The Royal Air Force Regiment (RAF Regiment) plays a specialised role in protecting RAF assets and enabling air and space power, according to a response from the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Responding to a parliamentary question from Ben Obese-Jecty, Conservative MP for Huntingdon, on 6th March 2025, Parliamentary Under-Secretary Luke Pollard outlined the RAF Regiment’s responsibilities, which include airbase defence, counter-uncrewed air systems, and force protection training.
Pollard described the RAF Regiment as “highly specialised, air-minded ground combat forces” that are “optimised for operations in the complex air-ground environment.” Their primary role is to “defend RAF air assets and bases in both the UK and overseas,” ensuring that “air and space operations can be conducted securely.”
In addition to defensive operations, the regiment also plays a role in “offensive air and space capabilities,” leads “RAF state and ceremonial duties,” and is responsible for “fixed-site counter-uncrewed air systems.” With the increasing threat posed by drones, the regiment’s work in counter-uncrewed systems has become an essential part of modern air defence.
The regiment is made up of both Regular and Auxiliary Reserve forces, with specialist training programmes delivered to wider RAF personnel on force protection tactics.
The RAF Regiment has been active in global military operations since its formation in 1942. Pollard highlighted its involvement in conflicts including the Falklands War, the Balkans, Sierra Leone, Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan, as well as broader operations in the Middle East.
Most recently, the regiment has provided support for “non-combatant evacuation operations from Sudan and the Middle East,” reinforcing its role in rapid-response missions and humanitarian efforts.
The RAF Regiment’s responsibilities go beyond traditional airbase defence, expanding into areas such as drone threat mitigation and force protection training, both of which have become critical priorities for modern air warfare.
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wow, I’m surprised it hasn’t yet been cut…
It has miraculously survived to this day for a variety of reasons, but pre Options For Change it was a much bigger Organisation with Armoured Reconnaissance Units and substantial GBAD capability with Rapier.
Yes.
There were 2 Rapier RAF Reg Sqns in Scotland, I think Lossi and Leuchars, might have been Kinloss, I forget, and 4 more covering USVF bases at Upper Heyford, Mildenhall, Lakenheath.
In Germany, both Rapier and Scorpion equipped Squadrons at Laarbruch, Bruggen, Wildenrath, and Gutersloch.
It was Lossie and they covered Kinloss as well, they’re only 8 miles apart ! When I was a teenager my parents had moved back to Scotland and plane spotting was a hobby of mine. B4 Kinloss was modernised and expanded with the HAS you could just walk along the beech and wonder right up to the rear taxi ways and the Rapers were deployed there when on exercises.
The good old days Nimrods, Shackleton, Buccaneer.
Are you going to RIAT this year ?
Hello mate.
Ah, thanks for that.
I have never been to RIAT! One day. I used to go to the Air Fete at Mildenhall and Farnborough, though that is pretty naff now.
Very gentle observation, but Lossimouth has the HAS. I’m not aware of Kinloss ever having a HAS complex built, being a Nimrod station. They were NATO funded I recall at Fast Jet stations in the UK, bar Coltishall, Wittering, Binbrook, Cottesemore, who did not get any HAS as their assets would go to Europe or were being cut ( Lightnings )
Unless you mean those HAS like but much larger hangers at Kinloss that are spread out around the dispersal area, which at Kinloss is pretty big?
And to add to my last, I used to frequent Boscombe Down as well….and that is now pretty poor as well.
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Jack, don’t you think deployed RAF airfields need defending?
The person middle left of this photo is 3 Para (green DZ flash and wings) so not RAF Reg, get your facts right ukdj
UKDJ uses royalty free images or ones they have already licensed regularly for their headers.
It’s pretty routine for them to use images that are just adjacent to the topic, which is more than fair.
Steve mate, zoom in, both chaps on left are RAF Regiment according to the shoulder flashes, not that it matters.
