An amazing photograph of the Falkland Islands taken from a Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jet has captured the rugged beauty of the remote archipelago in the South Atlantic.

The image, which shows a panoramic view of a section of the islands coast and the surrounding sea, was taken by an RAF pilot during a routine flight at an altitude of 55,000ft above sea level.

The photo reveals the complex terrain and coastline of the Falklands, a British Overseas Territory with a population of around 3,500 people.

Image Crown Copyright

The islands, which lie about 300 miles (480 km) east of Argentina, are known for their rich wildlife, including penguins, seals, and albatrosses, as well as their history and culture.

The Royal Air Force maintains a detachment of personnel and equipment on the islands to provide air defence capabilities for the Falklands.

This typically includes a number of Typhoon fighters as well as other aircraft such as transports and helicopters. The primary reason for maintaining this presence is to deter potential threats to the Falklands, particularly from Argentina, which claims sovereignty over the islands.

The Falklands War in 1982 demonstrated the importance of air defence in protecting the islands, and the UK has since maintained a strong military presence to deter any further aggression.

George Allison
George Allison
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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121 COMMENTS

  1. So in 2014, my mate the Training WO for his unit, rang me and asked
    “What are you doing next week?”
    I said
    “Just work”,
    he replied
    “Fancy going down to the falklands on a Battlefield tour, We’ve had a drop out and I asked my boss if you can come along”.
    My reply:
    “Let me get back to you?” asked my Boss. He Ok’d it.
    Got back to Ian:
    “Yup thats a go, how much will it cost me?”
    He replied,
    “You have to give 3 presentations” We both laughed.

    Heres a photo of Stanley from the civy airport
    https://i.postimg.cc/nc1nFkGG/Lady-Elizabeth-from-airfield.jpg

  3. Argentina would love this photo. Also, The British government has neglected air defense at home and for our army so drastically it’s hard to understate.

    • Jason,
      in this day and age of Satellites, there isn’t any place on earth which cant be seen from above and with a credit card you can download anywhere you want. Also, the Argentines fly passenger jets carrying families of their fallen to visit the gravesite across the water from Darwin. Pretty sure quite few pictures were taken as they flew in. (As well as a debrief) In the following BBC video of one such visit in 2018, one mothers states this is the fifth time she has visited the Island.

    • Ditto James. From here in South Africa I suppose one could fly from Capetown to somewhere in Chile and catch a connection to Mount Pleasant? I hear that the Ascension runway repair is almost complete so the UK-Ascension-MPA flight will be reinstated. An old friend did the sea Cruise some years ago which included Falklands and South Georgia/Antarctica. He died some years back so not sure of all the details but he said it was the best trip of his life and Stanley was pleasant and warm!

        • Howsit Klonkie-hope you are well my china(says he in the vernacular)😂 All good here apart from the usual kak which you know all about!
          On subject I remember NZ was the only country that came to Britain’s aid immediately during the Falklands War when they dispatched a frigate to the Middle East to take the place of an RN ship thus freeing up this asset for use in the war. Kiwis are good peeps and the UK’s best friends.
          Hope you didn’t get klapped by the Earthquake!
          Finally I was at the Dusi finish yesterday and a formation of 4 fast jets came flying over the Umgeni. The wing was wrong for Hawks(although I only got a quick glance) and they were not Gripens so was wondering? Headed North to Zululand where i believe the SANDF is exercising with the Russians😡
          Cheers for now

          • Hi Geoff -all good with me thanks. Luckily we missed any real cyclone damage in Auckland. Some rural ares have been flattened really bad. RNZN doing sterling work getting supplies in by ship to cut off costal communities along with the RNZAF choppering in supplies and water.

            Bit disturbing the SANDF are now exercising with the Russians, a sad turn of events. I may be wrong but seem to recall the Grippens are still grounded? Stay well Mate.

          • We have a few Gripens that are now airworthy but now almost sure what we saw were in fact Hawks in a lighter livery than the UK’. 36 degrees here in Durbs today-feels like 40 with the humidity

          • The U.K could/should give the retiring T23’S to the nations of the commonwealth a couple of them to south Africa in return for bigger access to the facilities in Simon’s town. Could be a good idea

      • Stanley is pleasant and warm in the Austral summer. I remember watching the Boxing Day horse racing dressed in Tee shirt and shorts.

