British Typhoon jets normally based at RAF Akrotori on Cyprus conducted ‘expeditionary combat air operations’ from a temporary base in the Middle East as a proof of concept.

The RAF say here that during early October, the 903 Expeditionary Air Wing Typhoon Squadron based at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus forward deployed to a forward location in the Middle East from where it conducted an operational mission in support of Operation SHADER, the British bombing effort against Islamic State.

“Agile Combat Employment is an operational concept of being able to operate from austere air bases in order to disperse and quickly manoeuvre combat capability throughout a theatre. Supported by a minimal presence on the ground to provide support activities such as aircraft fuelling, arming, and engineering; Agile Combat Employment expands the number of bases from which air forces can generate combat sorties.”

Wing Commander Dutch Holland, Officer Commanding 903 Expeditionary Air Wing, was quoted as saying:

“Agile Combat Employment is about utilising our assets from RAF Akrotiri under 903 Expeditionary Air Wing to their maximum extent.  In this example we have projected our forces, the RAF Typhoon FGR4, to a Forward Operating Base.  We have undertaken this deployment and next [time] we will go for longer and perhaps further than this one.”

Air Commodore Mark Farrell, Air Officer Commanding 83 Expeditionary Air Group, was also quoted:

“Operation BLUE DRAGON successfully demonstrated the UK ability to respond dynamically, flexibly, and rapidly under the Agile Combat Employment concept whilst maintaining our commitment to our coalition partners.  This operation is the first such deployment for 903 Expeditionary Air Wing and has enabled them to test how successful the aircraft and supporting personnel were able to operate in a new location and environment.  The team have demonstrated the capability of conducting air operations at short notice at a Forward Operating Base and further demonstrates to our Coalition partners and Middle Eastern allies, the UK’s continued commitment to the region.”

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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46 COMMENTS

  2. I guess that it’s a lack of numbers that mean the F35b isn’t the go to choice for deploying to austere bases?

    • F35B is no Harrier.

      Harrier was a big enough headache for landing on matting etc

      F35B I suspect realistically you can’t.

      So you are onto concrete. And once you are on concrete runways……

      The other issue is flight hour costs. I get the general feel that flight hours are targeted at QEC integration as top priority. Everything else comes second.

      • Agree about comparison to Harrier, but even if relying on concrete that still opens up the possibility of short sections of road or industrial sites being utilised.

        • Would likely only use it’s abilities in such environments in emergencies I suspect or as a last resort, bit like comparing a Defender to a Bentayga when going seriously off-road I fear.

        • The thing is the concrete hard stands for Harrier had to be surprisingly thick. So the F35B would be even more so.

          What I’m saying, in a roundabout manner, is that F35B in VSTOL may May be less austere deplorable than Typhoon IRL?

          Or are RAF proving a point with what they are doing here? RAF operating in the shadows a bit maybe? Less defined?

          • Well folks perhaps a few more at sea airfields would be best with high tech such as F35’s. Your always moving so more difficult to take out with all you need. Sorry Light Blue but accom on a warship is all one needs to keep body and soul.

            This is nothing ew, look at history and the RAF/FAA used them all the time and well the Sweds have it covered 100% with their high tech assets and do it rather well.

          • Hence why F35B + QEC is the real deal.

            And as you say a properly defined place for the crew to get much needed down time.

      • Asture isn’t a reference to the simple matter of what type of runway or concrete stripe the aircraft lands/takes off from. It’s also what refueling, engineering, weapons rearming, air traffic control, fire fighting category facilities are available, or most probably not available that can allow an aircraft to continue to operate. A great deal of trades are essential to make aviation possible. The pilot is the final link in the chain.

        • Heat from the exhaust. That is why the QE carrier decks have a special coating to withstand the heat.
          Most ships steel decks cannot accomodate F35B since landing one would damage the deck. Since the US Navy operate the F18 and F35C, i doubt the Nimitz decks could host F35B, unlike USMC WASP carriers which operate F35B.
          Regular roads would just melt, so you can forget VTOL. You would have to operate them with traditional rolling take off and landing to not chew up the road.

          • All the carriers are being given at least one but probably two ceramic coated helicopter spots. This is because the CMV-22 Osprey is taking over the carrier on-board delivery (COD) role. The Osprey’s two exhausts when rotated down vertically, are only 3ft from the deck and will cause heat fatigue issues with a steel deck. So you would think logically, that the coating should be capable of coping with a F35B landing vertically!

          • Thanks Lordtemplar but I think I did not express myself clearly or you misunderstood me. I am in the business of coatings so understand why carriers hosting VSTOL have to have High Build HR coatings but on a concrete runway as per SB comment above, they can employ the rolling technique or even conventional landings and take offs. In addition I would imagine that a strong floated 40 mpa plus concrete to the thickness required on a runway could handle some occasionally concentrated heat.

            regards

      • This has been a concern of mine also, that all this operating from roads and other places in the event of a near-peer or peer war isn’t going to work. That said, I read that the USMC have been practicing running their F-35Bs from austere locations in the Pacific- to follow with their old-becomes-new island hopping strategy. Not sure exactly how austere we’re talking though…

    • Also I query what “Austere” means in RAF parlance, I doubt this is a beside the road/improvised matting kind of Airbase. Got blocked by Andy Netherwood in the past for pointing out that a FOB in Afghan isn’t actually “Austere”.

    • Just read again and nowhere, other that the article title, is the word ‘austere’ used in either of the RAF quotes provided or in the RAF links provided Only ref is to FOBS. George ???

      • FOBS or Austere just means airfield that doesn’t have full support facilities for the aircraft type. all you have is FAP brought in on C-130/A-400

          • Fly Away Pack, suppose seamen would call it SAP (Sail Away Pack) or is that what the RFA are for? carrying all the spare bits for when the boats break, oh know unless its big the RAF have to FLY them out

          • I know, but don’t ever Google the urban dictionary definition of FAP…

            Seamen too now, eh? 😂

  3. I just read news reports the UK is considering buying Turkish made drones and that they are presented with options by Turkey and that UK is taking a serious consideration. This report is based on what the Turkish minister has said. I won’t be surprised by it with the praise Ben Wallace has given those drones in the past when Turkey engaged Syria and Libya Azerbaijan , Armenia conflict with its drones.
    Recent buyers included Ukraine and Poland.

    Currently Turkey is building a variant for its LHD carrier based on the Canberra class

  4. I do have to ask, how much has the Uk gained from Saudi Operations with their Typhoons and what improvements have arisen from such operations

  5. Hope the lads still had decent hotels. None of this living in holes in the ground nonsense. Hot tea and coffee as well.

  6. Supposedly there is a squadron in Israel now for BlueFlag 2021

    Also first time Indian Air Force is operating in Israel

    Others participants are Germans, Italians, French, Greece, USA.

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