RAF Typhoon jets and a Chinook helicopter have met over the white cliffs to conduct valuable training, say the Royal Air Force.
In a news release, the RAF say that the crews were fresh from wowing the crowds at the Bournemouth Air Festival and took the opportunity to meet up near Beachy Head to practise targeting manoeuvres.
“Typhoon pilots exercised vital low-level interception training, working the many challenges of finding slow targets such as helicopters and small fixed-wing aircraft. The Chinook crew, who train in evasion tactics against aggressive fast jets, took advantage of the opportunity to experience such a situation. Both aircraft types have recently been operating in Eastern Europe as part of NATO’s commitment.
Chinook helicopters returned to the UK from the Baltic States where they supported training and logistics as part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence. Typhoons have been conducting armed sorties as part of NATO’s enhanced Vigilance Activity to secure the Alliance’s eastern border and deter Russian aggression. They have also deployed across Europe from Estonia, Finland and Sweden down to the Mediterranean to train and integrate with our allies.
Typhoon pilots are well versed in procedures for tracking targets at high altitude with the RAF providing Quick Reaction Alert for UK airspace 24/7. These multi-role fast jets are ready to respond at a moment’s notice to any potential threat within the UK, such as a civilian flight not responding to radio calls or the approach of an unauthorised military aircraft.
Chinooks operate with various other aircraft in the congested air/land environment, delivering heavy cargo in the cab and under-slung loads, conducting troop insertions and extractions, and taking Medical Emergency Response Teams to and from the battlefield to save lives. Both airframes regularly integrate with larger forces so familiarity with each other’s procedures is key to rapid deployment at short notice and effective cooperation.”
You can read more here.
Maybe they could have helped border force police our borders, if you can call our taxi service that…
Well, when in the EU, all but 5 were returned in the last year. However, the turkies knew what they were voting for, hey ho.
I’m afraid that isn’t true and a lie promulgated by the left in which to sell the line that England (Never Scotland, Wales, or NI) is a nasty intolerant place . The U.K. has always prided itself on how it treats the little man and which is why after Labour came to power in 1997, the legal aid bill went through the roof where now it is double what the rest of Europe spends combined.a legal aid bill which is used to ensure that those who have no right to be here are defended. I can remember carrying out a… Read more »
Well said that man, I hold the very same thoughts but try telling that to someone who voted remain and ouch the reply is not very polite.
That’s not true I’m a remainer. But I acknowledge what’s done is done and we need to move forwards. It’ll be another generation before there’s any vote again if ever. So best just move on and make the best of it.
Hi Ron, Generalisations are probably not the best thing to use in this context, mate. I’m a remainer and, like Expat, I respect the result. What I have a problem with is the lies told by the politicians on ‘both’ sides of the argument, I can never forgive them for that as it totally undermined the process. I’m not saying the result would have or should have been different, just that we should ‘not’ have to sort the truth from lies when uttered by our politicians. They work for us – we pay them after all (unless they’re on the… Read more »
Hi CR, I agree, generalisations are not the best thing to use and wish sometimes more detailed answers could be given. I also did not mean to insult anyone. I also agree that I wish politicians would tell the truth rather than bend it to what they want. People need to make informed choicies and we need the information to make that choice. As for me I am British and European, I see advantagies and disadvantages of being in the EU and outside the EU. Expat mentioned another generation before the next possible vote. I do think that it should… Read more »
Hi Ron,
Yeh, I couldn’t agree more. As for trying to point out downsides to ‘believers’, all too often you are on a hiding to nothing sadly. Politics, as we agree, has become too much about belief and too little about evidence and truth…
Ho hum…
I do find it amusing that Liz Truss was meeting with European leaders this week. Realism breaking out, perhaps? Good news to be fair as any chance to open dialog between nations has got to be a good thing.
Cheers CR
Barack Farouk, I couldn’t have put it better.
undemocratic state run by unelected mandarins…made me laugh, but infantile drivel often does. That is like saying the UK is undemocratic as it is run by Civil Servants.
The EU is IRL really run by the commission. There is nothing democratic about that. The civil service who support the commission are doctrinally saturated in EU think in the way the UK civil service is open minded to logical persuasive argument. So many option are closed off by the single market doctrine, state aid doctrine (unless you are French), stability pact doctrine. Essentially all policy is squeezed through a rigid unbending framework that is designed to not allow the block to evolve away from the doctrines……. The parliament is a rubber stamp. How do I know: I worked for… Read more »
PC wrote: “”undemocratic state run by unelected mandarins…made me laugh, but infantile drivel often does. That is like saying the UK is undemocratic as it is run by Civil Servants.”” This will be my only responce as I dont wish to drag the thread down a one way parallel st, but do allow me to expand on my orignal post. I cited undemocratic , so when the EU brought in a new law regards Pig husbandry in 1991 the Uk was one of the few who implimented that EU ruling straight away, others such as Germany/Spain/France/Poland (since 2004) dragged their… Read more »
An even bigger BRAVO. I predict yawning silence or someone will be unable to cope with the truth of these posts and get them removed, like others of yours.
