RAF Current Affairs- UK

Question 1

What base recently received a major investment within the UK, by how much, when and why is this important?

Answer 1

• RAF Lossiemouth, located at the top end of Scotland
• 83 Million Pounds
• March 2023
• This base is part of the QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) responsible for the protection of British Airspace

Question 2

Which type of aircraft recently received new training systems for aircrews, why is this aircraft important, when, how much was invested and at what base?

Answer 2

• Shadow Mk2 surveillance aircraft
• This aircraft allows for a greater capability for intelligence gathering within the UK as part of an integrated early warning network system
• March, 2023
• 11.5 million pounds
• This aircraft operates at RAF Waddington

Question 3

Which multinational airforce exercise recently took place, in what month, involving which nations, using what aircraft, based where, when and why is this important?

Answer 3

• Exercise Cobra Warrior
• Taking place during March, 2023
• Saudi Arabia, India, Finland and Belgium
• F16’s, F-18’s, Typhoons and Mirage jets
• RAF Coningsby and Waddington
• February 2023
• Increased the readiness and capabilities in co-operative air operations of NATO air assets to combat recent threats to NATO airspace

Question 4

Which monitoring base recently had a new facility installed for airospace monitoring by RAF personnel, when, what is this system called, which squadrons now operate from it, why is this important?

Answer 4

• NATS (National Air Trafficking Service) Swanwick
• February, 2023
• Control and Reporting Centre Resilience Entity
• 19 and 20 Squadron
• This upgrade allows for the operation of the same software as on other monitoring operation centres and integration into the air defence GUARDIAN system

Question 5

Which Prime Minister announced the development of a new aircraft, what type of aircraft, when, with what other nations and why is both the development of new aircraft and international co-operation important?

Answer 5

• Rishi Sunak
• Multirole unmanned stealth focused Fighter Jet
• Announced in December, 2022
• Involving the United Kingdom, Japan and Italy
• Rapid advancements in stealth and air detection technology facilitates the demands of a less conventional fighter jet, with focus on long range missile engagements, multirole capabilities and incorporation of stealth. Also due to the advancements in un-manned technology, the feasability of an unmanned jet aircraft enables removing the limitations of a human pilot
• International co-operation allows for both a continued strengthening of relations between involved nations, while also allowing greater allocation of financial, material and personnel resources to the project (for example, the Eurofighter Typhoon project beginning in 1989)