Platforms and Bases

Question 1

Name the COMBAT platforms, their roles and where they are based. Name special features where possible.

Answer 1

F35-B Lightning

• air-to-air, air-to-surface, electroonic warfare, intelligence gathering
• STOVL
• RAF Marham

Typhoon FGR4

• air policing, peace support and high-intensity conflict
• quick reaction alert (M1.8)
• RAF Lossiemouth
• RAF Conningsby

Question 2

Name the TRANSPORT platforms, their roles and where they are based. Name special features where possible.

Answer 2

Atlas (A400M)

• tactical airlift and strategic oversize lift capabilities
• 37-tonne payload, 2000 nautical miles
• RAF Brize Norton

BAe146

• Command Support Air Transport (CSAT), transportation of senior gov. ministers and MOD personnel
• easy conversion between cargo and personnel config
• RAF Northolt

C130J Hercules

• main tactical transport aircraft in the RAF
• deployed in areas where there is a threat to aircraft
• search and rescue aparatus may be installed, natural surface landing, low-level flight
• RAF Brize Norton

C-17 Globemaster

• longrange heavy-lift strategic transport aircraft, combat, peacekeeping and humanitarian missions
• digitally controlled loading systems working with crew and ground handlers allow large, complex cargo such as Chinook helicopters
• 100,000lb over 4,500 nautical miles (45 Tonnes, 8,300km)
• high-angle steep approaches at low speeds enabling the use of short runways only 3,500ft long (1.1km)
• RAF Brize Norton

Leonardo GrandNew ( AW109SP)

• Command Support Air Transport (CSAT) helicopter, Senior military commanders and gov. ministers
• can be flown with a single pilot in all weather conditions, day/night
• High utility due to landing zone flexibility
• twin powerplant and advanced autopilot to provide high safety margins
• RAF Northolt

Voyager

• air-to-air refuelling (AAR), two underwing pods for fast jets and a centreline hose for large aircraft, can operate as a passenger aircraft
• up to 40 stretchers and 3 critical care patients
• RAF Brize Noorton

Question 3

What is ISTAR? Name the ISTAR platforms, their roles and where they are based. Name special features where possible.

Answer 3

ISTAR stands for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance

Sentry AEW1 (E-3D)

• Detection of enemy aircraft and situational awareness of friendly assets
• APY-2 radar
• Able to gather emissions from other radar systems and emitters, increasing the range of gathered information
• RAF Waddington

Poseidon MRA1 (P-8A)

• Multi role maritime patrol aircraft
• sensors and weapons for anti-submarine warfare (torpedoes), search and rescue, surveillance
• APY-10 radar, acoustic sensor system, electro-optical/IR turret, electronic support measures (ESM)
• RAF Lossiemouth

Reaper (MQ-9A)

• remote drone
• Medium Alt. Long Endurance (MALE)
• 20h (12 with weapons) Endurance
• secure satellite communication system for over-the-horizon data link capability
• full sensor suite including radar, IR, daylight TV, and front camera
• RAF Waddington

Sentinel R1

• Most advanced long range, airborne surveillance system in the world
• Iraq and Syria
• RAF Waddington

Shadow R1

• provides comprehensive intelligence information working in conjunction with the Sentinel
• satellite coms link
• comprehensive defensive aids suite
• propeller
• RAF Waddington

RC-135W Rivet Joint

• sensors that soak up emissions from radar, comms etc.
• used to survey elements of the EM spectrum for intelligence
• RAF Waddington

Question 4

Name the ROTARY platforms, their roles and where they are based. Name special features where possible.