The flash which 2 Sqn say is “airborne” which is in fact the front profile of a RR armoured car, with flames coming from the tyre, when they were a RR armoured car Sqn in the 30s, and until they changed to RAF Reg AD in 1942 with 40mm bofors! But I digress, very little airborne history or experience with 2 Sqn as they eventually got a limited airborne capability in 1962 👍
Not Air Defence as they have none. There role stag on the main gate and hope no one attacks an airfield with planes, drones, missile helicoptor’s as they have no defence against such things.
Stag on gate is normally MPGS these days if I’m correct.
Incorrect verbalised myth by banter Queens . No barrier techs in Bosnia , Iraq , Afghan etc . Yes they’ve been obliterated by idiot Sgt’s speech of “5 miles of death” . Utter jumped up throbber.
It’s called piss taking mate! The RAF Reg are their own worse enemy when they blow smoke up their own arses!
not in Cyprus, nice though RAF Regt are jumped up MPGS
RAF Regiment Squadrons form FPW – Force Protection Wings, with RAF Police and RauxAF Regiment assets, most of which are deployable to defend certain areas of the RAF force.
The MPGS are reservists who guard predominantly RAF and Army locations in the UK. They are not deployable assets, so I think saying the RAF Regiment, which include elements assigned to the SFSG, including TACP, rather more than “jumped up MPGS”
Though when I saw the article I immediately thought of our friend Airborne, and the incoming.
They really are deployable MPGS, regardless of who they are attached to. I remember a Bde O GP, where Comd 16X said to the RAF Regt, “behave you’ll secure the FARP, I have a Bde of soldiers for the proper work”!
I’m here preparing to take the piss, but in a nice constructive manner mate 😜👍
Did you even read the article?
Wasn’t it to shoot their own body armour in the Battle of Bastion?
The RAF Regiment, namely 2 CAUS Wing, have a very small complement of LMM to go alongside ORCUS in their counter UAS role.
No. That is a RAF police job.
They don’t stag on at a normal RAF base as that is the job of MGS or MPGS. Regiment defends deployed RAF or Joint Operating Bases. Their broader role is fully described in the article.
Honestly, the statement clearly shows that the RAF reg role is confused, especially 2nd squadron..I have never really understood why the RAF regiment really needed a parachute, special forces aligned squadron..if we had a huge mass of parachute forces ( a division) that needed a lot of TACPs I could understand..but the army does not need a mass or RAF parachute trained TACPs.
The role should be more focused on air defence.
I thin 2 Sqn is jumps trained entirely to provide a bit more of a pool for it’s contribution to SFSG. Remember a RAF sqn is pretty small, only about 170 personnel, and of those about 50-60 are assigned to SFSG at any one time. (Reminder the RAF Reg within SFSG don’t just provide TACP’s and JTAC’s they also provide a flight of regular infantry to one of the companies, and the Groups CBRN specialists).
Exactly.
The RAF Regiment needs to get back to GBAD as well as routine FP tasks, and stop pretending to be infantry soldiers! The RAF Regiment career profile is limited and they very rarely need to do any career or technical courses at Brecon or Warminster, and therefore cannot be judged on the accepted standards of soldering. They run their own promotion cadres etc, and have no experience or training in combined arms warfare. They have a specific role, one which I think they do well at and are essential to the RAF, but let’s stop pretending they are some sort of premier infantry organisation!
Think the idea is they jump into (or are helo’d in) to an enemy airfield alongside the paras. They then defend the newly captured airfield while the paras embark on other tasks.
Pretty sure the role is to do the 5 Miler of death and pretend they are the equal of the Paras and RM.
Either out of ignorance or spite you disrespect the professionals that make up the RAF reg. Having worked with them many times they take phys as much a priority as any other regiment. Their command leadership means a highly capable resource. Yes they need more capabilities such as GBAD but when it comes to force protection they’re the best.
Well it’s neither, I’ve also worked with them a couple of times, never was impressed by them, certainly would never want to have to run an op alongside them. Also they have, as you’ve just evidenced, a massive chip on their shoulder: The RAF reg does itself no favours, with it’s active comparisons to RM and Paras, with the blue lights on rifle drill, with comments like the 5 miler of death (which I’ll remind you was a RAF Reg comment), or with shooting their own body armour, and then the chip comes out when people point it out.