Not to worry mate, I have cut and paste the lot for posterity.
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BRAVO!!! BRAVO!!! The Remainers are still at it with surveys in the Independent, anti Brexit rants on yahoo news, and when one types “news” into Google a never ending row of articles from the Guardian and the Independent. What a surprise!
Impartial media? Not a chance.
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Quite right Farok, some sound common sense.
Cheers,
George
I’m sorry, but I must correct you on several points that are inaccurate. The reason it is almost impossible now to return asylum seekers to the EU, is because we left the EU. Remember these people have to apply to become EU citizens, just like they have to apply to become UK citizens. The reason the legal aid bill for asylum seekers has skyrocketed, is because Priti Patel and her department are trying to expel people, regardless of the individual circumstances, and ignoring the Geneva convention. So they keep losing court cases. I should also point out, the total amount… Read more »
Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian, ultranationalist political ideology and movement, characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural social hierarchy, subordination of individual interests for the perceived good of the nation and race.
My political position is we need a new party but ‘Facist’ is a term used all to often to do nothing more than stir up emotion and wholly wide of the mark wrt UK politics.
To everyone please accept my appologies, I know I said I wouldn’t continue, but I cannot allow misinformation to be peddled as factual: Pads brat wrote: “The reason the legal aid bill for asylum seekers has skyrocketed, is because Priti Patel and her department are trying to expel people, regardless of the individual circumstances, and ignoring the Geneva convention. So they keep losing court cases.” The highest legal aid bill was when it reached 2.9 Billion in 2005 . A figure it reached from around 250 Million in 1997 which is due to the justice act of 1999 Since 2013… Read more »
Part 2: “”Ironically it would also reduce the current wave of asylum seekers sailing across the channel too, as there would be an actual system for them to apply to become EU and UK nationals, before they even leave their country of origin.”” Nobody has an issue with bonafide asylum seekers however that adjective has been abused by the PC crowd who assign that tag to anybody and everybody, which explains why so many so called AS are not people running for their lives, but single men simply looking for a better life, where everything is handed to them on… Read more »
Part 3: Regards this headline catcher that the UK is unable to return anybody because we are no longer in the Uk, the thing is they concentrate primarily on those who are crossing the channel when actually we have more illegals coming direct to the Uk via other sources So 33K people have crossed the channel to now this year. What nobody mentions is how international students have cottoned onto the fact they can bring in their families whislt they study so in in 2019 that came to 29700, 3 years later that figure has increased to 81100, and surprise… Read more »
Man-up, your side lost!
I see ‘Farouk’ answered you well and truly – how green is my valley!!😀
We all lost there are no sides.
Jim, I’m a remainer but we need to get behind making a go of it, what’s done is done.
Don’t tell the turkeys what they voted for, it makes them unhappy 😀
The real turkeys are the snp supporting kind, thinking about their pipe-dream of Indy-2. Does the shoe fit? Thought so!😂
Well that is complete cobblers for a start, sadly its EU law protecting and preventing people being returned not UK law. The sooner the shackles are removed from this the better.
The only reason they dont want to stay in France as its mandatory to have a national ID card. Says enough for the type of the people leaving France to get to the UK.
Simple answer, implement an ID card for anyone arriving under migration until they are granted citizenship then remove the card.
Actual migrants do get a Biometric residency card. However ‘asylum seekers’ will get full citizenship before those who apply through the visa schemes. Most coming from France are not true asylum seekers, if you’re running for your life why risk being deported by not claiming asylum in the first safe country. Therefore logic dictates these are economic migrants and should not get the fast tracked over legitimate applicants who follow the rules, its unfair.
What EU law is it that’s protecting people? ECHR is not related to the EU. And European Convention on Human is also separate from EU and something we played a large part in authoring. Reason most want to leave France is that English is one of the most spoken languages so they’re keen to come somewhere can more likely speak language. Britain through recent times and empire has also spent a long time telling the world how great we are, so of course there’s going to be a draw. Ironically EU agreements {(Dublin Convention) would make it easier to send… Read more »
The uk is a big chinook operator. Is it 50-60 now? It’s a useful aircraft to have. With the new middle weight chopper and apaches the army/airforce have quite a good fleet.
Maybe we will see an airbase open closer to nato east flank for helicopters in the future. Probably as well to stick a few thousand troops and equipment that way for the next few years. Will let them integrate with local forces over a longer period.
Yes, though some older examples will be withdrawn. Unsure how many.
That does not affect the 3 operational squadrons or the joint Puma/Chinook OCU.
Don”t know why, but occasionally become sentimental when viewing photos of white cliffs of Dover, or when I’ve seen them in person. Probably guilty of watching one too many WW II themed movies. There is a phrase from the refrain of a long forgotten song…’there’ll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover’… Many good men never had an opportunity to grow old.
