Per Ardua: The Rise of British Air Power, 1911-1939 (Oxford UP, 1945). Sinnott, Colin S.
In October 1914, therefore, the French system of three concentric rings was adopted, with the colours reversed to a red disc surrounded by a white ring and an outer blue ring.
Rhetoric and Reality in Air Warfare: The Evolution of British and American Ideas about Strategic Bombing, 1914–1945 (2002) Bowyer, Chaz.
It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS).
Following the Allied victory over the Central Powers in 1918, the RAF emerged as the largest air force in the world at the time.
Following publication of the "Smuts report" prepared by Jan Smuts the RAF was founded on 1 April 1918, with headquarters located in the former Hotel Cecil, during the First World War, by the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS).
The choice of motto is attributed to a junior officer named J S Yule, in response to a request for suggestions from a commander of the Royal Flying Corps, Colonel Sykes. The badge of the Royal Air Force was first used in August 1918.
online == External links == RAF Reservist Support Service RAF Museum RAF Benevolent Fund The RAF channel on YouTube 1918 establishments in the United Kingdom Articles containing video clips British Armed Forces Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) Military of the United Kingdom Military units and formations established in 1918 Organisations based in the United Kingdom with royal patronage
"A splendid training ground: the importance to the Royal Air Force of its role in Iraq, 1919–32." Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History 13.2 (1985): 157–184. Davis, Richard B.
British Air Power in Peripheral Conflict, 1919–1976 (RAND, 1989) online, with bibliography Lee, David.
The Central Band of the Royal Air Force was established in 1920.
The RAF and Aircraft Design: Air Staff Operational Requirements 1923-1939 (Routledge, 2014). Smith, Malcolm.
The RAF's naval aviation branch, the Fleet Air Arm, was founded in 1924 but handed over to Admiralty control on 24 May 1939. The RAF adopted the doctrine of strategic bombing, which led to the construction of long-range bombers and became its main bombing strategy in the Second World War. ===Second World War=== The RAF underwent rapid expansion prior to and during the Second World War.
Cry Havoc: How the arms race drove the world to war, 1931–1941 (2010) Philpott, Ian, ed.
RAF War Plans and British Foreign Policy 1935 - 1940 (MIT Dept.
The RAF's naval aviation branch, the Fleet Air Arm, was founded in 1924 but handed over to Admiralty control on 24 May 1939. The RAF adopted the doctrine of strategic bombing, which led to the construction of long-range bombers and became its main bombing strategy in the Second World War. ===Second World War=== The RAF underwent rapid expansion prior to and during the Second World War.
Under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan of December 1939, the air forces of British Commonwealth countries trained and formed "Article XV squadrons" for service with RAF formations.
A Historical Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939–1945 (Air University Press, 2006) online Gooderson, Ian.
Night Fighters: Luftwaffe and RAF Air Combat Over Europe, 1939–1945 (Naval Institute Press, 2008). Hoffman, Bruce.
Royal Air Force, 1939–1945: The fight at odds (1954), the official history. Saunders, Hilary.
Additionally, the Royal Australian Air Force represented around nine percent of all RAF personnel who served in the European and Mediterranean theatres. During the Battle of Britain in 1940, the RAF defended the skies over Britain against the numerically superior German Luftwaffe.
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Cotesworth Slessor and the Anglo-American Air Power Alliance, 1940–1945 (Texas A&M Press, 2001). Cox, Jafna L.
RAF War Plans and British Foreign Policy 1935 - 1940 (MIT Dept.
While RAF bombing of Germany began almost immediately upon the outbreak of war at first it was ineffectual; it was only later, particularly under the leadership of Air Chief Marshal Harris, that these attacks became increasingly devastating, from early 1943, onward as new technology and greater numbers of superior aircraft became available.
Air Power at the Battlefront: Allied Close Air Support in Europe 1943–45 (Routledge, 2013). Heaton, Colin D., and Anne-Marie Lewis.
Non-commissioned officer training and developmental courses occur at RAF Halton and officer courses occur at the Joint Services Command and Staff College at Shrivenham. ==Personnel== At its height in 1944 during the Second World War, more than 1,100,000 personnel were serving in the RAF.
Eastward: a history of the Royal Air Force in the Far East, 1945-1972 (Seven Hills Books, 1984). Lee, David.