As for force protection, given the so called “Battle of Bastion” I’d disagree with them being “The best”
From your comments on this thread you appear very bitter towards the RAF Regiment Dern. Why? Did your wife/husband leave you for a Gunner, did you fail to get in the RAF Regiment, or are you just jumping on the bandwagon of RAF Regiment haters? Just curious.
Robbo, you need to chill out! The RAF Reg serve a purpose, and that is to ensure real infantry soldiers don’t have to stag on some random UK based RAF base or an “expeditionary” base which only has 18 hour cookhouse timings as opposed to 24! There is no real hatred or dislike for the RAF Reg in the Army, as we are all on the same side, just a bit of piss taking! But remember, the infantry are trained and exposed to combined arms warfare, up to and including peer conflict, the RAF Regiment are not! Also any infantry units who do not attend Brecon or Warminster for their career and technical course are not Infantry! I love 2 Sqn though, they claim to be the first 2 Para but 🤮forget to mention they were a RR armoured car Sqn and then eventually got the airborne role on 1962, after the initial RAF Regiment lads attended Army P coy, then decided to run their own selection!!!!!!!! The “flame” on their arm is actually the front profile of a RR armoured car wheel with flames coming off either side, nothing to do with Airborne stuff! Chers mate.
Interesting that you feel the need to get personal because someone isn’t impressed by your favourite unit.
I’ve already explanined where my opinion of the RAF Reg comes from, but since you seem to have difficulty reading instead of projecting I’ll repeat it, in short simple sentences for your benefit:
I worked with them. They did not impress. They don’t do themselves favours by the way they portray themselves.
You know the Gunners won’t sleep with you, no matter how much you defend them from the big mean Army people right? (See two can play at the silly unoriginal personal insults game).
Yeah, yeah, yeah, of course you’ve worked with them. Bore off.
Oh dear, hit a nerve did I?
Dern, I support you, having served in 16X and worked with these clowns (RAF Regt) on op Herrick and numerous exercises, they are pretty much viewed as a joke by everybody except themselves. This sint the rivalry between the Paras and Marines. Where there is underlying respect, the RAF Regt are just seen as a joke.
The main issue is that they believe their own press, think they are more capable than they are, and that in itself means a danger to themselves in future planning and possible developments! I’m glad they do what they do, as I’ve always said if they were binned off then real infantry may get dicked to do the routine pretend shit they seem to think is SF standard! 😜👍
rmj…I was COS Bastion Nov 08 to May 09. We had a FP Coy from The RIFLES. OC and 2/3 of the Tom’s were TA and most had done many tours. They were really good. Their patrolling skills beyond the wire saved the day a few times. Then it was decided to replace this with a RAF FP Sqn. Anyone not familiar with the action, read about the Battle of Bastion. Say no.more!
They need someone to teach the crabs how to march…
The regiment needs clear tasking. Eg you defend this airbase and rescue downed pilots. End of.
Ergo GBAD does and should be the RAF regiments role.
The need to upgun is obvious. GBAD is vital. Ukraine & Israel have shown that. RAF Reg should get (in my opinion) MSI Terrahawk Paladin + a missile system (CAMM, CAMM-ER, SAMP-T). Also more heavy weapons/armour for air base defence.
In years gone by the regiment used to operate all the airfield AAA guns. Maybe it’s a role they should be doing again in some modern equivalent.
IRL those will be automated system – if we every buy any – and it will be maintainers and to a lesser extent operators as it will still be MiM if over friendly soil.
All Regiments including the Royal Marines are now limited what the do. Years of neglect from numerous British governments combined with the woke diversity green brigade has destroyed the British military. Dream on those of you who think this hasn’t happened. When you need them don’t expect too much of them. They are demoralised and not battle hardened. In fact more are now leaving than joining and who can blame them.
A very professional Unit having worked along side them from escorting nuclear weapons in the uk…. to operating in Iraq and Belize ….. The RAF Regiment are very competent and well trained specialist at the role they have been trained to do ….. They have a great mind set in what they can achieve and being a small unit they can deliver quite a big punch….Youl always get the odd Billy big Bxllxcks on the interweb who’s had a mate or has seen this or think they no what the RAF Regiment are really like, but the ones who have really worked with them will only state how professional they really are….Nice to see a little inside on on their capabilities….. RM
Well said Mason.
