Combat aircraft

guiding principles for a trilateral P-8A

coalition, whilst laying down a framework

for further co-operation in readiness,

enhanced defense capability and

interoperability.’

Nos 120 and 201 Squadrons were

named as the RAF’s P-8 units, to be based

at RAF Lossiemouth, Moray. In addition to

the P-8 procurement, the RAF equipment

plan focused on the future Protector

RPAS, on expansion of the Typhoon force

and the F-35B Lightning II’s introduction

into service.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief

Marshal (ACM) Sir Stephen Hillier, said his

greatest resource demands are people

and money when it comes to ‘growing the

front line’, adding the need to minimize

overheads and maximize output. ‘In the

RAF today we are working hard with

our industrial partners to enhance our

capability whilst improving efficiency and

driving down costs’, he said. ‘The Typhoon

Total Availability Enterprise (TyTAN)

[maintenance agreement with BAE

Systems] has generated cost savings of 40

per cent’. He stated that these will equate

to a saving across the Typhoon fleet of ‘half

a billion pounds over the 10-year lifespan

[of the contract]’. These savings are being

re-invested into Typhoon enhancements

and the planned growth of the force.

Current operations

The RAF has spent the last 27 years on

constant operations in the Middle East.

These began with Operation ‘Granby’

in 1991, followed by the northern and

southern no-fly zones over Iraq, Operation

‘Herrick’ in Afghanistan, and Operation

‘Telic’ from 2003, again in Iraq. Operation

‘Shader’ began with the deployment of

Tornado GR4s to RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, from

August 12, 2014, and quickly expanded

to include eight jets. Following a

parliamentary vote, the Tornados re-roled

Speaking at the Air Power Conference

in July 2017, the then Secretary of State

for Defence, Sir Michael Fallon, said,

‘Today there’s never been a greater

need to unite, since we’re facing a raft

of 21st-century threats from Russian

aggression in Ukraine and further afield

to the nuclear menace of a belligerent

North Korea. From the impact of

mass migration on the shores of our

continent to the wave of cyber attacks

we’ve seen recently. These threats —

unprecedented in their complexity, in

their concurrence, and their diversity and

multiplicity — demand a new response’.

He added, ‘Across the globe, you’ll find

us strengthening our commitment to co-

operation. When it came to the purchase

of the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol

aircraft there was another opportunity

to join forces with others. So, a fortnight

ago, I signed a trilateral statement of

intent with Norway and the US, creating

Above left: The

RAF is working

to expand

its Typhoon

community to

seven squadrons,

so as to generate

the necessary

operational

capacity.

Crown Copyright

Above top to

bottom: Wg Cdr

James Hanson

will be the

commanding

officer of the

RAF’s first P-8A

squadron.

Crown Copyright

The Tornado GR4s

will be retired in

March 2019 after

being engaged

in combat

operations since

1991. USAF/TSgt
      Gregory Brook

http://www.combataircraft.net // April 2018 31

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