IX (B) Squadron from RAF Lossiemouth has been officially certified as a Multi-Role Combat Ready Squadron while deployed on NATO operations in the Black Sea region, according to a press release.
The certification was declared by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, on 3rd July 2024, in Romania, where the squadron is currently stationed.
With a storied history and a variety of aircraft including the Lancaster, Vulcan, Canberra, and Tornado, IX (B) Squadron was re-formed at RAF Lossiemouth in 2019 as a Typhoon Aggressor and Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Squadron.
Since then, the squadron has provided specialist adversary training to frontline units, according to the press release.
The squadron’s recent certification comes after completing the required training and operations.
“I am extremely proud of all the incredible people serving on IX (B) Squadron who have worked exceptionally hard to get the Squadron to be certified Multi-Role Combat Ready,” said Wing Commander Leask, Officer Commanding IX (B) Squadron.
“It has been fantastic watching the Squadron grow and gain a variety of operational experience, and having our Chief of the Air Staff declare us Multi-Role Combat Ready here on operations in Romania has been a highlight of my time in Command.”
In addition to their current deployment in the Black Sea region, IX (B) Squadron has participated in an arctic exercise in Norway and conducted Baltic air policing in Estonia alongside the German Air Force.
OK, I’m a retired Squaddie, what on earth does “ Multi-role combat ready” actually mean?
Given their entire Typhoon history appears to have been in the air to air environment, I’m assuming it means they can shoot at things on the ground as well as in the air ?
The crews are now trained in ground attack as well as air defence. 9 Squadron were just air defence and aggressor until now.
With the draw down of the tranche 1 aircraft underway does anyone know what’s happening with Squadron strength? Are the same numbers using less airframes? Are a couple of Squadrons about to disband? Or has individual Squadron size been reduced?
Good question, I was assuming that Typhoon squadrons would transfer to F-35B, but with the slow buy of those, I could well be wrong on that one. For now, I suppose active squadrons get extra pilots?
No changes in numbers for the frontline sqn’s. Because T1 aircraft have only been operated on the OCU and the Falklands for sometime now. The 7 frontline sqns operate T2/3 aircraft. The sustainment fleet will be slightly smaller with the withdrawal of the T1 aircraft. 4 T1 jets will remain in the Falklands until 2027.
Hi Robert, how are tricks? I can’t see the RAF managing full strength on 7 sgns + an OCU (and Falklands flight) on 106 Tranches 2/3 aircraft .
I suspect one of the above sgns will convert to F35 -hopefully in the not to distant future. Perhaps we will land on 6 Typhoon + 2 F36+ 2 F5F(RN)? sqns.
I guess SDR 2025 will clarify matters.
I would say not really possible…the RAF really need to make another tranche typhoon purchase..don’t forget they also have 12 squadron as well…that takes a number of jets. So it’s really 7 full squadrons, 2 flights worth in 12 and the Falklands as well as the OCU…without another tranche I would imagine we drop to 6 full squadrons maybe even 5…and there is no way we are standing up another F35 squadron for a long time.
cheers Jonathan. I support the idea of a tranche 4 buy, it seems really necessary.
Sad state of affairs for the RAF
I also agree with another Typhoon purchase but it’s just not going to happen. There just isn’t the money and there won’t be for the foreseeable future unfortunately.
I think the only way is if they delay the F35 buy…the question really is what program would with the least risk and cost.
1) deliver the jets needed to maintain squadron numbers in a timely way or even open the opportunities for an extra squadron.
2) support the British airo industry keeping capacity going until we start building a 6 generation fighter.
personally I think we should get both and actually aim for 8 typhoon squadrons and 3-4 F35….but as you say money talks.
That appear to be a good balance Jonathan:
“aim for 8 typhoon squadrons and 3-4 F35”
Oh, you haven’t seen today’s news? Armed Forces minister Luke Pollard has hinted the Tempest programme might be axed because theres no prospect of a working 6th Gen warplanes appearing in the next ten years.