Exactly what most are saying, they are good at what they do but need to get out of the “big three” mindset! They are not equivalent to the RM, or the Reg, and are not equipped, trained or experienced in combined arms warfare and do not attend the gold standard Infantry promotion and technical courses. The main concern is that they get to believe their own press and bullshit, and that can put the lads in the Sqns in danger, when they are tasked, and given jobs they carry out beyond their capacity and capabilities. They serve a purpose and it’s a good thing they are in role but let’s get away from this SF tier 2 nonsense 👍
Ahhhhhhhh, the fourth corner of the sf triangle!
Are raf regiment better than standard infantry?
Hahahahaha oh that’s a funny one.
No. They’re not.
They are barely better at ‘infanteering’ than REMFs
When I served in the RAF in the 80’s at what was RAF Hullavington, we had 2sqn and 15Sqn RAFR. 2 were the airborne 15 the light tanks (Scorps, Scims). 2Sqn used to guard RAF Aldergrove several times until 8 Sqn were formed to take on the permanent role until the ceasefire agreement. It also freed up 2Sqn to be more flexible either by chuting in or hello drops. At our Station, all the Guins aswell as the Rocks did guard duty.
They are the military wing of British Airways
The rock apes ie the RAF regiment are do a number of rolls like 1sqn which is the the king’s colour how do ceremony, 2 sqn do parachute training we train the parade and the marines, 13 sqn which was cvrts , then where were the rapia sqns then you had the ground defence sqns and then there’s the aux RAF regiment squadrons , we’ve done work all over the world and the regiment provides the gunners for the helicopters and a400 when landing in a war zone providing covering fire. As well in time of war they go in a take over an enemy airfield and hold it for the RAF to use as a forward base which 51 sqn and 58 sqn and 2624 and 2625 aux sqn were assigned to do
What on earth is that even supposed to say?
A bit of a random generalisation of the Rock Apes roles over the years from Matthew I think.
To summerise.
1 Sqn KCS. Interestingly, I thought 63 was the QCS, now KCS, not 1 Sqn.
2 Sqn para, tick.
Train parade and Marines, not sure.
13 I think was an old Sqn on Scorpion, assume in RAFG, thus CVRTs.
Where were should be there were….Rapier Sqns. Yes, several in RAFG.
Mentions RA Auxillery AF Force Sqns, 2624 and 2625 are indeed some of those.
I think 51 is current, don’t recall 58.
Gunners for Helicopters, interesting, thought they were from varied units as needed.
They certainly don’t train Marines and Paras (I assume is what Parades is supposed to say). At most the guy in the door who says “go” might be RAF (and even then I suspect they are A400 crew, not RAF Reg).
You are correct, 63 is KCS, based in RAF Northolt (the clue is in the London Basing)
For Helicopter Gunners, maybe for the RAF, not sure, but AAC provides it’s own door gunners for Army aviation, agree with you I think that door gunners are provided by their own units, and the RAF website seems to back this up?
I don’t think the RAF Reg has ever launched an offensive action on an enemy airfield, it’s the army that does that and when it’s nice and safe for aircraft to operate from it gets handed over to the RAF reg.
Yes, long term residents at RAF Uxbridge until MODEL and the various moves to RAF Northolt.
I support the existence of the RAF Regiment. I was chatting about this with someone here, years ago, and I mooted whether any old line infantry Battalion could do it, enabling the RAF to use those PIDS elsewhere.
It was explained why that was a bad idea, as well as tying down a Battalion from other green army duties, even if the role was rotated.
This is still a niche role, which is needed, especially on deployment, so I support it.
That might have been a conversation with me, because that’s very broadly my position. I’d rather the RAF reg exists than for the army have to waste a light inf. Battalion or two guarding airfields. Battle of bastion not withstanding by and large the RAF reg not being a terribly good infantry force isn’t the end of the world, if they’re just providing rear echelon security.
