AirForces Monthly – July 2018

AFM

RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire

A modern Pathfinder Building, named

after the World War Two Pathfinder Force,

was opened at RAF Wyton in 2014, at a

cost of around £65m. The Joint Forces

Intelligence Group arrived at Wyton in

2013 and resulted in a number of groups

from across Defence Intelligence moving

into the base. These included former

members of the Joint Air Reconnaissance

Intelligence Centre (JARIC) previously

based at nearby RAF Brampton and, more

recently, 42 Engineer Regiment. The

facility brings together many intelligence

organisations and units, providing the

opportunity to enhance collaboration,

efficiency and global security.

according to Air Cdre Andrew:
“The programme is on track
and on time, without any
capability on board. We still
have a few hurdles to overcome,
but we are getting there.”
He continued: “Because the
platform can remain airborne
for so long [General Atomics
claims 40hrs] there are several
considerations. It’s a certifiable
platform, so it is not just operating
in restricted airspace, it will fly
through regular open airspace to
get it where it needs to. I don’t

underestimate the debate that

Protector will potentially bring.”

A small Protector Combined

Test Team at GA’s San Diego

facility is using two prototypes

to develop the new RPAS. The

ISTAR Commander added: “The

knowledge and expertise that

the RAF has gained in more than

ten years of MQ-9 Reaper ops is

being fed into the programme.”

While the Protector has ostensibly

been viewed as an RPAS for

operations over land, there is

also a maritime version, known

as the SeaGuardian, available to

the RAF if required. The mission

kit includes a multimode 360°

maritime surface search radar and

an automatic information system

(AIS). Air Cdre Andrew hasn’t yet

examined the kit because the focus

is on Protector replacing Reaper,

but admitted: “We know about

it, we are interested in it, but we

haven’t taken any further steps.

It is an option for the future.”

A SATCOM automatic take-off

and landing capability (ATLC) is

also part of the Protector package,

designed to help minimise the

aircraft’s launch and recovery

footprint, thereby reducing manning

and equipment requirements at

a forward operating base (FOB).

He added: “The ATLC is one of

the three advantages [Protector

has over Reaper] – the other two

are flying in controlled airspace

and the longer endurance.”

Poseidon

The UK ordered nine P-8A

Poseidon multi-mission

maritime aircraft under its

2015 SDSR and their missions

will include protecting its two

new aircraft carriers. To date

five are on contract, with the

first expected to arrive at RAF

Lossiemouth, Scotland, next

year. It was announced in

July 2017 that the RAF’s Nos

120 and 201 Squadrons would

operate the nine aircraft.

Fortunately, back in 2010, the

UK MOD realised there would be

a need for maritime patrol skills

in the future, so Project Seedcorn

was established. By the end of

2012, experienced RAF aircrews

• including the sensor operators
  for the rear cabin – were being
  seconded to maritime patrol
  aircraft units in Australia, Canada,
  New Zealand and the US.
  Some personnel from the
  initial Seedcorn deployments
  are now qualified instructors.
  Others returned to the UK,
  some with specific P-8A
  experience, providing invaluable
  expertise to the programme.
  Air Cdre Andrew explained:
  “We are trying to draw in people
  from other ISTAR roles too, as
  well as Seedcorn, so we don’t

create a stovepipe maritime patrol

aircraft mentality. We are working

closely with the US, Australia

and Norway, drawing on the

best of everyone’s ideas. Our

agreement with the US covers

tactics and procedures, whereby

they let us know what they have

learnt during their five years of

ops. It saves a lot of time.”

The F-35B will provide yet

another node in the ISTAR

equation, with a host of onboard

sensors. However, Air Cdre

Andrew would only say: “There

are capabilities on the F-35 that

will complement the systems

on other ISTAR aircraft.”

A maritime version of the Protector RPAS, the SeaGuardian could provide

the RAF with expanded maritime ISTAR capabilities as a complement to

the Poseidon. Air Cdre Andrew has confi rmed that the ISTAR Force is

“interested” in the drone. GA-ASI

Below: A Sentinel R1 surveillance

aircraft of No 5(AC) Squadron at an

airfi eld in the Middle East. At least

three different jets (ZJ690, 691 and 694)

have deployed to RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus,

in the past year to support operations

over Iraq and Syria. Crown Copyright

Above: An RAF Sentinel R1 from No 5(AC) Squadron, assigned to 902
Expeditionary Air Wing. At the time, 902 EAW was utilising a detachment of
Sentinels to provide support to International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)
and coalition ground forces in Afghanistan. Crown Copyright

38 // JULY 2018 #364

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