Airforces

“In addition to the Blue Air

requirements, there is a need

for a range of third- and fourth-

generation capabilities, including

air-to-air, air-to-surface and

close air support, asymmetric

threat simulation, provision of

airborne targets for air-to-air

and surface-to-air gunnery, and

the capability to electronically

simulate threat systems.”

Why ASDOT?

The need to reorganise

aggressor-type training has

come about for several reasons.

As the UK edges back into

confronting adversaries using

more sophisticated sensors

and technologies, it is clear the

MOD is increasingly aware of

the need to take the high-end

threat seriously. It’s not just

about fighter-versus-fighter

in the air-to-air domain, but

trying to combat sensors, too.

As one expert told AFM: “We

have sat still for so long that

the Chinese and Russians have

taken their EW technologies to

the next level, which means we

have a lot of catching up to do.”

Austerity is another reason.

With the Typhoon FGR4 and

the F-35B Lightning II imposing

a hefty cost per flying hour, a

fresh look at training is clearly

required. The RAF does not

want to waste the airframe

hours of these valuable and

expensive assets, when it could

instead use more synthetics

and cheaper alternatives.

The US is already exploring

these options, led by the US Air

Force’s Adversary Air (AdAir)

programme. The USAF,

US Navy and US Marines

are all looking to

contract out around

45,000 flying hours

per year. This will

be nearly four

times more

than ASDOT

and the

US is pioneering the methods

in which adversary training

can be carried out in the

future. In the US and in the

UK, the result is going to be big

business for the contractors.

Inzpire and DADS

Every ASDOT bid will be led by

a UK company, because the

operational requirements call

for secret ‘UK eyes only’ access.

That includes UK aircrews that

understand national tactics.

It means that some of the

information will be firewalled

from the international companies.

Several contractors have already

shown their hand, with teaming

agreements. Lincolnshire-

based Inzpire announced it

was entering into a deal with

Canada’s Discovery Air Defence

Services (DADS) in February.

Some of Inzpire’s methods

are groundbreaking. It works

at the heart of the RAF’s EW

capability for the Typhoon in the

Typhoon Mission

Support Centre (MSC), at RAF

Coningsby, Lincolnshire.

The Inzpire team operates

alongside RAF MSC counterparts,

developing, testing and

evaluating, and delivering the

Typhoon’s EW threat reactions

and mission data set to assure

the safety and effective operation

of Typhoon pilots and their

platforms. Inzpire announced

on July 19 that it had also been

awarded the contract to support

the development of training on

the new Protector Remotely

Piloted Air System (RPAS).

Inzpire has a tradition of taking

on highly skilled UK military

personnel who would otherwise

be lost to the civilian world.

Inzpire will bring the brains,

while DADS will bring the brawn.

The company already operates

16 Alpha Jets, seven A-4N

Skyhawks (based in Germany),

two TA-4Js and two IAI 1123

Westwinds for special missions.

Three years ago DADS

attempted to acquire F-16s too,

but the company has chosen

not to divulge how far this deal

has gone. In January 2015, the

Canadian-based company began

a five-year fast-jet airborne

training services contract with the

German Armed Forces utilising

a fleet of seven A-4Ns out of

Wittmund, northern Germany.

The company is already running

similar Red Air contracts with

the Canadian Armed Forces.

Earlier this year, it linked with Air

Affairs Australia, which provides

specialised air training support

to the Australian Defence Force,

using Learjets and King Airs.

Textron, Thales

and QinetiQ

Textron AirLand brought its

one-of-a kind Scorpion

intelligence, surveillance

‘Check six!’ In the cockpit of a No

100 Squadron Hawk T1. These

aggressor jets will continue their

work until 2027 when their role

will be taken on by the ASDOT

provider. Crown Copyright

Right: Discovery was planning

to bring an A-4N to RIAT but due

to operational commitments in

Germany on the Friday and Monday

it did not come. This Wittmund-

based example was providing

gunnery services to Austrian Air

Force Eurofighters this spring.

Oliver Jonischkeit

34 // SEPTEMBER 2017 #354 http://www.airforcesmonthly.com

INTEL REPORT