      • South Georgia is a breathtaking place to see, the old remains of the long gone whaling industry survives in many islets I was in grytvike after we in h.m.s Antrim had nailed the Argentinian submarine Santa fe the grave of Shackleton is there at the waters edge.

        • Hello Andy. What an amazing experience! I would love to visit South Georgia and the FI. Also, a wonderful coincidence that you served in HMS Antrim-Shackleton as you know, was an Ulsterman and much further down on the scale(!) my family were from Antrim and Down and I went to school as a small child in Whiteabbey Co. Antrim. Respect and admiration for your service.
          As to the Type 23’s donation to Commonwealth countries-that would be a fine gesture. Sadly, here in South Africa our current government has realigned itself more towards some non traditional partners in BRICS-somewhere in between these and its long term links with the West. we are hoping for some positive changes in our May elections! I used to visit the SA Navy base at Salisbury Island in the Durban Bay with an ex RN friend who was a reservist with the SAN. They had(might still have) a lovely pub with walls covered in ships crests-in the main from our Royal Navy!
          Cheers from Durban

    • Tranche 1 Typhoons in the Falklands so no Storm Shadow , interestingly 4 t1 typhoons will be kept to 2027 (rest March 25) presumably these are the 4 in the Falklands

  6. Stunning! But to be fair to the pilots, they work so hard and take so long to be qualified then it’s the little things most of us never experience that they may be able to see and do! Would love to be a fighter pilot if I ever had my time again, alas I wouldn’t have the brains or the ability!!!!! Therefore i know my place in the food chain, and that place is to eat people!!!!!!! 😂👍!

      • Think if I’m right saying.. The Falkland Island garrison numbers over 1,000 personnel with Typhoon jet’s and Sky sabre. Quite a potent defence force.

        • The war power they have is totally out of our league. We know it, and we understand that only with the heart, leaving life to recover them and immolate ourselves is not enough.

          The only thing we can do is peaceful resistance, waiting for windows of opportunity, defensive mistakes, global geopolitical changes,etc.
          only thing we can do is Stay pasive, and try to make them invest that £1,5bn /year on defence or if is posible make pasive pressure from the continent to sky rocket them to £5-10bn/year.

          It would be nice if they wore out or burn some in sometime in the next 100 years. in some skirmish against Russia and china

          • You ain’t going to get that window of opportunity princess. If you try what’s left of your navy will go on a one way trip to visit Belgrano.

            It only takes a small portion of uk military force to keep Argentina at bay.

          • We know, that’s why I say that they are clearly on another level.
            The only thing we can do is wait… the opportunities will present themselves, due to the simple fact that we are human and perfection does not exist, all the empires that at the time were global powers have had cycles or disappeared. Romans, Byzantines, Phoenicians, III Reich, USSR, etc.