Flight from the Middle East: A History of the Royal Air Force in the Arabian Peninsula and Adjacent Territories, 1945–1972 (HM Stationery Office, 1980). Maiolo, Joseph.
Per Ardua: The Rise of British Air Power, 1911-1939 (Oxford UP, 1945). Sinnott, Colin S.
Between 26 June 1948 and the lifting of the Russian blockade of the city on 12 May 1949, the RAF provided 17% of the total supplies delivered, using Avro Yorks, Douglas Dakotas flying to Gatow Airport and Short Sunderlands flying to Lake Havel. Before Britain developed its own nuclear weapons, the RAF was provided with American nuclear weapons under Project E.
In June 1948 the RAF commenced Operation Firedog against Malayan terrorists during the Malayan Emergency.
Between 26 June 1948 and the lifting of the Russian blockade of the city on 12 May 1949, the RAF provided 17% of the total supplies delivered, using Avro Yorks, Douglas Dakotas flying to Gatow Airport and Short Sunderlands flying to Lake Havel. Before Britain developed its own nuclear weapons, the RAF was provided with American nuclear weapons under Project E.
From 1953 to 1956 the RAF Avro Lincoln squadrons carried out anti-Mau Mau operations in Kenya using its base at RAF Eastleigh.
From 1953 to 1956 the RAF Avro Lincoln squadrons carried out anti-Mau Mau operations in Kenya using its base at RAF Eastleigh.
The Suez Crisis in 1956 saw a large RAF role, with aircraft operating from RAF Akrotiri and RAF Nicosia on Cyprus and RAF Luqa and RAF Hal Far on Malta as part of Operation Musketeer.
In 1957, the RAF participated heavily during the Jebel Akhdar War in Oman, operating both de Havilland Venom and Avro Shackleton aircraft.
The RAF made 1,635 raids, dropping 1,094 tons and firing 900 rockets at the interior of Oman between July and December 1958, targeting insurgents, mountain top villages and water channels in a war that remained under low profile.
However, following the development of its own arsenal, the British Government elected on 16 February 1960 to share the country's nuclear deterrent between the RAF and submarines of the Royal Navy, first deciding to concentrate solely on the air force's V bomber fleet.
Operations continued for the next 12 years until 1960 with aircraft flying out of RAF Tengah and RAF Butterworth.
The Konfrontasi against Indonesia in the early 1960s did see use of RAF aircraft, but due to a combination of deft diplomacy and selective ignoring of certain events by both sides, it never developed into a full-scale war. One of the largest actions undertaken by the RAF during the Cold War was the air campaign during the 1982 Falklands War, in which the RAF operated alongside the Fleet Air Arm.
The team was formed in late 1964 as an all-RAF team, replacing a number of unofficial teams that had been sponsored by RAF commands.
In 1966, the team was increased to nine members, enabling them to develop their Diamond Nine formation.
of Political Science, 1966).
The 2021 Defence Command Paper brought forward the retirement of the Hercules fleet to 2023. The Airbus Atlas C1 (A400M) replaced the RAF's fleet of Hercules C1/C3 (C-130K) which were withdrawn from use on 28 October 2013, having originally entered service in 1967.
Following the development of the Royal Navy's Polaris submarines, the strategic nuclear deterrent passed to the navy's submarines on 30 June 1969.
Since the 1970s, camouflaged aircraft carry low-visibility roundels, either red and blue on dark camouflage, or washed-out pink and light blue on light colours.
With the decline of the British Empire, global operations were scaled back, and RAF Far East Air Force was disbanded on 31 October 1971.
The first two Puma HC1s (XW198 and XW199), of an eventual forty-eight, were delivered in January 1971, which were supplemented by a captured Argentine Army SA 330J in 2001 and six ex-South African Air Force SA 330Ls in 2002.
100 Squadron has been providing fast jet training alongside its aggressor role, which the Hawk T1 was originally used for between 1976 and 2016.
History of the RAF (London: Hamlyn, 1977). Dean, Maurice.
Originally ordered in 1978, with subsequent orders in 1995, 2011, and 2018 (yet to be finalised), the Chinook is operated by No.
In late 1979, they switched to the BAE Hawk trainer.
The Royal Air Force and Two World Wars (Cassell, 1979). Connolly, Corvin J.
This tactical role was continued by the V bombers into the 1980s and until 1998 by the Panavia Tornado GR1. For much of the Cold War the primary role of the RAF was the defence of Western Europe against potential attack by the Soviet Union, with many squadrons based in West Germany.
