British fast jet activity in the Middle East has reached its highest level in more than a decade, with the Ministry of Defence confirming an increase in aircraft deployments and operational tempo across the region.
According to the MoD, UK pilots have now completed more than 550 flying hours on defensive operations aimed at protecting British personnel, bases and regional partners.
The department also confirmed that the UK currently has more jets deployed in the region than at any point in the past 15 years.
What’s where?
Six F-35B aircraft were deployed from RAF Marham to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus in early February, reinforcing the UK’s existing fast-jet presence in the eastern Mediterranean. These joined RAF Typhoon aircraft already based at Akrotiri, giving the UK a combined detachment operating from Cyprus.
In parallel, additional Typhoon FGR4 aircraft were deployed to Qatar. Four jets were sent from RAF Coningsby to join the UK’s existing Typhoon presence in the Gulf, operating alongside the joint UK-Qatar squadron. A further four Typhoons were subsequently earmarked for deployment as part of the same reinforcement.
The aircraft have been operating across multiple locations rather than from a single base. RAF Typhoons and F-35s have flown from Cyprus and Qatar, with activity extending over areas including Jordan and the wider Gulf. This has included interceptions of drones by both Typhoon and F-35 aircraft.
Supporting assets have also been deployed alongside the fast jets. Voyager tanker aircraft accompanied the F-35 deployment to Cyprus to provide air-to-air refuelling and support longer-range operations.
RAF Akrotiri 1968:
No. 6 Squadron: Operated Canberra B.15/B.16 bombers as part of the Akrotiri Strike Wing.
No. 32 Squadron: Operated Canberra bombers, specializing in strike and reconnaissance.
No. 73 Squadron: Operated Canberra bombers, providing conventional/nuclear strike capability (CENTO).
No. 249 Squadron: Operated Canberra bombers (part of the strike wing).
No. 56 Squadron: Operated English Electric Lightnings, which took over air defence duties from Javelins.
No. 84 Squadron: Operated rotary aircraft, including Whirlwinds and later Wessex HAR2s for search and rescue.
What happened in 1968? Turkey thought about invading Northern Cyprus. Its recce Thunderflash aircraft were intercepted by 56 Squadron and the invasion was called off.
That is deterrence at work, a great deal cheaper in the round than the shambles going on today.
With the US becoming increasingly unreliable we really need a massive expansion of our fast jet force. If we just focus in the basics we can’t afford a substantial increase in RAF numbers. Ordering 70 F35A to match our existing orders of 74 F35B and pulling back all the tranche 1 typhoon airframes could get the RAF up to nearly 300 fast jets, an airforce which would easily be the most powerfully Airforce in Europe and a force that could completely dominate the Russian airforce.
That would give us far more security than an army of 100,000 or a navy with 30 escorts for much the same price.
For a nation of our size and responsibilities with the budget we have, what you said and on the last paragraph should be affordable, that is the problem.
Unreliable ally and ordering more F35s is a bit contradictory isn’t it?