Sky News quotes him as saying “Committing limited funds to a project that will only deliver new aircraft in the next decade is not the best way to deter a more immediate threat of war with Russia.”
I’d written before that GCAP could become a victim with a change in government. But the line their taking doesn’t make much sense. For example AUKUS, the same thinking should also apply ie ‘all development should be dropped to get more equipment sooner’. Russia who is actually at war has not stopped developing new equipment in fact its ramped up its RnD.
I suspect things are being tee’d up to drop GCAP and join EUs FCAS with costs being reason given. Italy would then join FCAS, so the costs would be across min 5 nations not 3. Order a few more Typhoons and the electorate will be happy.
What he actually said in the speech was:
“The GCAP programme is a really important programme for us,” Mr Pollard said, answering questions at an annual conference in London on air and space power on Thursday.
He said that John Healey, the defence secretary, would be meeting his Japanese and Italian counterparts next week “to underline that”.
“It is not right for me to prejudge what might happen in the defence review.”
“We need cutting-edge capabilities,” Mr Pollard said. “We need to make sure that when we are procuring systems, high-end systems…that we do it in the most cost-effective way and that is by working with our partners.”
However, the minister said the defence review is “about making those decisions differently”.
He added: “It should not be about ministers saying, ‘You could do a review but by the way I am going to tell you in speeches about this platform, that platform and this platform.’”
what he actually said was they they also need to look at what they can do now to increase the lethality of the airforce….thats not scrapping the 6 gen fighter at all.
It looks like GCAP is in the cross hairs, so could we see a tranche 4 order in the next review with GCAP dropped to pay for it? Labour has been very open on AUKUS commitment but now looking very shaky on GCAP. As I written before I suspect its laying the ground work to join FCAS as the alternative. Time will tell as they say.
That’s not really what was said..the minister actually said he supported it and that they were discussing the way ahead with the partner nations..as it’s so important..but he would not pre-empt the defence review….somehow the media has take that as a Labour are going to cancel it….
“The GCAP programme is a really important programme for us,” Mr Pollard said, answering questions at an annual conference in London on air and space power on Thursday.
He said that John Healey, the defence secretary, would be meeting his Japanese and Italian counterparts next week “to underline that”.
“It is not right for me to prejudge what might happen in the defence review.”
“We need cutting-edge capabilities,” Mr Pollard said. “We need to make sure that when we are procuring systems, high-end systems…that we do it in the most cost-effective way and that is by working with our partners.”
However, the minister said the defence review is “about making those decisions differently”.
He added: “It should not be about ministers saying, ‘You could do a review but by the way I am going to tell you in speeches about this platform, that platform and this platform.'”
so no they don’t look shaky on GCAP…the media look like they are desperate for headlines.
All very well but comparing the language to AUKUS it’s very different. They’ve come out fully in support of AUKUS no woolly language.
And he also said this. Note nor with our global partner but ‘in Europe.’
‘If the US thinks NGAD is maybe unaffordable in the US Air Force programme, then I think we probably need to look very carefully at how we are going to do this in Europe.’
There was comment made that we could be at war by 2028, which begs a huge question if the government actually believes that the why isn’t defence spending increasing today, very odd! But associated with that was money maybe better spent on current platforms.
My money is on us joining FCAS so I agree they not saying no to 6th gen just how they can justify that decision. Which is fine the British people voted for Labour and they made it clear they want to tie defense to Europe before the election. Its democracy at work.
And 41, the trials unit.
IX(B) Sqn fly T1’s. They “borrow” T2/3 a/c when abroad.
On the Falklands front, will the T1s be replaced with T2/3s or will they be going to F35s? Just curious if you or anyone knows.
Given the recent Argentine purchse of F16s, albeit older variants, would it be prudent to send a few extra T1s down there and either keep them operational and bump up the numbers in 1435 Flight or keep them on ready standby incase of hostilities?
It will be T2/3 aircraft. F35 won’t be operated from the Falklands.