Since being first delivered in 1980, the Chinook has been involved in numerous operations: the Falklands War (1982); Operation Granby (1991); Operation Engadine (1999); Operation Barras (2000); Operation Herrick (2002–2014); Operation Telic (2003–2011); Operation Ruman (2017); and Operation Newcombe (2018–present).
Flight from the Middle East: A History of the Royal Air Force in the Arabian Peninsula and Adjacent Territories, 1945–1972 (HM Stationery Office, 1980). Maiolo, Joseph.
The Konfrontasi against Indonesia in the early 1960s did see use of RAF aircraft, but due to a combination of deft diplomacy and selective ignoring of certain events by both sides, it never developed into a full-scale war. One of the largest actions undertaken by the RAF during the Cold War was the air campaign during the 1982 Falklands War, in which the RAF operated alongside the Fleet Air Arm.
Following a British victory, the RAF remained in the South Atlantic to provide air defence to the Falkland Islands, with the McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR2 based at RAF Mount Pleasant which was built in 1984. ===Post-Cold War=== With the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the RAF's focus returned to expeditionary air power.
Eastward: a history of the Royal Air Force in the Far East, 1945-1972 (Seven Hills Books, 1984). Lee, David.
British Air Strategy Between the Wars (Oxford, The Clarendon Press, 1984). Smith, Gordon Scott.
Six E-3 aircraft were originally procured in February 1987, with an additional Sentry ordered later that year.
British Air Power in Peripheral Conflict, 1919–1976 (RAND, 1989) online, with bibliography Lee, David.
Deliveries to the RAF were completed in 1992, when ZH107 was handed over in May.
Twenty-five C-130Js were originally ordered in December 1994 (15 C4s and ten C5s), the first Hercules C4 to be delivered was ZH865 in August 1998, with the first Hercules C5 (ZH881) in May 1999.
32 (The Royal) Squadron replaced the Queen's Flight in 1995 and operate the BAe 146 CC2 in the general air transport and VIP transport roles.
Originally ordered in 1978, with subsequent orders in 1995, 2011, and 2018 (yet to be finalised), the Chinook is operated by No.
This tactical role was continued by the V bombers into the 1980s and until 1998 by the Panavia Tornado GR1. For much of the Cold War the primary role of the RAF was the defence of Western Europe against potential attack by the Soviet Union, with many squadrons based in West Germany.
Twenty-five C-130Js were originally ordered in December 1994 (15 C4s and ten C5s), the first Hercules C4 to be delivered was ZH865 in August 1998, with the first Hercules C5 (ZH881) in May 1999.
Twenty-five C-130Js were originally ordered in December 1994 (15 C4s and ten C5s), the first Hercules C4 to be delivered was ZH865 in August 1998, with the first Hercules C5 (ZH881) in May 1999.
Four C-17A were originally leased from Boeing in 2000, These four were subsequently purchased outright, followed by a fifth delivered on 7 April 2008 and a sixth delivered on 11 June 2008.
The first two Puma HC1s (XW198 and XW199), of an eventual forty-eight, were delivered in January 1971, which were supplemented by a captured Argentine Army SA 330J in 2001 and six ex-South African Air Force SA 330Ls in 2002.
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Cotesworth Slessor and the Anglo-American Air Power Alliance, 1940–1945 (Texas A&M Press, 2001). Cox, Jafna L.
The first two Puma HC1s (XW198 and XW199), of an eventual forty-eight, were delivered in January 1971, which were supplemented by a captured Argentine Army SA 330J in 2001 and six ex-South African Air Force SA 330Ls in 2002.
A Historical Digest of the Combined Bomber Offensive 1939–1945 (Air University Press, 2006) online Gooderson, Ian.
Air Command was formed on 1 April 2007 by combining RAF Strike Command and RAF Personnel and Training Command, resulting in a single command covering the whole RAF, led by the Chief of the Air Staff.
In 2007, there were 33,980 RAF Regular Reserves, of which 7,950 served under a fixed-term reserve contract.
Four Shadow R1s were originally ordered in 2007 due to an Urgent Operational Requirement, and began the conversion process to the ISTAR role in 2009.
Four C-17A were originally leased from Boeing in 2000, These four were subsequently purchased outright, followed by a fifth delivered on 7 April 2008 and a sixth delivered on 11 June 2008.