            Argentina neglected defensively in 1833 when they evicted its inhabitants from Port Louis, and you did it in 1982… And it will happen again as soon as there is some window of opportunity or balance of forces like in 1982…
            All we can do is resist peacefully, and make them keep defense spending to £1.5BN a year..if possible make that spend X3 or X5 sky high..
            Of course this is a drop in the UK’s defense budget, but it all serves to add to the burden on the shoulders of the kingdom’s middle-class citizen.
            For now, it seems that China is happy to finance us at a zero interest rate to re-equip us. According to Chinese analysts you have to spend $5 on defense for every dollar invested that they finance us.
            China gains markets, influence and most importantly prevents the United Kingdom from investing that money in defense in other conflict zones for its interest.
             We only get free funding to rearm, but anything that comes free is welcome.
          • Sorry my friend. But I’d be more worried about your Government selling your Country’s debt to China. Especially as each successive Government has reneged on repayments. China plays hard ball when it comes to finances. Ask a number of African and Pacific Countries. The latest I’ve read coming out of Argentina is that it is being nicknamed Argenchina.
            Argentina should give up on this fantasy, as the Falklands is a unicorn. Something you will never find or achieve.
          • China is an external investor in our country as the United Kingdom and the United States were at the time between 1850 and 1950.
             In fact, I highly respect Chinese businessmen and their cultural level. It’s admirable to talk to them when they come to do business.
            One point to highlight about China is that it is a power that has always respected the sovereignty of countries and has never done internal lobbying to destabilize them or influence their democracies. As if the United States has done it in all Latin American countries, getting into internal affairs and putting de facto governments.
             From that point of view, there is nothing to blame China for.
            In the private sector, they have extensively financed Argentine companies in the fields of mining, agricultural production, and transportation.
             And in state investment, they have made large contracts for power generation, hydroelectricity, 2 nuclear hualong power plants.
             As far as defense is concerned, we are making an acquisition contract at a zero interest rate.
             I am sure that they will accept as part of payment fishing and oil concessions of our exclusive economic zone as part of payment.
          • Argentine citizen the U.K. does not want a conflict with Argentina. The people who live on falklands want to be part of the U.K. and as such it’s the U.K responsibility to defend there right.
             It would be the same if Argentinians had lived peacefully on a island a few hundred miles from the U.K. mainland. The U.K. would respect there wishes to remain part of Argentina and allow them to defend that island.
             It can’t be put any simpler. We humans in the world all need to get along peacefully. Argentina is massive with hundreds of islands for everyone to live in.
             The main goal of the Argentine government and the U.K. Falkland Islands is to work together to boost trade and wealth.
          • Yes, but Argentina’s main reason for wanting the Falklands is that it gives them access to Antarctica and its untapped resources. Not to mention the Falklands resources. The Antarctic non resource exploratory treaty is up for renegotiation soon. Which is probably why China are giving money and influence to Argentina. It’s something our Government must keep an eye on!
          • That may be true but I’ve no idea what kind of exploration for the ‘unproven’ untapped resources is actually going on the last I heard of it was that shell were put off on getting a full drilling platform down there and the anti pollution aspect was blocked everything that was wanted by multinational companies
          • Nor do we want a conflict with the United Kingdom, a nation that, despite our only point of disagreement, has had good relations since our existence and we have much more in common than what divides us.
             We don’t have a conflict with the UK, that’s why there was never a declaration of war in 1982 between either party.
             Argentina simply considers the Malvian Islands an integral part of its territory under foreign occupation since in 1833 they expelled the inhabitants who lived peacefully there without respecting their human rights or their right to self-determination in a similar malign pattern applied in Chagos one hundred years later.
             It is similar to what putin did in the entire ukrainian donbass, he invaded 33% of the ukrainian territory, he expelled and made the ukrainians who lived there take refuge and now he celebrates ilegal annexation referendums in which 98% of the citizens perceive themselves as Russians.with the difference that in the donbass, there are 1.5 million people who have been speaking  and felling Russian for hundreds of years ago.
