy weapons installed,
eventually moving to further integration activities including firing
campaigns for both the MBDA Sea Venom and Thales Defence Martlet
munitions. Each wing can accommodate either ten Martlet or two Sea
Venom missiles. The design also provides additional lift for the
helicopter in forward flight, taking some effort from the main rotor.
Work is being conducted by the airframer under a £90 million
($110 million) contract signed in 2014 that will see all 28 of the RN’s
Wildcats gain the weapons wings.
Both missiles are being developed under the Future Anti-Surface
Guided Weapons programme and are due to achieve initial operating
capability on the Wildcat in 2020. France is also acquiring the Sea
Venom, which it calls ANL.
Unit UpdatesApache
ZJ186 AH.1 3Regt/663Sqn; ex 3Regt/662Sqn
ZJ187 AH.1 CR Pool Wattisham; ex ADSU Wattisham
ZJ188 AH.1 ADSU Wattisham; ex 673Sqn
ZJ191 AH.1 3Regt/663Sqn; ex 7 AA REME
ZJ195 AH.1 CR Pool Wattisham; ex ADSU Wattisham
ZJ211 AH.1 7 AA REME; ex 3Regt/662Sqn