Estonia’s biggest military exercise, Spring Storm (Kevadtorm) 2024, is taking place within the framework of the large-scale NATO exercise Steadfast Defender, during which the allies will practice the transfer of troops from North America to Europe.
The U.S., UK, France, Canada, Latvia, Denmark, and Poland will take part in this year’s Spring Storm.
April 29–May 18, @Kaitsevagi and Allies will increase aviation activity with low-flying, helicopter landings and overflights in Estonia for Ex Swift Response and Spring Storm. Aircraft include Eurofighter Typhoon, F16, Airbus A400M, Boeing C17, M28, WildCat, CH47 Chinook, Apache. pic.twitter.com/0kh9Zk8YpH
— Estonian Defence Forces | Eesti Kaitsevägi (@Kaitsevagi) April 26, 2024
British jets have started to arrive.
British aircraft are arriving in Estonia. Over April 29–May 18; NATO will increase aviation activity with low-flying, helicopter landings and overflights for Exercise Swift Response and Spring Storm. pic.twitter.com/pnwTC5eTKe
— George Allison (@geoallison) April 29, 2024
Given the governments renewed emphasis on industrial production I think it increasingly making sense not to upgrade the tranche 3 Typhoons to the Tranche 5 standard but instead spend the upgrade money and procure more Typhoons. At the very least we should focus on keeping a minimum production run of 12 aircraft a year until we are ready to switch to building Tempest. We should also re establish reserve squadrons and pass older typhoons across to those squadrons just like the USAF does with the air national guard. We need our armed forces to break out of their peace time… Read more »
Not sure NETMA could supply aircraft at an average rate of 1 per month even after gearing up for it, which in itself would create a delay before the first aircraft delivery. Even if that was feasible, we can’t produce enough excess trained pilots at the required rate to create reserve squadrons. To do that places onus on a significant increase in the planned training pipeline. But if there’s a will there’s a way, so perhaps I’m wrong. My preference would be to ensure all Tranche 2/3 Typhoons get the AESA radar update and increase F35 numbers and squadrons ahead… Read more »
Reserve squadrons would primarily be made up by former front line aircrews as with national guard. NETMA is already producing more than 1 aircraft a month and has previously supplied at much higher rate but the idea is very much to ramp up to a sustainable levels of continuous production rather than the feast a famine. What you’re advocating is the current policy which takes zero account of military industrial considerations. That’s a £2 billion cost to upgrade just 40 Typhoons tranche 3 with AESA radar. Not sure about you but I think that’s a bad investment and it does… Read more »
I believe Typhoon production peaked at around 60 aircraft per annum but has been drastically reduced recently for the latest Kuwait and Qatar orders. However the recent German and Spanish orders may change that again so I guess your suggestion is certainly valid.
However, the AESA radar development is part of a bigger integrated package of upgrades to increase the aircraft lethality and survivability. Also all new Typhoons are likely to be fitted with an AESA variant of some sort. They will stop producing Captor-M and I don’t believe it will be an option for any new orders,
What you say Jim, makes perfect sense but it would seem that those at the top cannot or will not do what is clearly necessary. Volunteers and Reserve forces have performed from well to incredible from many nations and in many desperate situations. Look at Ukraine and further back in history look at the Rhodesian Armed Forces. Leaving aside the politics, that small number of Black and White ZimRhods held the Communist forces of Mugabe at bay for more than a decade. And, even though I said politics aside, Mugabe’s regime destroyed the economy and fabric of Zimbabwe very efficiently… Read more »
The UK military has always treated reservists terribly.
That is a pity. I was an Honourary Officer with the old Natal Parks Board who were responsible for all the Game Reserves in the Province. It was run in those days along mildly Military/Law enforcement lines, a relic from its quasi-colonial founders who had British Empire roots. Most of the African colonies ran their conservation bodies under similar lines with parade ground drill, some military ranks and insignia, and broad policing powers in enforcement of the Provincial and National Ordinances including anti-poaching, illicit trade, permits etc.. We always had great respect for the Regular Officers and despite some reservations… Read more »
I have heard there’s a real issue training new pilots. The RAF are trying to tempt back retired pilots to help train new pilots. There’s an ex pilot on YouTube saying why he wouldn’t go back. Reasons were money, being stuck at RAF valley which he made sound like it’s the middle of nowhere with no jobs for spouses, diversity issues etc etc. according to him the pilots are needing to stay in the front line squadrons instead of rotating through training roles. This will have a serious impact in the coming years. It was so obvious when the RAF/government… Read more »
Fast Jet Performance – I saw that. Really not very complimentary about the RAF but then that he got sacked for being outspoken.
Generally, a lot of military movements currently. It sends the appropriate message.
At the rate we’re currently deploying Typhoons globally do we really think it’s the brightest of ideas to retire the Tranche 1 Typhoons? If we do we’re not only reducing an already small fleet of aircraft at a time of heightened threat we’re also going to wear out what left of the remaining Typhoons and servicabilty and consequently aircraft availability will decline further. Seems like a dumb idea. Seems like it’s something we shouldn’t do. Maybe don’t do it….
Yes I agree, Spain is already upgrading tranche 1 typhoon to operate for atleast another decade so it can be done. Keeping T1 is the only chance the RAF has to actually increase its number of air frames. While the air to air mission that the T1 are largely adapted to was not seen as that important a few years ago when the decision to scrap them was made its become vital now, with the arrival of large fleets of suicide drones Typhoon is a more relevant capability than ever. F35 is a great bomber and sniper but when you… Read more »
Wish the government would see sense and keep the tranche 1’s until a new order of tranche 4’s came into service to keep numbers at 130-140.
107 T2/T3 is nowhere near enough to do all thats required of them…..at least not without working them so hard they burn through their airframe hours and need more and more maintenance sooner than anticipated.
Low rate production makes sense until Tempest ramps up too.
In the same way the RN needed a shipbuilding strategy the RAF badly needs an air strategy!
You would think the recent talk of increasing defense budget would come with some kind of serious announcement of how it will be spent, such as more jets/tanks/ships, before we get a solid roadmap of how things will improve, it is just a promise from a bunch of politicians (ie not very reliable). An order of say 25-40 tranche 4 would be a good start and an announcement of keeping the tranche 1 until that happens would be a smart move. Can’t fault the hard work that is being put in with the few jets we have tho, they are… Read more »
I’m surprised the Tory’s have not made an announcement on tranche 1 to try and bait labour into committing to it yet.
They announced hypersonic missile program which is pie in the sky instead.
Paint them pink and we can call them the flying pig.
Agreed 👍
Entirely agree that we should keep the tranche 1 Typhoon F2s in service, they have a lot of useful life left in the airframes and are a very good interceptor. Other countries run their older aircraft on until they are replaced. Italy and Germany are still operating Tormados, which are currently being replaced by F-35s, Spain has tweaked its tranche 1 Typhoons to extend their effectiveness. The advantage this brings is not only in maintaining aircraft numbers, you also maintain trained squadrons and pilots, ready to transit to the replacement aircraft. We go the other way, rushing to scrap equipment,… Read more »
West of England?? Where do you suggest?
The only two western bases equidisant.from Lossie and Coningsby and with long enough runways are Aldergrove and BAE Warton. No reason the MOD couldn’t reactivate former as an RAF base and relocate the helicopters currently there or do a deal with BAE to share the latter. There is also RAF Woodvale near Formby in Lancasire, which is used by two UAS. The runways are too short (1647, 1068m) for mode4n fast jet aircraft and I’ve no idea how easy it would be to extend them by 1000+ metres. If there’s a will, there’s a way. My suggestion would be, as… Read more »