Good news from the RAF's chief of the air staff this morning - Eurofighter Typhoons have dropped their first bombs (Enhanced Paveway IIs) in combat against ground targets in Libya.
Can we now impose an absolute ban on all non-specialist UK press from referring to the Eurofighter as being a "Cold War relic"? Nice work Typhoon mates!
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/04/13/355511/libya-raf-typhoons-drop-first-bombs-in-combat.html
I've published an expanded article about the RAF's curent operations over Libya, including the all-important video footage of the Typhoon's historic first bomb drop:
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/04/14/355564/libya-raf-chief-details-uk-operation.html
At last - someone has explained to me why I was wrong in thinking that we could chop the E-3D Sentry fleet as part of the SDSR; good to see it doing a good command job out there. Interesting too to hear that the Sentinel R1s - listed in SDSR as for the axe - are providing a critical capability. Could be difficult to go through with scrapping those, methinks.
And a shout for flyvertosset - the RAF chief also singled out Denmark's performance in conducting more air-to-ground missions with its F-16s than the allies had expected: a very good use of metal! If only some of our other NATO friends would step up so capably ...
At last. I'm sure there's a lot of relief within the RAF with regards to Typhoon finally being used for ground operations. Just keep safe flying peeps.
With regards to Sentinel and such like's, I've seen a couple of bits and bobs regarding some of the decisions made in October potentially being reversed. There's hope yet. . Although I know it's too late for some.
It's all abit of a farce. Bring back the Harriers!
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/04/15/raf-top-guns-grounded-by-lack-of-spare-parts-for-new-typhoon-jets-115875-23062071/
At last - an actual real-life photo released of an RAF Typhoon carrying Enhanced Paveway IIs ahead of a Libyan strike mission. As rumoured, no Litening III pod carried by the aircraft for this early sortie, with the targeting spot provided by a Tornado GR4. The self-designation issue appears to be moving fast though, so watch this space.
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/04/15/355641/libya-raf-typhoon-hits-fresh-target-with-help-from.html
BTW Victor, I think the Harriers are really gone and out of the equation now; I'll be filing on that next week.