Night Fighters: Luftwaffe and RAF Air Combat Over Europe, 1939–1945 (Naval Institute Press, 2008). Hoffman, Bruce.
Royal Air Force History: Royal Air Force – an Encyclopaedia of the Inter-War Years (2 vol 2008) Rawlings, John D.R.
The longest-lived founding member of the RAF was Henry Allingham, who died on 18 July 2009 aged 113. As of 1 January 2015, the RAF numbered some 34,200 Regular and 1,940 Royal Auxiliary Air Force personnel, giving a combined component strength of 36,140 personnel.
Four Shadow R1s were originally ordered in 2007 due to an Urgent Operational Requirement, and began the conversion process to the ISTAR role in 2009.
ZZ416 was the first Shadow R1 to be delivered in May 2009 to No.
As part of the latest 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, the BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4 maritime patrol aircraft was cancelled due to over spending and missing deadlines.
On 24 January 2014, in the Houses of Parliament, Conservative MP and Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Andrew Robathan, announced that the RAF's QRA force had been scrambled almost thirty times in the last three years: eleven times during 2010, ten times during 2011 and eight times during 2012.RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and RAF Lossiemouth in Moray both provide QRA aircraft, and scramble their Typhoons within minutes to meet or intercept aircraft which give cause for concern.
56 Squadron act as the OCU and OEU for the ISTAR fleet respectively. ===Maritime patrol=== Nine Boeing Poseidon MRA1 were ordered by the Government in November 2015 in its Strategic Defence and Security Review for surveillance, anti-submarine and anti-surface ship warfare, filling a capability gap in maritime patrol that had been left since the cancellation of the BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4 programme in the 2010 SDSR.
The MOD said there was "a stated departmental requirement for eight" C-17s and a seventh was subsequently ordered, to be delivered in December 2010.
The 2010 SDSR called for the retirement of the Hercules fleet by 2022, with the 2015 SDSR amending this to maintaining the fourteen Hercules C4s until 2030.
On 24 January 2014, in the Houses of Parliament, Conservative MP and Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Andrew Robathan, announced that the RAF's QRA force had been scrambled almost thirty times in the last three years: eleven times during 2010, ten times during 2011 and eight times during 2012.RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and RAF Lossiemouth in Moray both provide QRA aircraft, and scramble their Typhoons within minutes to meet or intercept aircraft which give cause for concern.
All Warrant Officers in the RAF are equal in terms of rank, but the most senior Non-Commissioned appointment is known as the Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer. ==Ranks== ==Aircraft== ===Combat air=== ====Typhoon==== The Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 is the RAF's primary multi role air defence and ground attack fighter aircraft, following the retirement of the Panavia Tornado F3 in late March 2011.
A further Shadow was procured and delivered in December 2011.
14 Squadron in October 2011.
The Nimrod fleet was retired in 2011, the RAF co-manned aircraft of the US Air Force until the three RC-135s entered service between 2014 and 2017.
The first Voyager (ZZ330) arrived in the UK for testing at MOD Boscombe Down in April 2011, and entered service in April 2012.
Originally ordered in 1978, with subsequent orders in 1995, 2011, and 2018 (yet to be finalised), the Chinook is operated by No.
On 24 January 2014, in the Houses of Parliament, Conservative MP and Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Andrew Robathan, announced that the RAF's QRA force had been scrambled almost thirty times in the last three years: eleven times during 2010, ten times during 2011 and eight times during 2012.RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and RAF Lossiemouth in Moray both provide QRA aircraft, and scramble their Typhoons within minutes to meet or intercept aircraft which give cause for concern.
They had a strength of 7,120 personnel in 2014. Figures provided by the International Institute for Strategic Studies from 2012 showed that RAF pilots achieve a relatively high number of flying hours per year when compared with other major NATO allies such as France and Germany.
In February 2012 the purchase of an eighth C-17 was confirmed; the aircraft arrived at RAF Brize Norton in May 2012. Shorter range, tactical-airlift transport is provided by the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules, known as the Hercules C4 (C-130J-30) and Hercules C5 (C-130J) in RAF service, based at RAF Brize Norton and flown by No.
The first Voyager (ZZ330) arrived in the UK for testing at MOD Boscombe Down in April 2011, and entered service in April 2012.
