RAF aircraft have carried out a major offensive in support of Iraqi ground troops in an operation lasting 10 days.

The Royal Air Force say that throughout the 10 day operation in the Makhmur mountains, the RAF used 42 Paveway IV bombs and 10 Storm Shadow cruise missiles.

“The operation builds on the success of recent years and represents a significant increase in activity from previous months. This was the first operational use of the Storm Shadow cruise missile from a Typhoon FGR4 aircraft.”

A Royal Air Force statement reads:

“The operation began when Daesh extremists were confirmed to be based in a network of caves in the Makhmur mountains and concluded on 22 March. Since the caves were assessed to be a particularly challenging target, three Typhoon FGR4s were tasked to conduct an attack using Storm Shadow missiles, the remote area having first been checked to ensure that no civilians would be placed at risk. The strike on the Daesh targets was assessed by subsequent surveillance to have been a success.

Operation Shader is essential to dismantling Daesh’s networks and reducing the terrorist group’s global ambitions. Though Daesh has been territorially defeated, it is estimated there are approximately 10,000 Daesh terrorists still at large across Syria and Iraq. The UK, together with 82 partner nations of the Global Coalition, therefore remains committed to working with Iraq to not only degrade and ultimately defeat Daesh but to also enhance its security.”

Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace was quoted as saying:

“The British Armed Forces, alongside our Iraqi and Coalition partners, continue to root out Daesh terrorists from where they hide. The UK is committed to defeating Daesh. This operation will prevent the terrorist group and its toxic ideology from regaining a foothold in Iraq and reduce its capability to coordinate attacks around the world.”

In addition to air strikes the RAF is also carrying out Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance; Air to Air Refuelling and Air Transport sorties using Reaper, Voyager, C-130 and A400M aircraft.

RAF Typhoon taking off
Image Crown Copyright 2021

What is Operation Shader?

The air drops were ordered following the genocide of the Yazidi people and other ethnic minorities by Daesh in Northern Iraq, which had led to them fleeing onto the mountainside to escape Daesh.

Following the conclusion of the aid drops, the operation quickly changed to become the UK element in the US-led coalition that began the campaign to destroy Daesh. Based out of Cyprus, the Royal Air Force continues to survey and strike targets in Iraq and Syria as part of the Global Coalition under the banner of Op SHADER.

You can read more about the operation here.

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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Ulya
Ulya (@guest_551981)
3 years ago

Very good

Paul42
Paul42 (@guest_551989)
3 years ago

FGR4s? Tranche 1s that are about to be withdrawn?

George Royce
George Royce (@guest_551993)
3 years ago
Reply to  Paul42

I hope we make a jolly good sale of those Tranche 1s.

Paul42
Paul42 (@guest_551994)
3 years ago
Reply to  George Royce

If indeed these were FGR4 Tranche 1s, then why in God’s name would we want to discard them?

Robert Blay.
Robert Blay. (@guest_551998)
3 years ago
Reply to  Paul42

They are not T1’s. T1’s can only carry air to air missiles and Paveway 2. Paveway 2 is no longer used as far as I’m aware.

TrevorH
TrevorH (@guest_552009)
3 years ago
Reply to  Robert Blay.

From what I read the Stormshadow (950lbs) warhead is 2x the Paveway, so can do a lot more damage. Presumably it is accurate, because overall the entire missile is still some 3000lbs, that’s a lot of kit to go ‘bang’.

Robert Blay
Robert Blay (@guest_552017)
3 years ago
Reply to  TrevorH

Yes, Stormshadow is an impressive bit of kit, with very long standing off range. Enhanced Paveway 4 has replaced most of the earlier Paveway models. It’s a 500lb warhead, but can provided 80% of the kinetic bang as a 1000lb Paveway due to some very clever fusing options. Paveway 4 can also be re-targeted In flight, hit moving targets, and be steered away to a safe area if civilians come within range. The warhead can also be dialled down to take out an individual sniper for example without blowing up the hospital next door. Very clever. 6 weapons can also… Read more »

Nigel Collins
Nigel Collins (@guest_552006)
3 years ago
Reply to  Paul42

Here’s some more information on the weapons loadout for the FGR4 towards the bottom of the article. Impressive!

http://www.armedforces.co.uk/raf/listings/l0028.html

julian1
julian1 (@guest_552008)
3 years ago
Reply to  Paul42

Shader Typhoons routinely carry Brimstone, P4 and Storm Shadow. Perhaps BVR missiles too. These birds will be T2/3.

Mr Bell
Mr Bell (@guest_552010)
3 years ago
Reply to  George Royce

Likely to be given away to Romania who need a modern combat aircraft but cant afford to purchase new. This gave away will probably cost UK taxpayers significant sums of money as we will no doubt have to train the Romanians in the jets use, servicing, routine maintenance etc. Plus probably give them a whole inventory of spare parts. Makes me suck just thinking about it. If we are giving capable and perfectly good combat aircraft away. We should at least be replacing them with a firm commitment to at least 80 F35Bs and ideally another tranche 4 order for… Read more »

Robert Blay
Robert Blay (@guest_552018)
3 years ago
Reply to  Mr Bell

Nothing is ‘given away’ if a nation does buy Typhoon T1, they will pay for them, along with all the training, maintenance contracts, the lot. They will most likely be stripped down, and the spare parts will go into the inventory for the remaining Typhoon fleet.