Hi MT
The RAF would be hard pressed to full strength on 7 sgns + an OCU (and Falklands flight) on 106 Tranches 2/3 aircraft . Must bet reduced strengths on some sqns.
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They have been increasing squadrons without increasing air frames for a while. I’m sure the same will continue with cut in airframe.
I wonder how many air frames are actually battle ready. If a war broke out tomorrow, how many typhoons could we realistically field.
A Sqn that on paper can go to war, but in reality can’t deploy due to their poor management and over reliance on Sqns down south…
How informative
The RAF has its own classification system – the Typhoon FGR4’s can be derived from (F) Fiighter, (G) Ground attack and (R) Reconnaissance if that makes sense 👍.
Okey dokey
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Why have the RAF developed a passion for Roman Numerals as squadron numbers? Is it just to confuse? Thankfully the RN have stuck to Arabic; how long would 809 Squadron be in Roman?
Interestingly the RAF used Roman numerals for its aircraft until around WW2. Notable examples are the Spitfire mark I, V, XI, XIV and the Mosquito FB mark IV, etc. After WW2 they changed to Arabic numerals (1, 2, etc.). Squadron numbering patterns tend to date back further, even to the RFC. I think some of the older squadrons have retained their Roman numerals.
809 = DCCCIX
809 = DCCCIX
*If only I’d scrolled down one more comment… I see JJ beat me to it.
Thanks all for your replies
I wonder how long Trench 1Typhoons are going to last under Labour government 🤔
How about using them to replace the Hawks at Valley – and a few for the Red Arrows? Plenty of pilots with operational Typhoon experience, to teach; and probably most of the Red Arrows pilots would ex-Typhoon pilots, too.
Big problem is, not many (if any) T1A two-seaters available.
Just saying…
Typhoon T1 to replace Hawks! 😆 The Hawks an ideal advanced trainer for the next step up to Typhoon at OCU level.
I think only superpowers like the USA use frontline types for their display teams. Too expensive.
Hi DM. I wonder if some of the RAF /Luftwaffe T1s will make their way to the Ukraine? That would be an interesting turn of events.
Not sure mate.
The Ukrainians are having enough issues getting all their F16s retrofitted to a common spec. The last thing they want is a small number of non standard aircraft, with a huge logistical tail. The tank fiasco made that clear, where the Challengers and M1s were a waste of everyones’ time and what they needed was as many Leopards and Bradleys as possible.
I guess the impact/effect of the F16s will determine their future requirements . Point taken on the logistics side of typhoon, but necessity is the driver and we shall see.
Points taken, Daniele – just floating an idea or two… bit it seems a shame to contemplate scrapping perfectly good Tranche 1’s. No-one seems able to make a decision on what to do with them.
Fit them with an anti-ship missile?
I’d love to see a few more sent to RAF Mount Pleasant following the recent Argentine purchase of F16s, albeit older variants. While it’s unlikely we’ll see hostilities over the Falklands any time soon, four aircraft doesn’t seem to leave much room for any issues.
Agreed 👍
Do you actually think we’ll have the Red Arrows in jet trainers in 5 years?
Considering the plans to ditch the Tranche 1 Typhoons was already underway by the previous Conservative govt & that Labour have been in govt fir 11days? What fo you think they really can do with less than a fortnight in the job?
Does it take two weeks to make a decision 🙄
I think the plan is to have them retired by end of next year? This was a Tory decision some years back.
😟
They are already gone and it’s nothing to do with labour.
Not yet they haven’t!
🙏
To be honest I think any part of a decide cut by the Torys won’t make a Labour party have a different d decision sadly . 😞 🇬🇧
What’s your take on GCAP, Labour have been all over themselves committing to AUKUS, but now GCAP has come up they gone all woolly on it. Seems odd they can commit to the RnD on subs that won’t be built until next decade but can’t make the same commitment on a new fighter jet???. Story on Sky News and a few other outlets.
Do they have an anti shipping capability? Like the tornados we binned off. Now that was multi role, for an island nation
Always loved the Green Bat..