UK OPERATIONS

Question 1

What does the RAF do in the UK on a daily basis?

Answer 1

• QRA
• Strategic Air Transport
• Air-to-air refuelling
• ISTAR Taskings (Rivet joint, P8)
• Training and exercises (Joint Protector)
• MACA ( FOLIS, FLORENT, ILKANE, REIMAGE)

Question 2

What is QRA?

Answer 2

Takes place at RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Conningsby.

Aircraft squawking emergency codes, or not sending comms to air traffic control will trigger the activation of typhoons.

The aircraft will be intercepted and escorted accordingly.

Question 3

What are ISTAR taskings?

Answer 3

The P8 uses its above and below water sensors to search, identify and track the movements of maritime vessels. This is used to provide a large area maritime picture to friendly forces and commanders. Deploys from RAF Lossiemouth.

Missions flown from the UK by the RJ from 51 Sqn at RAF Waddington. Russian facing intelligence collection flights.

Question 4

What are the air transport taskings that we carry out day to day in the UK?

Answer 4

From prize norton the voyager will fly air bridge taskings twice a week out to Cyprus then onwards to the middle east.

The C-130 will transport equipment and people to forward deployments and exercise’s globally, such as when the Rivet Joint deploys to souda bay, the A400M and C-130 are utilised to transport the ground systems required by 51 Sqn.

Question 5

What are the A2A Refuelling taskings that are carried out daily?

Answer 5

From Brize Norton and also from RAF Milldenhall the Voyager will deploy to support air ops that are going from the UK. This allows us to conduct operations from the UK instead of from forward locations.

Question 6

What are training and exercises?

Answer 6

Training and Exercises are carried out to ensure we are at readiness to deploy on live ops. It ensures as a force we are capable of carrying out operations whenever and wherever. They are also brilliant for maintaining and developing international relations.

A good example of this is exercise joint protector.

Question 7

What is MACA?

Answer 7

Military Aid to Civilian Authorities. During times of disaster the military are called on to assist the strain on the civilian authorities. Government can request the help and then the minister of defence will either accept or refuse. They are normally done by trawls and most Sqn’s will contribute people depending on skillset.

Current and recent ones happening:

• Op FOLIS
• Op FLORENT
• Op ILKANE
• Op REIMAGE