True, those cliffs hold a very dear sight to many a Brit especially for those that have been overseas for sometime or been on deployment. Many a time I have stood on the bows of the old Townsend Thoreson ‘squaddie’ ferries to see the cliffs. Yeep we would have the same song going through our heads.
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Yeh, great song for the time… and still pulls on the heart strings, and no I’m not that old before anyone suggests it.
Funny thing though, we don’t get blue birds this side of the pond – they’re North American birds. Still a great song.
By the way Vera Lynn lived to about 103 and was awarded the Burma Star in 1985 for entertaining British guerrilla units in occupied Burma.
Cheers CR
Thanks CR, interesting info. Song written by a Yank? Vera Lynn a Brit?
Yup, both the song writer, Nat Burton and composer, Walter Kent were American. Yes his name really was Kent! 🙂
(Just in case you didn’t know the White Cliffs are in the County of Kent, hence my smiling at the coincidence.)
No idea why two Americans wrote the song, but glad they did.
Cheers CR
Thanks; string enough coincidences together and there is perhaps an alternative explanation: fate. 🤔😊
Except those aren’t the While Cliffs of Dover. Ironically, the white cliffs of Dover aren’t very white.
Damn, bluebirds are not native to England, the White Cliffs are not very white…been sold a bail of goods ..time to contact an attorney/solicitor…class action lawsuit in the offing…it’s the American way…🤣😂😁
If you squint, you can actually see my house in that photo. Dover, on the other hand is a good two hours away in light traffic…
Yes, believe I can see it in the distance…😁
…bale…🙄
“There are blackbirds over the greyish cliffs of Dover, and the rats are preparing to leave the BBC.” If you like WW1 and WW2 upbeat songs, Noel Coward’s 1950s riposte is absolutely hilarious.
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Thats a great paint job! Lets flog the T1`s to Ukraine with a similar blue/yellow paint scheme.
AA
Makes a lot of sense for a single nation to pick up all the T1s from operators. Most have a lot of life on the airframes, there around 150 out there and could be upgraded as a job lot.
Outside of Ukraine, India could do worse and HAL could run an upgrade programme like they’re running on the Jaguars.
That’s jolly good idea. It’s still a fantastic aircraft, Despite the radar not being AESA (which seems to downgrade any aircraft to the level of a Sopwith Camel some people would have you believe) it’s still a top notch device, and even if they only added Brimstone to the air-ground weapon capability, what a fantastic addition to Ukraine in particular, but yes..India..whoever…
Gosh, or even the RAF…
AA
Pity we sold off our 3 easternmost bases Coltishall, Bentwaters & Woodbridge.
Bentwaters and Woodbridge are probably still recoverable’.
We didn’t, not all of them.
Bentwaters is an industrial estate.
Woodbridge is Rock Barracks, with 23 and 28 RE. It’s runway is used occasionally.
Coltishall had no HAS or modern hardening like the other Strike Command stations received.
The thing about those old stations is the state of the runways, especially if they are concrete slabs…
Cheers CR
Hi mate. Please elaborate, im not an engineer like your good self. Brize melted in the heat this summer I’d have thought these older legacy runways like Woodbridge would be military grade concrete and thus, useful, given some TLC?
I’m pleased MoD retains some of these old stations with the infrastructure available.
Hi Daniele, The concrete is laid in big blocks, sometimes 2 or 3 ft thick so you’d think job done. However, the blocks have seams that are sealed by tar usually to allow for expansion and contraction. If you have ever driven on a concrete Motorway (M40 between Stokenchurch and Oxford, for example) you’ll know what I mean. The problem is these seals need to be maintained overtime, if not the water will get under the concrete particlarly at the corners where 4 seams meet. Depending on what is underneath the concrete the water can flush the material out from… Read more »
Hi mate. Thanks for that, all makes sense to me.
Been a few years but yes I know the M40 Stokenchurch stretch! Lovely view westward.
Wattisham should still be available,Wittering and Honnington also spring to mind.
All could be used for dispersal, yes, though Wittering has no HAS, at least is still a flying station. Wattisham has HAS, not all useable.
Nothing seems to be on the runway at MoD Wethersfield, but as CR notes no idea what state the runway is in.
Paul, You do know that Wattisham Flying Station is AAC (since 1993) with two aviation Regiments stationed there. Are you suggesting shared use with the RAF?
Yes Graham,im well aware that Wattisham has been solely AAC for some time,i was adding to the OP’s point of Eastern most bases potentially available today with Runways and Infrastructure still capable of operating Fast jets.
Thanks Paul. With only helos using Wattisham, could we be sure that the runway, taxiway and other infrastructure is in good shape to operate fast jets?
I have always been surprised that Typhoons only operate from 2 bases in the UK – quite a vulnerability, I would have thought.
In other news, you can see my house in that picture (if you look really closely)
How are they armed to defend the country? And what use is all this technology when Russia can launch the Sarmat-II which is uninterceptable? If one of these are detonated above the country then all these warships and planes are gone in vain
“RAF finally join in Border Force Operations” Oh, were the crews WOKE enough and from the correctly recruited backgrounds?