Typhoons deployed in the Middle East have escorted US Air Force B-52 bombers and conducted integration training with regional and coalition air forces as part of ongoing Bomber Task Force (BTF) operations.
The missions, which included night and day sorties, saw RAF jets flying alongside aircraft from regional allies, including Iraqi Air Force F-16s for the first time.
The US bombers, currently operating from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, transited through European and Middle Eastern airspace, integrating with coalition forces before conducting live-fire exercises at ranges across the region. The RAF Typhoons, supported by a Voyager Multi-Role Transport Tanker, worked in coordination with two USAF KC-135 tankers to maintain operational tempo throughout the flights,.say the Royal Air Force in an update.
Wing Commander Chris Pearson, who leads the RAF’s Middle East-based Typhoon detachment, highlighted the value of these missions and was quoted as saying:
“The US BTF sorties are important to the RAF as they provide regular opportunities to work with one of our closest allies. The sorties maintain our experience flying with the USAF BTF during the day and at night. It demonstrates the RAF’s ability to conduct such missions and project air power in a coalition, at distance, when required.”
The integration of RAF and coalition aircraft with US strategic bombers underscores the UK’s continued commitment to regional security, they add.
The BTF missions serve both, for the Americans at least, as a show of force and an opportunity to refine operational tactics with partners.
RAF Typhoons remain deployed in the region as part of Operation Shader, the UK’s contribution to the International Counter-Daesh Coalition. What began in 2014 as a humanitarian mission to protect Yazidi civilians trapped by Daesh on Mount Sinjar evolved into a sustained air campaign targeting Daesh fighters and infrastructure across Iraq and Eastern Syria.
The UK’s involvement in the coalition remains significant, with RAF aircraft regularly conducting reconnaissance and strike missions to disrupt remaining Daesh cells and prevent their resurgence.
The Bomber Task Force (BTF) is a key initiative of the US Air Force Global Strike Command, designed to project American air power globally. Regular deployments of strategic bombers like the B-52H Stratofortress demonstrate the US military’s ability to rapidly deploy high-end combat capabilities in response to evolving threats.
US CENTCOM Commander General ‘Erik’ Kurilla said:
“Bomber Task Force missions demonstrate US power projection capability, commitment to regional security, and ability to respond to any state or non-state actor seeking to broaden or escalate conflict in the CENTCOM region.”
Former USAF officer Colin Davis described the mission as part of a broader American strategy:
“These deployments are a deliberate show of force, reminding adversaries that US bombers can operate anywhere, anytime, with allied support.”
In view of the now obvious unreliability of the Trump administration’s commitment to NATO and the unbelievable development of a distinctly pro-Russia policy – including recent claims that the Ukrainian F-16’s have been disabled by some sort of American “kill switch” – the UK should consider cancelling any further orders for F35 Lightning II once the carrier requirement is complete.
I think that the government should order another squadron of T4 Typhoon instead. Possibly two. Doing so would ensure the retention of the design and engineering skills for Tempest until we start to build them.
The US has not disabled Ukraines F16s.
I’d agree, but the “carrier requirement” requires a second batch as 47 are too few.
A counter to this would be if the RN UCAVs planned reached a point they could give mass and supplement the 47, so then no second F35 tranche needed.
Our military has too much other kit sourced from the US or supported by US contractors to make any sort of break as clear cut as some demand.
And then there is the intelligence side and the US UK MDT with the nukes, which you are well versed with and yourself support.
Where to draw the line?
In current climate would Italy, Japan, UK….
Maybe Spain / Turkey, collaborate on a single engine navalised version of Tempest. Common Sensor suite etc. Probably the priority for all.
The f16 from the US haven’t been disabled. The jamming system I believe isn’t being supported which leaves them dangerously exposed if used in combat with russia
TDS is strong in this one.
Lol that’s it, get rid of the only 10 generation 5s you have 😆 🤣 😂
‘ Former USAF officer Colin Davis described the mission as part of a broader American strategy:’ This comment adds to what I was already formulating in my mind..
B52 bombers are they really the platform of choice to engage Daesh targets? Have they been in recent months? Because my first thought was this seems like a platform far more suitable for a mass attack on Iran…. Which ‘coincidentally’ Trump has in recent days been threatening if they don’t give up their nuclear bomb ambitions. Now until seeing this I presumed that threat as predominantly being about letting them off the leash and giving Israel the freedom to strike as they have long wanted. But is this the US directly practicing doing so themselves under the guise of these manoeuvres? If so I am deeply concerned at the thought that Britain will be a party to it under present circumstances with a President risking roads towards WW3. Not just Uk fighters escorting these bombers but the fact that they can only operate from and are operating from UK bases.
