RAF and United States Air Force (USAF) units based in the UK recently conducted a joint exercise, Agile Shield, to test their ability to rapidly disperse aircraft and personnel to alternative locations with minimal notice, according to a press release.
The exercise focused on the forces’ capability to operate efficiently without their usual level of ground support, testing the concept known as Agile Combat Employment.
As part of the exercise, USAF F-35A fighter jets from the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath relocated to RAF Marham to practice swift deployments in coordination with RAF units.
A RAF P-8A Poseidon was repositioned from RAF Lossiemouth to Newquay Airport, and Typhoons from RAF Coningsby and Lossiemouth were redeployed to RAF Cranwell and Leuchars Airfield.
Additionally, an RAF A400M Atlas transported a Combat Team from the British Army’s 34 Field Squadron to Prestwick Airport and delivered crucial equipment to the Poseidon stationed in Cornwall.
Crucial to the operation were the Command and Control (C2) units, which moved to temporary operations centres. Their role was vital in maintaining communication and overall control of the various units involved in the exercise, ensuring that operations continued seamlessly across multiple locations.
Very interesting that they are using leuchers which is now an army base. Good to see and I suppose some validation of the strategy of having larger RAF airbases for peace time while retaining runways in Army bases for dispersal.
Agree, what is also critical with Leuchars are its infrastructure to operate fast jets, which it used to, so HAS, SSA, link to GPSS, and so on.
While there are many runways on MoD estate, few have all those ingredients.
Lakenheath to Marham is hilarious, what, less than a few minutes flying time before joining the circuit?
True but I suppose in comparison to operating off a road as long as the runway is intact it’s a superior domain to be at an airfield in an army base.
I’d like to see more austere deployments, civil airports, certain other MoD runways without all the infrastructure sitting there.
I doubt it happens as I don’t believe the RAF have the staff or logistical support to do it effectively or in any great number.
Till they do, they’ll always be vulnerable if tied to the MoBs with no GBAD.
Reasonably certain the Orcs will have targeted all RAF and USAF MOBs in the UK, and as many plausible dispersal sites as feasible. Willing to wager the Orcs have coordinated targeting plans w/ their friends in the PLAN, as well. UK should accept no substitute for robust GBAD. USAF (and/or US Army?) should deploy own capability on an interim basis.
I think HMG would refuse as it would embarrass them.
The aircraft would have to be unarmed, you will never achieve the explosive safety distances for a fully armed aircraft at a civilian airport, you would need a 400 metre circle around each aircraft.
The explosive distances on an MOD airfield are greatly reduced, as every one on site is classified as an explosive worker & collateral damage if an aircraft high orders.
Thanks.
I assume those rules are sidelined in war? If not, that narrows things down a bit to the ex fighter stations and other MoD runways.
Leuchers is home to 39 Engr Regt who just happen to be airfield repair specialists! So if they can’t keep a runway operating there’s no hope😀👍
Gentle correction mate, that’s Kinloss.
Leuchars has the RSDG, 2 REME, and some reserve elements.
🙄not far away though 👍😂
this is what happens when you get old!
You’re fine as you are, mate. You’re allowed. 👊As you’ll know, the RE ADR Regs used to pre position aggregate, matt’s, and plant at various stations ready for use.
I wonder if that is still the case?
You would have thought so🤔Some ADR Sqns are TA so their kit would have to be on base.
Yes, there’s a reserve Reg that’s paired with 39.
Off my head I forget it’s number. I’ve a feeling it may have elements at Leuchars, which may explain your reference!
Yeah they have always kept the runway and tower fully functional. The response Typhoons have moved back there on occassion when Lossie has been out of use.
Maybe we need to buy back some of the short sightedly cold war airfields sold off since 1990. This new cold war is getting quite warm!
Investing in UK air defences is urgent too. Not much to stop missile or drone strikes.
Which ones did you have in mind?
Some are now industrial estates or built on, like Bentwaters, Alconbury, Upper Heyford.
Boscombe, St Mawgan, Leeming, Woodbridge, Honington, Kinloss, Leuchars, Chivenor, Wittering, all still available.
Unsure if the runway at Cottesmore is usable now.
Yeovilton and Culdrose available too.
Other runways on MoD estate too, but mostly for UAS or RLGs.
Hi Daniele. As they are local to me plus closest to NW Europe, so pertinent to Russian threats, I think the loss of Coltishall was foolish, plus Bentwaters, though if Woodbridge’s runways are still intact that’s something. Concentrating all out air assets in a few big bases pleases both the treasury & any enemy glad to find he only needs to hit a few targets. We also need room if we decide we need to rebuild more squadrons, rather than trying to squeeze them all into the few bases we have left.
Woodbridge is now Rock Barracks, but I’ve seen Hercs landing there. It also has HAS.
Bentwaters is a goner. Coltishall I think is a prison?
I agree with everything you say Frank.
I could have included Wattisham, also near by.
Other thing about Coltishall, it was never updated like other Strike Command Stations, with HAS and other hardening.
It’s 3 Jaguar Sqns, 6,41,54, were, I recall, earmarked for forward deployment, I think with ACE to the flanks. So it was an easy closure compared to losing a place like Honington.
Wittering likewise, it’s Harriers wouldn’t have remained.
Sighs wistfully at the RAF we used to have….🙄
Cottesmore’s runway is maintained as an emergency landing strip. No active air traffic control though, and you have to hope the Anglians are not running a SCR or RFT.
North Luffenham still has it’s runway, but the RE’s have used it for demolition practice, so there are some nice big craters in it.
Ha. I knew N Luffenham was a no no which is why I didn’t list it.
I study most of our installations on GE, NL looks in shit state.
Sorry, Dern, SCR and RFT?
Wouldn’t need this if they didn’t keep trying to pick fights with peer states