All UK Royal Air Force articles – Page 14

  • News

    DSEI: Airbus calls for UK maritime patrol competition

    15 Sep 2015

    ​The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is being urged to hold an open competition to fill any requirement for maritime patrol or multimission aircraft that may emerge from its Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) later this year, rather than pursue a sole-source procurement with Boeing.

  • SC-130J torpedo - Lockheed Martin
    News

    DSEI: Lockheed Martin pitches SC-130J conversion to UK

    15 Sep 2015

    ​Lockheed Martin is proposing to adapt part of the Royal Air Force’s in-service fleet of C-130J tactical transports to meet a potential UK requirement for a maritime patrol or multi-mission aircraft capability.

  • RAF Puma HC2 - Crown Copyright
    News

    DSEI: RAF Puma HC2 helicopters may operate until 2035

    14 Sep 2015

    UK service officials are contemplating extending the operational life of the Royal Air Force’s fleet of Airbus Helicopters Puma HC2 transports for an additional 10 years beyond their current 2025 retirement date, as they eye the possibility of an eventual replacement.

  • News

    UK A400Ms to get Airbus security boost

    14 Sep 2015

    ​Royal Air Force A400Ms will be equipped with an important security system from Airbus Defence & Space, under a new contract with the UK Ministry of Defence.

  • RN Sulsa 3D print UAV - Crown Copyright
    Analysis

    ANALYSIS: Royal Navy plays catch up with UAV operations

    10 Sep 2015

    While the UK Royal Air Force has an abundance of operational unmanned air vehicle experience, its naval sister service is a relative novice in UAV operations, and is exploring a variety of ways to approach the integration of such technology.

  • Apach AH1
    Analysis

    ANALYSIS: Questions remain as UK's SDSR nears

    7 Sep 2015

    As the UK nears the release of its next Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) in October, the pressure on the government to answer a number of questions surrounding capability gaps and needed upgrades continues to mount.

  • UK F-35B - Crown Copyright
    Opinion

    OPINION: What to expect from UK defence review

    7 Sep 2015

    ​It might barely have registered in the minds of the British public ahead of the May general election, but the future direction of the UK’s armed forces is within weeks of again dominating the news agenda.

  • UK Rivet Joint 2 - Crown Copyright
    News

    RAF's second Rivet Joint ready for action

    4 Sep 2015

    The UK has received its second of an eventual three Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint signals intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft, and detailed a package of enhancements that have been introduced with the refurbished jet since its lead example entered Royal Air Force use more than a year ago.

  • USAF F-35B
    Analysis

    ANALYSIS: UK combat air future hinges on SDSR decisions

    3 Sep 2015

    ​One of the key areas of clarity anticipated with the publication next month of the UK government’s second Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) concerns the size and shape of its future combat aircraft fleet.

  • RAF Typhoon Su-35 intercept Amari - Crown Copyrigh
    News

    UK hands Typhoon baton over to Germany for NATO mission

    27 Aug 2015

    A Royal Air Force detachment of Eurofighter Typhoons has completed its rotation in support of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission in Estonia, handing over to a German unit of the same type.

  • Tornado GR4 Raptor - Crown Copyright
    News

    RAF Tornado squadron to continue fighting militants in Iraq

    4 Aug 2015

    Panavia Tornado GR4 aircraft from the Royal Air Force’s 12 (Bomber) Sqn will continue to operate against Islamic State militants in Iraq until March 2017, further delaying the retirement of the type from UK service.

  • Puma HC2s - Crown Copyright
    News

    Upgraded self-protection system selected for RAF Pumas

    29 Jul 2015

    ​Selex ES has been selected to provide a radar warning receiver (RWR) upgrade to the Royal Air Force’s Airbus Helicopter Puma HC2 rotorcraft fleet, replacing the Sky Guardian 200 that is currently installed on the type.

  • Tornado GR4 Raptor - Crown Copyright
    News

    UTAS sets sights on Raptor integration with Typhoon

    28 Jul 2015

    ​UTC Aerospace Systems hopes to close a possible future gap in the UK’s tactical reconnaissance capability, ahead of the planned retirement of the Royal Air Force’s last Panavia Tornado GR4s in 2019.

  • Indian Su-30MKI Coningsby - Peter Foster
    News

    Indian Su-30s start joint exercise with RAF Typhoons

    22 Jul 2015

    ​Four Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters from the Indian air force's 2 Sqn have begun their involvement in a UK-based exercise also involving Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons.

  • Typhoon replica RIAT 2015
    News

    RIAT: Eurofighter set for weapons testing, but production questions remain

    22 Jul 2015

    The Eurofighter Typhoon is poised to enter a fresh round of advanced weapons testing in the UK, just as the programme’s four partner nations have agreed a new long-term plan to pursue additional future capability enhancements for the multi-role type.

  • UK RC-135W Rivet Joint - Crown Copyright
    News

    RAF to take early delivery of UK's second Rivet Joint

    21 Jul 2015

    ​The Royal Air Force’s ability to conduct signals intelligence missions will receive a boost in September, when its second RC-135W Rivet Joint/Airseeker aircraft will be delivered.

  • Voyager RIAT 2015 - Craig Hoyle Flightglobal
    News

    RIAT: AirTanker offers surge-fleet Voyager to military users

    21 Jul 2015

    ​AirTanker is offering its latest Airbus A330 Voyager acquired as part of the UK’s Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft programme to enable the nation or other military operators to move personnel or freight, rather than put the widebody into commercial use.

  • RAF A400M RIAT 2015 - Craig Hoyle Flightglobal
    News

    RIAT: RAF gets set for next A400M deliveries

    20 Jul 2015

    The UK Royal Air Force is on track to achieve delayed initial operational capability (IOC) with the Airbus Defence & Space A400M later this year, with further deliveries expected from next month.

  • USN P-8 Poseidon - Rex Features
    News

    RIAT: UK’s Seedcorn MPA project renewed for a further three years

    20 Jul 2015

    The UK has renewed its Seedcorn maritime patrol project that sees it integrated with allied forces for another three years, maintaining the capability it lost with the cancelled BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4 until a replacement is sought.

  • Hawk cockpit
    Analysis

    ANALYSIS: Flying the RAF's Hawk T2

    20 Jul 2015

    ​My sortie with the Royal Air Force’s 4 Sqn was conducted from its Valley training base on the Isle of Anglesey, north Wales on 1 July, with BAE Systems Hawk T2 ZK010 flying as “Victor 95”.