Ops Update 7 Dec 2011

Up-to-date account of the operations that the Royal Air Force deployed in the Middle East conducts, in conjunction with Coalition partners and the Army and Royal Navy.

VC10

RAF and Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan) Weekly Ops Update 28 Nov-4 Dec 11

Air Mobility and Lift

This week has seen the VC10s of 101 Sqn successfully complete all of their planned missions delivering 65 tonnes of fuel to coalition aircraft. The majority of fuel was delivered to the GR4s of 12(B) Sqn with the remainder going to French, Italian and US aircraft. This was critical to ensuring that coalition airpower delivered armed overwatch, Shows of Force or Close Air Support to troops on the ground across Afghanistan. Of particular note was the delivery of fuel to GR4s which were providing support to ground forces who had been engaged by insurgents. The VC10 enabled them to conduct ‘yo-yo’ ops, where one aircraft always remained on task while the other is refuelled, ensuring the ground forces had constant cover from the air.

ISTAR

Intelligence and Situational Awareness

The 39 Sqn Reaper detachment, operating from Kandahar airfield, struck another heavy blow against insurgents this week, while maintaining the crucial flow of detailed imagery and intelligence to ground commanders through the delivery of almost 200 hours of full motion video. On one occasion a number of armed insurgents had been observed preparing for an attack in close proximity to coalition ground forces. A successful kinetic strike was carried out preventing the coalition forces from being engaged with a variety of weapons.

Reaper

The Sentinel R1 aircraft of 5(AC) Squadron continued to support operations in Afghanistan this week. The Sentinel team made full use of the Airborne Stand-Off Radar system to relay near-real time information and subsequent detailed analysis to ground commanders operating primarily in RC (SW). The majority of their 27 hours of cutting-edge radar reconnaissance was in direct support of the US Marine Corps operating as part of Regional Command. Additionally, Sentinel derived products have been used to directly support partnered operations with the ANSF.

Sentinel.

The Royal Navy SKASaCs helicopters operating as part of 903 EAW have had a particularly busy week. They have been instrumental in the successful interdiction of four suspect vehicles, working alongside US Marine Corps ground forces and Cobra attack helicopters. Operating across a broad swathe of Regional Commands (SW) and (W) the crew’s well developed tactics and procedures has seen the seamless integration of new ground personnel following the RiP.

SKASaCs. JHF(A)

Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan)

The highlight of this week’s 5 deliberate operations was one in which 3 different types of aircraft were employed to insert over 90 soldiers as a planned operation, searching various compounds of interest. In addition JHF(A) conducted seven overwatch operations and maintained the immediate response aircraft.

Chinook


Source: Editor: Flt Lt E A Price - 07 December 2011 - RAF/MOD  (www.raf.mod.uk)

Photo: RAF and Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan) Weekly Ops Update 28 Nov-4 Dec 11 (RAF/MOD )

(7.12.2011)