Two additional aircraft (designated as the BAe 146 C3) were purchased in March 2012 from TNT Airways and were refitted by Hawker Beechcraft on behalf of BAE Systems for tactical freight and personnel transport use. ===Helicopters=== RAF helicopters support the British Army by moving troops and equipment to and around the battlefield.
Twenty-four Puma HC1s underwent upgrades to HC2 standard between 2012 and 2014.
Publications since April 2013 no-longer report the entire strength of the Regular Reserve, instead they only give a figure for Regular Reserves who serve under a fixed-term reserve contract.
The 2021 Defence Command Paper brought forward the retirement of the Hercules fleet to 2023. The Airbus Atlas C1 (A400M) replaced the RAF's fleet of Hercules C1/C3 (C-130K) which were withdrawn from use on 28 October 2013, having originally entered service in 1967.
The Voyager received approval from the MOD on 16 May 2013 to begin air-to-air refuelling flights and made its first operational tanker flight on 20 May 2013 as part of a training sortie with Tornado GR4s.
By 21 May 2013, the Voyager fleet had carried over 50,000 passengers and carried over 3,000 tons of cargo.
Air Power at the Battlefront: Allied Close Air Support in Europe 1943–45 (Routledge, 2013). Heaton, Colin D., and Anne-Marie Lewis.
On 24 January 2014, in the Houses of Parliament, Conservative MP and Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Andrew Robathan, announced that the RAF's QRA force had been scrambled almost thirty times in the last three years: eleven times during 2010, ten times during 2011 and eight times during 2012.RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and RAF Lossiemouth in Moray both provide QRA aircraft, and scramble their Typhoons within minutes to meet or intercept aircraft which give cause for concern.
They had a strength of 7,120 personnel in 2014. Figures provided by the International Institute for Strategic Studies from 2012 showed that RAF pilots achieve a relatively high number of flying hours per year when compared with other major NATO allies such as France and Germany.
17 Test and Evaluation Squadron at Edwards AFB, California, accepting its first aircraft in 2014.
The Nimrod fleet was retired in 2011, the RAF co-manned aircraft of the US Air Force until the three RC-135s entered service between 2014 and 2017.
The Rivet Joint received its first operational deployment in August 2014, when it was deployed to the Middle East to fly missions over Iraq and Syria as part of Operation Shader. Based at RAF Waddington, No.
The first Atlas C1 (ZM400) was delivered to the RAF in November 2014.
Twenty-four Puma HC1s underwent upgrades to HC2 standard between 2012 and 2014.
Due to an airworthiness issue in April 2014, the Viking fleet and the Grob Vigilant T1 fleet were grounded for a two-year period, although Viking operations have subsequently resumed.
The 2021 Defence Command Paper confirmed the order for 16 Protectors, with the 2015 SDSR having originally laid out plans for more than 20. In July 2014, the House of Commons Defence Select Committee released a report on the RAF future force structure that envisaged a mixture of unmanned and manned platforms, including further F-35, Protector RG1, a service life extension for the Typhoon (which would otherwise end its service in 2030) or a possible new manned aircraft.
The RAF and Aircraft Design: Air Staff Operational Requirements 1923-1939 (Routledge, 2014). Smith, Malcolm.
In this scenario the pilot races to the hardened aircraft shelter and does everything short of starting his engines". On 4 October 2015, a final stand-down saw the end of more than 70 years of RAF Search and Rescue provision in the UK.
The longest-lived founding member of the RAF was Henry Allingham, who died on 18 July 2009 aged 113. As of 1 January 2015, the RAF numbered some 34,200 Regular and 1,940 Royal Auxiliary Air Force personnel, giving a combined component strength of 36,140 personnel.
The 2015 SDSR planned for six Sentry AEW1s to remain in service until 2035.
Following the 2015 SDSR, three more Shadows were ordered and the fleet was given an OSD of 2030. Ten General Atomics MQ-9A Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles have been purchased to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
56 Squadron act as the OCU and OEU for the ISTAR fleet respectively. ===Maritime patrol=== Nine Boeing Poseidon MRA1 were ordered by the Government in November 2015 in its Strategic Defence and Security Review for surveillance, anti-submarine and anti-surface ship warfare, filling a capability gap in maritime patrol that had been left since the cancellation of the BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4 programme in the 2010 SDSR.
The 2010 SDSR called for the retirement of the Hercules fleet by 2022, with the 2015 SDSR amending this to maintaining the fourteen Hercules C4s until 2030.