George Royce
George Royce (@guest_552036)
3 years ago
Reply to  Mr Bell

Unfortunately HMG is strapped for cash due to 100% debt-to-GDP, racked up by senseless lockdowns. At least money is being put into Tempest. I still believe we have the funding available, but we’re squandering it away into HS2 and other ‘grande projecte’

Last edited 3 years ago by George Royce
Graham
Graham (@guest_552589)
3 years ago
Reply to  Mr Bell

Romania is buying used F-16’s from Portugal. The Tranche 1’s will be used for spares in the sustainment program, the ‘Reduce To Produce’ on Typhoon recovers around 70% of the aircraft.

Graham
Graham (@guest_552588)
3 years ago
Reply to  George Royce

They will be used for spares, we’ll probably recover in the region of 70% by value to use in the sustainment program.

Pete
Pete (@guest_551995)
3 years ago
Reply to  Paul42

Not Tranche 1. T1 don’t do Stormshadow or PIV

Graham
Graham (@guest_552587)
3 years ago
Reply to  Paul42

Project Centurion was Tranche 2 and 3 only and as they’re referring to Storm Shadow and Paveway IV they can only be updated examples.

Daveyb
Daveyb (@guest_551991)
3 years ago

I think we are getting our money’s worth out of the Typhoon!

John Hartley
John Hartley (@guest_551992)
3 years ago

What’s this about one Storm Shadow or SCALP going astray & crashing well away from target?

John Clark
John Clark (@guest_552005)
3 years ago
Reply to  farouk

Storm Shadow is a very expensive weapon to use against these backward murderous fools?

I assume they have occupied old bunker systems, or other hardened facilities…

The Artist Formerly Known as Los Pollos Chicken
The Artist Formerly Known as Los Pollos Chicken (@guest_552007)
3 years ago
Reply to  John Clark

Haven’t you heard JC ? HM gov is awash with bucket loads of digital currency they just keep throwing it about like confetti . What’s a million or 10 here or there with storm shadow 👍🏻

much cheaper to send in some local Iraqi types with napalm fuelled flame throwers to clear out these cave systems or for a Few Dollars More 😉 fix up a few Crocodile tanks , worked in Iwo Jima a treat .

👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke (@guest_552600)
3 years ago
Reply to  John Clark

Or we are sending a very clear message to someone else somewhere else that we have Storm Shadow stockpile and are willing to use it?

Nate m
Nate m (@guest_551996)
3 years ago

they got what they deserve for being f*****g degenerates.

Grant
Grant (@guest_551999)
3 years ago

We sure like to use this capability we’re about to diminish (yes I know these arent Tranche 1s, but the Tranche 1s will be replaced by later aircraft that can do this stuff.

Challenger
Challenger (@guest_552040)
3 years ago

Head of the air force was recently saying they were only using the Tranche 1 Typhoon’s in the aggressor role (which suggests they weren’t considered up to scratch for QRA as previously planned) and he’s confident they can sustain 7 squadrons with the remaining 107 T2/T3’s.

Derek
Derek (@guest_552060)
3 years ago
Reply to  Challenger

So, 7 Squadrons of 12 aircraft is 84. That would leave 23 for OCU and maintenance/repair. Tight, very tight.

Challenger
Challenger (@guest_552091)
3 years ago
Reply to  Derek

You’re forgetting the 4 in The Falklands – which would leave just 19 for the OCU and to account for the maintenance cycle and and an attrition reserve.

I fear it’ll actually mean 7 smaller squadrons of 9 or 10 aircraft.

Airborne
Airborne (@guest_552079)
3 years ago

Good job well done all involved. Best use of tax payers money, cockroach removal service.

Maqsud Zafar Zafar
Maqsud Zafar Zafar (@guest_552556)
3 years ago

UK has its own agenda. It was Tony Blair who convinced the Americans to intervene in Iraq. Thus, Iraq was handed over to Iran which Iran could never have achieved. Cunningness of the Britishers. While the rest of the Allied forces were based in main Iraq, British choose Basra. For long, it was a tradition that it was the British PM who used to be the first leader to meet the new rcted US President. No more , probably the Americans have realized to be careful.

George Parker
George Parker (@guest_554005)
3 years ago

It’s a real shame the MoD can’t manage budgets efficiently and 60 years of British governments, have forgotten that their primary role is defence of the realm. Post pandemic, this is the time to invest heavily in manufacturing equipment for every sector of British armed forces. At the expense of the over seas aid budget. Our factories, shipyards and workforce need the boost. The CCP have shown how much of a threat they are to our global interests and we must respond accordingly. Our industries can re-equip Australian, Canadian and New Zealand forces too. All it takes is the testicular… Read more »