Secondly it shows just how important the UK and Europe more generally is to both the US and Israel which only proves as I have always argued Trumps appalling attitude to us (which is only going to escalate) is so stupid and short sighted. If Europe turns overtly against US cooperation Trump can mouth as much support for Israel as he likes but strategically it goes nowhere unless Europe is onside and puts the spotlight on the UK in particular if we stick with the US as and outlier in particular if the US and Israel start a hot war with Iran. I sure hope it doesn’t come to that as implications for us could horrible and dangerous and after being exploited does anyone think we get support from Trump, well not unless we become the 51 State I suspect. Starmer may need to grow a pair.
You comment about using these bombers against Daesh targets would on face value seem like over kill. However, the B52 is blessed with a huge internal weapons load, but also a huge fuel load. So it has plenty of duration over the battlefield. I will readily admit to using quite a few B52s to prosecute targets in Afghanistan, predominantly using JDAMs. They operate above 30,000ft, so it takes a relatively long time for a JDAM to reach its target. But crucially the B52 is above you for at least 6 hours, more if it gets mid-air refuelled. I know that some of these crews were regularly flying missions lasting 14 hours by flying from Diego Garcia.
However, the B52 will not be flying these types of close support missions in a peer war. The bomber is too easily targeted by surface to air missiles and fighters. In a peer war it will only be used as a stand-off missile truck. Where it can unleash a barrage of cruise missiles at a target.
DaveyB,
Absolutely correct, USAF is the org. to contact when one requires a munition (or pizza) to be delivered to precise coordinates in 30 minutes or less, 24/7/365. Glad we were able to be of service in the Sandbox. 🤣😂😁👍
Mate, your welcome.
Funny story, I called in a air strike on a target that we’d been watching for a week. We had intelligence that suspected it was an improvised explosive device (IED) factory. Watching the pattern of life for the compound, there were only males of a fighting age, along with a very heavy armed guard presence. Which was a key indicator that it was a Taliban compound. But we weren’t sure if it was drugs or the rumoured bomb making factory. There was a plan to strike the target with a SF Team. However on the day prior to our handover to the next team, a load of pickups turned up and they started loading them with “bags”. Some of the bags fell off the back of a truck spilling its contents. Low and behold they were 152 artillery shells. This artillery shell was a particular favourite of the Taliban when they made IEDs. At that point 2 out of the four trucks were loaded. We called in the intelligence and we were given the go ahead for an airstrike, which would prevent the trucks from dispersing and delivering their cargo.
I had a B52 on call, It had a varied load out and due to the nature of the target I wanted to be very precise, which ruled out the JDAM. Plus there was the glide time to think about, which might have allowed one of the trucks to escape. So I elected to use the GBU12 (Paveway 2) as it has a faster drop time. One of trucks were lased and the bomb made a direct hit. Normally you work out what weapon to use and try to minimize the splash damage. But on this occasion, because the trucks were loaded with 152mm artillery shells, all trucks were taken out along with all the structures within the compound wall, weirdly most of the compound wall remained intact. We were quite a distance from the compound, but felt the compression wave. Judging by the mushroom cloud and craters, we estimated there was around 10 tons of explosive within the compound when it went up. About a couple of hours later, a pair of Chinooks turned up with a load of SF to investigate the compound. We provided overwatch then rendezvoused for the pick up. On board the Chinook, a loady handed us a brew and we received a load of pats on the back!
USAF training doctrine, at least in days of yore, was to train in the manner one intended to utilize in war. One would hope modern doctrine was not like the “new math.” 🤔😳😉
“…modern doctrine is…” 🙄
Hi again, why does my post have to be “moderated “? And this is not the first time. When we see a post by someone called Julia going on about earning a fortune each week. That gets posted with no moderation.
Maybe UKDJ should check it’s I.T structure.
Cheers
George
RAF just making sure they are going where they say they are lol. Trust but verify as someone once said.
If the Americans are as likely to stab us in the back they should be forced from all bases in the U.K. and send them back to USA. An unreliable partner is no partner at all!