1 FTS and operates the Airbus Jupiter HT1 at RAF Valley. ===Future aircraft=== On 5 October 2015, it was announced that the Scavenger programme had been replaced by "Protector", a new requirement for at least 20 unmanned aerial vehicles.
On 7 October 2015, it was revealed that Protector will be a certifiable derivative of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian with enhanced range and endurance.
The 2021 Defence Command Paper confirmed the order for 16 Protectors, with the 2015 SDSR having originally laid out plans for more than 20. In July 2014, the House of Commons Defence Select Committee released a report on the RAF future force structure that envisaged a mixture of unmanned and manned platforms, including further F-35, Protector RG1, a service life extension for the Typhoon (which would otherwise end its service in 2030) or a possible new manned aircraft.
The draw-down of the Hercules C5 fleet began in 2016, with two left in service by December 2020.
They are the RAF's only dedicated search and rescue helicopter since the disbandment of the RAF Search and Rescue Force in February 2016.
A contract tender was initiated in February 2018 to replace this capability from 2022 onwards. ==== Elementary training ==== The Grob Prefect T1 was introduced to RAF service in 2016 as its elementary trainer.
100 Squadron has been providing fast jet training alongside its aggressor role, which the Hawk T1 was originally used for between 1976 and 2016.
In 2016, it was indicated that at least sixteen aircraft would be purchased with a maximum of up to twenty-six.
The Nimrod fleet was retired in 2011, the RAF co-manned aircraft of the US Air Force until the three RC-135s entered service between 2014 and 2017.
On 13 July 2017, it was announced that No.
However, due to the crash of Hercules C4 ZH873 in August 2017, one Hercules C5 was retained to keep the fleet at 14 aircraft.
The new contract means that all UK SAR coverage is now provided by Bristow aircraft. In 2018, the RAF's vision of a future constellation of imagery satellites was initiated through the launch of the Carbonite-2 technology demonstrator.
617 (The Dambusters) Squadron officially reformed on 18 April 2018 as the first operational RAF Lightning squadron.
The first four aircraft arrived at RAF Marham from the United States in June 2018, with a further five arriving in August 2018.
120 Squadron stood up on 1 April 2018, with No.
Originally ordered in 1978, with subsequent orders in 1995, 2011, and 2018 (yet to be finalised), the Chinook is operated by No.
The Vigilant was unexpectedly withdrawn from service in May 2018, a year earlier than planned.
A contract tender was initiated in February 2018 to replace this capability from 2022 onwards. ==== Elementary training ==== The Grob Prefect T1 was introduced to RAF service in 2016 as its elementary trainer.
The first two Texans were delivered in February 2018 and by December 2018 ten aircraft had arrived at RAF Valley.
In July 2018, a General Atomics US civil-registered SkyGuardian was flown from North Dakota to RAF Fairford for the Royal International Air Tattoo where it was given RAF markings.
In July 2018, at the Farnborough Airshow, the Defence Secretary announced a £2bn investment for BAE Systems, MBDA and Leonardo to develop a new British 6th Generation Fighter to replace Typhoon in 2035 under Project Tempest. On 22 March 2019, the Defence Secretary announced the UK had signed a $1.98 billion deal to procure five Boeing E-7 Wedgetails to replace the ageing E-3D Sentry AEW1 fleet in the Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) role.
The incumbent Chief of the Air Staff is Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston, who was appointed in July 2019. The management of the RAF is the responsibility of the Air Force Board, a sub-committee of the Defence Council which is part of the Ministry of Defence and body legally responsible for the defence of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories.
With the completion of 'Project Centurion' upgrades, the Typhoon FGR4 took over ground attack duties from the Panavia Tornado GR4, which was retired on 1 April 2019.
The Lightning was declared combat ready in January 2019.
207 Squadron on 1 August 2019 as the OCU for both RAF and Royal Navy pilots. === Intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) === The Boeing E-3D Sentry AEW1, based at RAF Waddington and operated by No.
However, the UK Government's announcement of the procurement of five Boeing E-7 Wedgetails in March 2019 led to the withdrawal of two Sentry AEW1s in preparation for the future transition to the new type, bringing the fleet down to four aircraft.
54 Squadron acts as the OCU for the Poseidon fleet. The first production Poseidon MRA1 ZP801 made its initial flight on 13 July 2019.
