TORNADO TRIBUTE //deployed to join the 903rd Expeditionary
Air Wing at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, to
start humanitarian support missions
alongside RAF C-130J Hercules and
RC-135W Rivet Joints, which had deployed
to the region a few weeks earlier.
The Tornados were at this stage providing
a specialist surveillance role; however,
following a British parliamentary vote,
they began flying armed missions over Iraq
on September 27. Unlike the US, the UK
limited its missions to Iraq in response to a
formal request for support from the Iraqis.
On September 30, 2014, the Tornados
dropped their first ordnance during an
armed reconnaissance mission. Two
GR4s were tasked to assist Kurdish troopsin northwest Iraq who were under attack
from IS militants, one Paveway IV bomb
being used to hit a heavy weapon position
engaging Kurdish ground forces. An IS
armed pick-up truck was then struck with
a Dual-Mode Seeker (DMS) Brimstone.
Following a further vote in parliament on
December 2, 2015, it was decided to expand
UK operations into Syria. A pair of GR4s
launched the first mission into Syrian territory
the same evening, attacking IS-controlled
oil wells in the east of the country.
The jets have continued operations over Iraq
and Syria ever since, with units deploying
on a rotational basis. As No II(AC) Squadron
completed the initial stint in theatre, it
re-equipped with Typhoon FGR4s at RAF
Lossiemouth. Meanwhile, to help sustain
Shader, No 12(B) Squadron re-formed in
order to retain the Tornado ‘mass’ required
to meet the ongoing role alongside Nos
IX(B) and 31 squadrons at Marham.
Under the leadership of Wg Cdr Nikki
Thomas, No 12(B) Squadron playedhttp://www.airforcesmonthly.com 67Last blast
A Tornado GR4 with its RB199 engines in full reheat prepares to launch from RAF Akrotiri for the Him
Sinshar attack on April 14. Crown CopyrightThe RAF has increased its Tornado detachment at Akrotiri to eight aircraft. Crown Copyright/Cpl L MatthewsAbove: A GR4 returns to Akrotiri from one of the early Shader missions. Note that it hasn’t expended its
load of DMS Brimstones and Paveway IV. The aircraft also carries the standard infrared countermeasures
(IRCM) pod on the outboard station. Crown Copyright