             Imagine 200 years of Russian occupation go by and tell a Ukrainian “the people who live here at the donbass fell and want be part of russia federation and as such it’s the russian responsibility to defend there right. Ucrania is massive with hundreds of miles of land for everyone to live in.  “Ucranie should give up on this fantasy, as the donbass is a unicorn. Something you will never find or achieve.”
          • It’s all like the Spanish and Gibraltar if the french wanted the. Channel Islands, it could be interesting
          • It’s more the concept of the Argentinians taking over the island too not a soul I ever met down there had even seen an Argentinian.
          • If there was a conflict of any kind nobody would get past our 4 fighters or the mighty OpV😞
          • And the entire donbass too! (jerson, donetsk, lughansk and zaporihia)
            They made a freedom referendum where the 98% percibe theyr self as russian and want join russia federation
          • I’ve found your comments interesting.
            A referendum, such as the one your mention, does not mean much after the population has been ethnically cleansed and much has fled.
            The only democratic referendum in Ukraine was the Independence Referendum in 1991 when all areas, including Crimea, voted to be Ukraine independent of Russia, and those are the internationally recognised borders.
            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_Ukrainian_independence_referendum
          • Exactly, and that is what you did at falklands in 1833 when you expelled our people and put yours, and Voila!, referendum on 2013.
             With the stupid criteria, what Russia does is valid… so if they hold a referendum, or 100 years go by and 98% of the population perceive themselves as Russian, it would be legitimate.
            This does not work that way in international law.
             The only valid referendums are those approved by the assembly of the united nations…
            Not a fake referendum made by the United Kingdom, not a fake referendum made by Russia
          • With all the changes of government in Argentina, I’m surprised that you have time for referendums
          • Don’t even begin to believe anything that smacks of democracy in that part of the world.
        • The RN has an OPV and often there is a visiting frigate at Mare Harbour, plus it is rumoured that a SSN sometimes patrols in the South Atlantic. The army has a roulemont infantry company, AD detachment, and all the usual signals and CSS guys. Artillery and airfield Repair capability is available. The RAF has its Typhoons, tanker,  SAR helicopter flight and the usual support guys, and they operate the airbridge (used to be 8 flights in a month). Think there is still a brace of Sikorskis operated by a contractor too.
           The Governor has the FIDF company under his command.
          • Think they have always had an OPV – HMS Dumbarton Castle when I was there in 1999/2000. As I mentioned, a frigate visits periodically too.
             If our Navy was twice the size it would surely have more than that.
        • Hi John.
          Just to add some more detail to Grahams reply regards assets on the FI. By service, as far as I know. –
          RN:
          Mere Harbour 
           East Cove Military Port: 1 OPV HMS Forth.
          Army:
          Mount Pleasant Garrison:
          Resident Infantry Company. ( Roulement )
           ? AD Battery RA ( Sky Sabre ) ( Roulement )
           HQ British Forces SAI. ( Tri )
           FI Support Unit. ( With RAF )
           FI Joint Logistics Unit. ( With RAF )
           Joint Services P&S Unit. ( With RAF )
           Joint Services EOD Unit. ( With RAF )
           JCU Falkland Islands.
          Mere Harbour:
           460 Port Troop RLC.
          RAF:
          RAF Mount Pleasant:
          905 EAW.
           Ops Wing.
           Admin Wing.
           CRC “Griffon” ( 303 SU ) ( FIADGE – with RPs below )
           No 1312 Flight. ( 1 Voyager / 1 Atlas )
           No 1435 Flight. ( 4 Typhoon )
          Mount Kent:
           RP ( 1Type 97 Radar )
          Mount Alice:
           RP ( 1 Type 94 Radar )
          Byron Heights:
           RP ( 1 Type 94 Radar )
          MoD:
          Mere Harbour:
           NEFI – Det Superintendent FM Portsmouth.
          Mount Pleasant:
           Defence Digital, SAI.
          DHFCS Mocho Pond: ( HF/LF Comms Site )
           DHFCS Bush Rincon: ( HF/LF Comms Site )
          “Remote Site”
          JSSU Falkland Islands. ( Tri ) ( SIGINT )
          Contractor SAR Helicopters.
          Stanley:
           FIDF.     ( LI Company sized )
          • Hi Daniele.. Excellent detail. Thanks very much. I read recently that the Falkland Island Government are buying a new patrol vessel. ( Civilian manned) looks like a very handy piece of kit. Type is a ‘Daman Stan Patrol 5009 model’. Fisheries protection.
            Thanks again guys for the return posts.
          • Cobblers, Andy. I’ve learned all that through reading and learning open source data, be it in books or the internet.
             I could indeed reveal things that are not open source…
             And why are you commenting on an article that is over a year old! We are all in the 2024 FI article now.
          • Great answer. Small beer, but there used to be an LCVP at Mare Harbour when I was there in 1999/2000 – probably gone now.
          • No, I hadn’t at first. It popped up in the Air section at the top of the list and I assumed it was new!!