On completion of elementary training, aircrew are then streamed to either fast jet, multi-engine, or rotary training. ==== Basic fast jet training ==== Basic fast jet training is provided on the Beechcraft Texan T1, which replaced the Short Tucano T1 in November 2019.
In July 2018, at the Farnborough Airshow, the Defence Secretary announced a £2bn investment for BAE Systems, MBDA and Leonardo to develop a new British 6th Generation Fighter to replace Typhoon in 2035 under Project Tempest. On 22 March 2019, the Defence Secretary announced the UK had signed a $1.98 billion deal to procure five Boeing E-7 Wedgetails to replace the ageing E-3D Sentry AEW1 fleet in the Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) role.
By December 2020, twenty-one F-35Bs had been delivered to the RAF. The first RAF squadron to operate the F-35B was No.
In February 2020, it was announced that another E-3D had been retired in January, with the out of service date (OSD) for the Sentry being brought forward to December 2022 – before the E-7 Wedgetail will enter service.
ZP801 arrived at Kinloss Barracks, the former home of the Nimrod, on 4 February 2020, filling a decade long gap in maritime capability.
The Poseidon was declared combat ready in April 2020.
The Poseidon carried out its first operational mission on 3 August 2020, when the Russian warship Vasily Bykov was tracked.
A Poseidon MRA1 arrived at RAF Lossiemouth for the first time in October 2020.
The draw-down of the Hercules C5 fleet began in 2016, with two left in service by December 2020.
22 Squadron, based at RAF Benson, re-formed in May 2020 as the OEU for JHC. The large twin-rotor Boeing Chinook is the RAF's heavy-lift support helicopter.
Four additional Texans were delivered on 3 November 2020. Advanced fast jet training The BAE Hawk T2 is flown by No.
The OCUs use operational aircraft alongside simulators and ground training, although in the case of the Typhoon a two-seater training variant exists which is designated the Typhoon T3. On 15 October 2020, it was announced a joint RAF-Qatari Air Force Hawk squadron (similar to No.
In July 2020, the Ministry of Defence signed a contract for three Protectors with an option on an additional thirteen aircraft.
As of May 2020, the first E-7 is expected to enter RAF service in 2023 with the final aircraft arriving in late 2025 or early 2026.
In December 2020, it was announced that the Wedgetail AEW1 will be based at RAF Lossiemouth.
Through its subordinate groups, Air Command oversees the whole spectrum of RAF aircraft and operations. United Kingdom Space Command, established 1 April 2021 under the command of Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey is a joint command, but sits "under the Royal Air Force." Godfrey is of equal rank to the commanders of 1, 2, 11, and 22 Groups.
Originally a total of 138 Lightnings were planned, however the 2021 Defence Command Paper amended this to a commitment to increase the fleet beyond the current order of 48.
The 2021 Defence Command Paper brought the Sentry's OSD forward a year to 2021 and cut the total Wedgetail order to three aircraft. Six Hawker Beechcraft Shadow R1s (with two more to be converted) are operated by No.
201 Squadron set to form during 2021.
By 2 February 2021, five Poseidons had been delivered. ===Air mobility=== No.
The 2021 Defence Command Paper brought forward the retirement of the Hercules fleet to 2023. The Airbus Atlas C1 (A400M) replaced the RAF's fleet of Hercules C1/C3 (C-130K) which were withdrawn from use on 28 October 2013, having originally entered service in 1967.
On 1 April 2021, it was further elaborated that this squadron would stand-up in September 2021 at RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire. Multi-engine training Multi-Engine aircrew, weapon systems officer (WSO) and weapon systems operator (WSOp) students are trained on the Embraer Phenom T1.
The OSD for the Hawk T1 aggressor fleet was set as 2025 by the 2021 Defence Command Paper. ====Rotary==== No.
The 2021 Defence Command Paper confirmed the order for 16 Protectors, with the 2015 SDSR having originally laid out plans for more than 20. In July 2014, the House of Commons Defence Select Committee released a report on the RAF future force structure that envisaged a mixture of unmanned and manned platforms, including further F-35, Protector RG1, a service life extension for the Typhoon (which would otherwise end its service in 2030) or a possible new manned aircraft.
The 2021 Defence Command Paper cut the Wedgetail order down to three aircraft. ==Symbols, flags, emblems and uniform== Following the tradition of the other British armed services, the RAF has adopted symbols to represent it, use as rallying devices for members and promote esprit de corps.
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