Answer 4

Griffin HAR2

• Multi-role helicopter
• equipped with night vision goggles and FLIR/TV Turret (Forward Lookin Infrared) so that it can be utilised at night
• Often used for its fire fighting capabilities due to the arid climate of Cyprus and can employ underslung Bambi buckets
• Search and rescue
• can also provide ISTAR roles
• RAF Akrotiri

Griffin HT1

• Training helicopter at No. 1 FTS (No. 1 Flying Training School)
• RAF Shawsbury

Chinook

• highly versatile support helicopter which can be deployed in desert jungle, arctic, land or sea
• primary use is for trooping, resupply and casualty evacuation (casevac)
• secondary roles: SAR, supporting specialisttasks including Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) comitment eg. resupplying snowbound farmers in N. Ireland and moving tonnes of aggregate to reconstruct flood defences
• triple-hook external load system, internal cargo winch, roller conveyor fit and large reserves of power for up to 55 troops or 10 tonnes of mixed cargo
• RAF Odiham
• RAF Benson

Puma HC2

• medium support helicopter
• transport of troops, ammunition and casualties
• also used in non-combatant evacuation and disaster relief
• 16 passengers/12 fully equipped troops or 2 tonnes of internal or underslung cargo
• can employ 6 stretchers
• more powerful engine than the mk1 and greater range, good for hot-and-high conditions
• prep for C-17 transport in 4h
• RAF Benson

Question 5

Name the TRAINING platforms, their roles and where they are based. Name special features where possible.

Answer 5

Tutor T1

• Starting trainer for all conventional aircraft pilots
• clear view and side-by-side seating for instructor-student interaction
• RAF Wittering

PREFECT T1

• elementary flying role
• replacing Tutor as primary trainer
• retractable landing gear
• enables students to learn glass cockpit flying earlier on
• RAF College Cranwell

Viking T1
- used by the Air Cadets to give basic flying training

Hawk T1/T2

• Fast jet trainers
• fully aerobatic, low-wing, transonic, two-seat training aircraft
• Mk1 used by 100 squadron as agressor role in training
• Mk1 red arrows
• Mk2 more advenced replacement of Mk1
• RAF Valley

Texan T1

• basic fast jet training role
• tandem seating
• digital cockpit with modern avionics
• RAF Valley

Juno HT1

• basic rotary trainer
• glass cockpit
• RAF Shawbury

Jupiter HT1

• advanced rotary trainer
• RAF Valley

Phenom T1

• multi-engine trainer
• RAF College Cranwell

Question 6

Name the HERITAGE aircraft

Answer 6

Spitfire
Hurricane
Dakota
Chipmunk
Lancaster

Question 7

Name the 2 FUTURE platforms

Answer 7

Lightweight Affordable Novel Combat Aircraft (LANCA)

• deployed alongside aircraft
• possible uncrewed aircraft

Tempest

Question 8

Name ALL platforms

Answer 8

COMBAT
F35-B Lightning
Typhoon FGR4

TRANSPORT
Leonardo GrandNew (A109SP)
Atlas C.1 (A400M)
BAe 146
C-17 Globemaster
Hercules (C-130j)
Voyager (air refuelling)

ISTAR
Sentry AEW1 (E-3D)
Poseidon MRA1 (P-8A)
Reaper (MQ-9A)
Sentinel R1
Shadow R1
RC-135W Rivet Joint

ROTARY
Griffin HAR2
Chinook
Puma HC2

TRAINING
Viking T1
-
Tutor T1
PREFECT T1
-
Texan T1
Hawk T1/T2
-
Juno HT1
Jupiter HT1
-
Phenom T1

HERITAGE
Spitfire
Hurricane
Dakota
Chipmunk
Lancaster

FUTURE
LANCA
Tempest

Question 9

Name all UK RAF bases

Answer 9

Benson
Boulmer
Brize Norton
College Cranwell
Conningsby
Cosford
Digby
Flyingdales
Halton
Henlow
High Wycombe
Honington
Leeming
Lossiemouth
Marham
Northolt
Odiham
Scampton
Shawbury
Spadeadam
St Mawgan
Syerston
Valley
Waddington
Wittering
Woodvale
Wyton

RAF(U) Swanwick
RRH Benbecula

JHC FS Aldergrove

Leuchars Station
MOD Boscombe Down
MOD St Athan

Question 10

Name all overseas RAF bases

Answer 10

Akrotiri
Ascension Island
Gibraltar
Mount Pleasant