        • The biggest asset is the modern airfield, Mount Pleasant.  If it came to it additional air defence and ground troops could arrive within hours. That ability to deploy rapidly is probably the biggest difference between now and 1982.
        • Yeah, looking forward to watching the film. I’m a big Tom Cruise fan anyway.. ‘Mission Impossible films’  Great entertainment.
          • Well now let’s see. The problem with some  US film makers is often ignoring fact and replacing it with silly nonsense.
             In the first M.I. film you have a helicopter chasing a French TGV into the Channel Tunnel. Firstly the TGV trains don’t travel through the Tunnel in everyday use. They have run engineering journeys in order to test  gauging and other issues, but in order to do so rely on 25kv overhead power lines, (the catenary) which is why the trains have a pantograph.
             Unfortunately the directors seemed to miss all this infrastructure out, presumably running the trains on something like diesel or maybe thin air. Of course we can use artistic licence to a degree, but if you ignore basic reality you end up with fantasy being portrayed as real.
             During the early years of modern cinema, many Americans actually believed that Superman was real and could save people.
             It also portrayed an event like the US saving an Enigma machine from a German U Boat during WWII. That resulted in the UK Government of the day officially withdrawing any Minister from attending the premier in London, such was the insult it portrayed.
             Artistic licence is one thing, but the premise that Tom Cruise can act us another!
          • As DaveyB said. That’s Hollywood. Mission Impossible films are there for entertainment, which millions of people have enjoyed over the years.. Sure, not to be taken too seriously, it’s just good popcorn, have a good night out, entertainment. When it comes to the film – U571 and the enigma machine, yup, agree with you there. That was rather naughty by Hollywood.
            Many of these Hollywood action films are not to be taken too seriously. They are just there for people to have some fun and enjoy some fast paced action. There are also plenty drama, art type films so on to watch.. If that is what somebody fancies. I like a good mixture film types myself.
            Action films still pull – in million of dollars.. ‘The Box office’.
            Have a good day sir..
  7. Im far from a expert clearly as i didnt even know we stationed typhoons down there.
     Assume still sent from ascension? Big task for the tankers i guess but id imagine not as big as it was to send a few vulcans 40 years ago!
    • Big differences is the Voyager tanker. Back in 1982 they relied on Victor bombers converted to tankers which could carry 41,000kg of fuel. The Voyager is based on the Airbus A330. It can carry 111,000kg of fuel. This still leaves half the underfloor cargo hold available for cargo plus leaves the upper deck available for passengers. It could in theory use the whole of the cargo hold to carry fuel.
      In standard trim it can fly from Ascension  Island to the Falklands whilst carrying passengers/cargo and shepherd four Typhoons en route.
    • We have always had aircraft down there since 82 – first Phantoms, then Tornadoes, new Typhoons. They are permanantly stationed down there, so they do not come from Ascension.
  10. The Typhoon is of course the best aircraft in terms of capability but numbers only a Flight of 4 so wouldn’t really qualify as the most powerful AF
     Regards
  11. A good press release.
     Look at it between the lines.
     It lets people know the RAF can go and play up there and that they also have a missile fitted( ASRAAM) that can reach out above Typhoons ceiling height. Whats even better is its not ITAR restricted so doesnt need USA permission to sell it.
     I wonder who would be in the market for that sort of capability? Someone who has balloon overflight issues perhaps…
  12. We don’t have scores of fighters there, rather a lesser number. I think someone might have been alluding to the quality of our pilots.
  14. I remember it being said decades ago that no British Government would date to drastically cut the size of the  forces in the Falklands whilst Mrs Thatcher was still alive. (So the cuts have been quite minor over the years).
     I guess we will keep the numbers at their current level ‘forever and a day’.
  16. Thanks for the memory, Farouk, haven’t been back since 87 five years anniversary only 1 in the Navy guard with a Campaign Medal  and rosette  felt old then   looks like the goarse has grown though
  17. We visited Stanley on HMS Puma in 1968. It was freezing. The rule for wearing civvies ashore was jacket, shirt and tie. As it was so cold we all wore a sweater over our shirt. The Officer of the day inspected us prior to going ashore. He ordered us to remove our sweaters as they covered the tie!! There was only one pub in Stanley so we shivered our way there. As we warmed up with a few pints, the landlord announced that he was closing as we were too noisy!. The second worst run ashore in my experience. The worst? Algiers, no pubs at all.
  19. Adequate? Isn’t that what they. Said in 1982? The F 16 in the hands of a quality pilot is still a formidable for
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