First Shadow R2 for RAF No 14 Squadron

Shadow R2 intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft for No 14 Squadron is serial ZZ507, seen at its RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, base on November 4.

The aircraft previously wore the civilian registration G-LBSB, and although on strength with No 14 Squadron, it initially remained with Raytheon at Broughton, North Wales while under conversion to Shadow standard. Now equipped to the latest R2 configuration, ZZ507 wears a new semicivilian scheme in contrast to the Shadow’s typical overall grey colours.

The aircraft is one of three additional King Air 350Cs acquired by the RAF for conversion to Shadow ISR aircraft, the other two being G-DAYP and G-GMAD, allocated serials ZZ505 and ZZ506.

In addition to the three new airframes, the five existing Shadow R1s are being reworked to an interim standard, as Shadow R1A aircraft, prior to the final R2 configuration.

Source: AirForces Monthly - December 2019

Photo: First Shadow R2 (Photo by Martin Fox)