There are some things I’d like to see change, eg opening the JTAC role more widely, but that’s just MoD capbadge politics writ large.
Mate the guys in the door who despatch us, and who do the jumps course training are PJIs, parachute jump instructors, who are ex RAF PEIs, feck all to do with the RAF Reg! None are RAF Reg, as the PJIs are decent blokes, with a sense of humour and mostly love parachutes, parachuting and some are ex RAF Falcons! I see they’re a few desperate newbies on here who are a bit frantic in their defence of this mediocre and rather isolated organisation that call the RAF Reg! 👍
@Airborne Fair enough, the only jumps training I’ve ever done was out of a Cessna over Netheravon, and I fucking hated it. I’ll stick to fast roping if I need to do airborne insertions lol.
Yeah honestly I don’t get the “defend the RAF Reg” stick some have going here. I think Isolated is the key, they don’t often have people to take them aside and tell them “No that’s a terrible idea that will get everyone killed.” (or even just “This will make us a laughing stock”)
Making yourself look a right drip in all your comments under this article. Imagine being so butt hurt over something you clearly have limited knowledge of.
Jumping is a young man’s game mate deffo military jumping with all the kit! Bit of AFF no kit in the sun is the best I can do nowadays mate! Correct about the RAF Reg, they get to believe their own press about being one of the “big three” then it will get them either killed or mission failure! Even your average line Battalion nowadays are much better and more aware than previous, and getting back into combined arms warfare, again something the RAF Reg do not do!
I can understand why people defend them, it’s only right and proper but they need to be realistic and not over estimate their capabilities! They do not send their people to Brecon/Warminster etc for career or tech courses, which means they do not conform or meet the required gold standard Infantry skills training. They run their own cadres, internal promotions etc which is a bit like marrying your own cousins generation after generation 👍! PS some may know I have inside info as my son in law was RAF Reg for his full career, got out 5 years ago and is now therefore allowed into my house 😜👍 cheers mate!
@Matt Funny because it seems like I can defend my position while all the RAF Reg fanboys can only resort to name calling.
During Gulf War 1, Rocks were employed to handle crew served minigun on the RAF’s Chinooks. After the war, with training the Loadies (crewman) then took over the role. During Afghan, the Rocks provided security teams (usually 4 man) for the MERT cabs.
If I remember correctly in 2013 we had a big gunfight with some local Taliban just outside Kandahar City. We called for support, the first to arrive were 1 Sqn Rocks from the Airbase in their WIMKS, then a Dutch Apache. We later found out Afghanistan had lost to Pakistan in the cricket. The locals were high on Amphetamines and letting off steam. We unfortunately drove right in to them.
I was also at the Pink Palace in Basra, so know full well what the Rocks are capable of (in a good way).
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The choice is very simple, either the RAF Regiment are tasked with providing airfield defence or it falls to the Army. Who will then have to remove x number of Coys from the main battle order, to defend airfields. As those employed by the RAF as Techies and other trades are not trained for infanteering. They do get weapons handling and some basic skills training. They do not for example get any close quarters battle training. Which you would think would be prerequisite for defending an airbase. They would simply be walked over when dealing with a Spetznas infiltration.
I will stick my neck out here and say we do definitely need the RAF Regiment. As they will have the time and perhaps the manpower to do the necessary training and force projection. Thereby not distracting the Army from their main task. Which also means the other RAF ground trades can concentrate on making sure the aircraft can do their missions. Should the Reg’t be considered in the premiere league, to be honest I couldn’t care. So long as they fulfil their remit of protecting our airbases from attack, be that air or ground.
To that end I would like to promote, which probably goes against most peoples thoughts (not looking at you Dern), that the Regiment gets larger and forms two main streams, specifically with ground defence and air defence elements.
