RAF Operations

Question 1

COVID Aviation Task Force

Answer 1

UK.
April 2020 - present.
Assisting the UK response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Provide helicopters for transportation of medical staff, patients and supplies.
Repatriation flights.

Question 2

Operation Newcombe

Answer 2

Mali.
2018 - present.
Supporting French led counter insurgency.
Most recent = 18 Squadron personnel returned in July 2020 from a 4 month tour. Operations included using Chinooks to undertake company sized airlifts of French army units.

Question 3

Operation Azotize

Answer 3

Lithuania.
May - August 2020
Using Typhoons to provide Quick Reaction Alert during routine NATO Air Policing deployment.
Carried out alongside Spain and France who provided QRA to Lithuania and Estonia.
Responding to and shadowing unknown aircrafts.

Question 4

Operation Toral

Answer 4

Afghanistan.
2019.
Supporting ongoing NATO training.
Using Pumas to provide air transport to NATO troops and dignitaries around Kabul.

Question 5

Operation Shader.

Answer 5

Iraq and Syria.
2014 - present.
Combatting Daesh as part of the ongoing coalition against terrorism.
Sentinels currently deployed.
As on January 2019, 1,700 airstrikes have taken place and £230 million of humanitarian aid has been delivered.

Question 6

Arctic Challenge

Answer 6

Sweden
May - June 2019
Training with 8 other nations (Norway, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, France, Germany, USA, Finland) as part of one of Europe’s largest air power exercises.
Tested effectiveness in a realistic threat environment.
5 Typhoons, 1 Hercules, 1 Voyager

Question 7

Exercise Red Flag

Answer 7

Nevada
February 2020
War fighting training with US Armed Forces and Australian Air Force.
Scenario designed to mimic issues NATO faces in the European Theatre.
Typhoons, Sentry, Rivet Joint

Question 8

Austral Endurance

Answer 8

Antarctica
February 2020
Precision dropping supplies from a 47 Squadron Hercules for the British Antarctic Survey.
63.1 tonnes over 10 days.