If we look at the traditional Russian cross border assault and rear area incursion approach, which the Chinese also follow, though I’d be surprised if they keep with the practice. Whereby they use a Spetznas company to infiltrate and sabotage defences, laying the ground for an overwhelming drop of paratroopers supported by air lifted light armoured support vehicles. Which provides a pocket for a ground assault to aim for. This was the nightmare scenario the Reg’t was focused around for operations in West Germany during the Cold War. Russia during the opening stages of the Ukraine War tried to do the same with a number of airfields surrounding Kyiv. The airfield assaults failed because the Ukrainians did two key things, they intercepted Russian communications, so were aware of the targets and managed to rush troops to the airfields. They also set up MANPAD ambush teams along the likely approaches to the airfields, shooting down a very large number of helicopters, but also a few Il-76 transport aircraft. Which meant the Spetznas were without support, eventually being overwhelmed and running out of ammo. As an additional key point, the Ukrainians managed to stop the main two ground thrusts from linking with the troops at the airfields. With the mass use of Javelins and NLAWs by hit and run ambush teams.
The key for Ukraine’s success was initially intelligence, but then an overmatch in firepower and where to focus it. The continuance of the war in Ukraine has shown that drones are now a major part of the capabilities of both sides. Be that for reconnaissance or as suicide/bomber drones. In a future conflict it is now guaranteed that drones will be used against you. Therefore you will require both soft and hard kill methods for dealing with them. Our airfields are very vulnerable to drone incursions as witnessed by the “unknown” drones flying over airbases in the UK just recently. What if they had been carrying fragmentary/incendiary grenades and used to target aircraft etc?
What has this got to with the UK. Well I think the Air Force/Regiment needs to do a top down approach to the threats that airbases will likely be faced with and scale the response accordingly. Starting from ballistic and cruise missiles, to enemy infiltration and fifth column use of FPV drones. Which is where the two streams approach comes from. As per the Cold War. I think overall strategic air defence of the UK should be provided by the RAF through the use of ground based Aster for long range, backed up with Sky Sabre. Through an integrated and layered network that includes all the ground based radar and AEW, through to Typhoon and F35, but not excluding the RN and Army in providing assets at short notice. The RA air defence units should be focused on providing a layered defence screen to its expeditionary units and major arms depots that the RAF are unable to provide cover for. Similarly a T45 operating in home waters could also be used to provide an additional layer of air defence. We have so few bases these days not many units will be required to provide the necessary coverage!
The Russian VDV paratroopers have and use a large and varied number of support vehicles, increasingly based on the very lightly protected BMD-3/4 IFVs. These also include a tank hunter/direct fire support (Sprut) armed with a 125mm gun, 120mm gun-mortar (Nona), a Kornet armed tank hunter, a SHORAD version and a possible 152mm SPG version which was announced a few years ago. The BMD 3/4s can be air dropped by parachute via an Il-76, with the crews in them, allowing them to fight as soon as they’re on the ground.
To counter this type of threat. The Reg’t would need equipping as lightly armoured infantry squadrons, along the same lines as those used in West Germany during the Cold War. The base vehicle should be Boxer over the Patria 6×6, due to the better armour. The varieties will be based on what the Army chooses. But should include an APC/IFV, local air defence (SHORAD) and fire support vehicles. The airbase should include a recovery vehicle that can be used in the field. But I’m undecided whether there’s a need for a Boxer C2 and comms vehicle, which couldn’t be provided by something like Foxhound. If there was money available I’d also equip the MPGS with some Foxhounds.
There definitely needs to be a Boxer based Stormer replacement, which also includes preferably the CTAS 40 auto-canon. So it could deal with most airborne threats but especially drones. Experience of Stormer in Ukraine has shown it can be very effective, however at least one has been taken out by a Mil-28 using ATGMs that out-range Starstreak. Perhaps this needs looking at, could the vehicle also be fitted with ASRAAM as Germany has shown with IRIS-T? The vehicle will need an active radar to give it an all weather capability, but also a better detection range (at least 20km) over an EO/IR sensor. Hopefully it will be an X-band AESA, as that should give it a low probability of intercept from enemy tracking. If Sky Sabre can deal with the main larger threats such as cruise missiles and aircraft. Then the Boxer “Stormer2” should be able to deal with helicopters and drones.
If and hopefully it’s not a big if. Boxer does get a turret with a CTAS 40, thereby giving it a better chance as an IFV. Perhaps they will also include a pair of ATGMs, such as AKERON/SPIKE/Brimstone. Again, if the turret has the same sighting system as Ajax, it should also provide an air defence capability against helicopters, but especially against drones. Against its main threat, the BMD-3/4 variants, the CTAS will be like a hot knife cutting through butter. But by using ATGM, it will have a better stand-off engagement range. Especially if the VDV managed to land an Il-76, as they also have quite a few upgraded T72s in their inventory that can be carried by the Il-76.
The third Boxer type vehicle they should have is a direct/in-direct fire support vehicle based on a automated gun-mortar. Again using Boxer as the base, but armed with the 120mm NEMO system. I am really hoping the Army chooses this system for their vehicle mounted 120mm mortar requirement. As it can do both direct fire and in-direct fire, using both dumb and guided rounds (shells), along with rocket assisted rounds past 10 km at a rate of 6 to 10 rounds per minute.
These vehicles will need an active protection system such as Trophy, whose radar could also be used to cue a RWS to target drones.
The force structure could be based around a troop of four IFV Boxers and a pair each of the air defence and fire support vehicles. This would I feel give an airbase a fighting chance against a typical Russian VDV type of “surprise” attack. But also against a large scale drone attack, which seems to be the most likely form of attack along with a pre-emptive strike using ballistic and cruise missiles, in the first stages of a conflict to maximize disruption.
I think I’ve gone on enough. But as I see it, If the RAF are deployed overseas, say to Ukraine. The RAF regiment presence needs beefing up by not only numbers, but crucially by the amount of firepower it has at its immediate disposal. I don’t feel a troop of WMIKs is suitable anymore. By giving them some variants of Boxer, which hopefully the Army also get. There’s not only commonality, but it will provide a significantly better means of prosecuting ground based threats, but also the likely threat from drones etc when protecting the airbase.
2 Squadron RAF Regiment is a squadron of the RAF Regiment based at RAF Brize Norton. The squadron is parachute trained. No.2 Squadron (II Squadron) are an elite parachute-trained field squadron that are capable of jumping in and seizing airfields and securing refueling points. The RAF Regiment contribution to the Special Forces Support Group (SFSG) is drawn from the ranks of No. 2 Squadron. Their role within the SFSG is thought to include force protection and the provision of Tactical Air Control Parties (TACPs) and sniper teams.
Four Flights… 175 personnel total
I think the RAF Regiment only totals around 1500. It should be expanded. Europe has a Hot War being waged on the continent with the Russian Invasion of Ukraine by Russian KGB/FSB Lt Colonel Tyrant Dictator Putin + his Kremlin Henchman/women with help from Russian friendly Warlords. Dictator. Dictatorship Allied nations. UK & Europe needs to be prepared for any eventuality. Especially the Unexpected military, economic situations. Singapore taught the British Government/Military a hard lesson on that score in WW2. Their is no such thing as imposable. Everything is Possible. 14 years of dangerous Tory Governments slash & cuts to British Conversional Armed Forces have left the defence of the UK nations in a dangerous state.
II Sqn is parachute trained, but however are not elite in any way shape or form. They have a job to do, a job which any Parachute Battalion can do, seize an air head etc, which is bread and butter for the Parachute Regiment. As for the SFSG, you over estimate the numbers they do provide 1 x flight, which is Platoon size, and a number of TACPs correct. There are quality people in the RAF Regiment, as there is in all units and Sub units, but lets get this nonsense about them being part of the “big three”, as believing that chuff will get people killed and or mission failure. I do like the way however, (from experience when I was at Honnington for a while), that II Sqn claim to be the “first 2 Para” but forget to tell themselves and others that they were a RR Armoured car Sqn up until 1942, (or even after if my memory serves) then got the parachute task in 1962, after sending a number of men on P Coy, then decided to run their own cadres lol. Don’t get me wrong the RAF Regiment fill a slot, and do a job. We all love the “flame” flash however, but again not many know it is actually the front profile picture of a RR Armoured car tyre, with wings coming out of it, nothing to do with Airborne at all. Cheers.