All UK Royal Air Force articles – Page 2
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NewsPICTURES: UK's first Poseidon MRA1 makes flight debut
The UK’s first Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft made its flight debut on 12 July.
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News
PICTURES: UK F-35s make operational debut
The UK gave an operational debut to its Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning force in mid-June, with the fifth-generation type having flown missions over Iraq and Syria alongside Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons.
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News
UK to pursue new partnership model for Tempest collaboration
The UK wants to adopt a new partnership arrangement with international participants in its Tempest next-generation combat aircraft programme, in an effort to avoid the rigid workshare model employed during previous joint efforts.
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News
Lack of situational awareness blamed for RAF C-130J write-off
UK military investigators have attributed a 2017 incident, in which a Lockheed Martin C-130J operated by the Royal Air Force’s 47 Sqn was written off, to the flightcrew’s lack of situational awareness as they attempted to land on a temporary strip in darkness.
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News
CAE to supply UK with second P-8A simulator
The UK has awarded CAE a contract to produce a second operational flight trainer (OFT) for its future fleet of Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, with the device to follow another already ordered for the Royal Air Force (RAF).
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News
RAF to get second-hand jets as part of Wedgetail buy
Two of the UK’s five on-order Boeing E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft will be converted commercial airliners, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.
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News
PICTURE: UK's first Poseidon takes shape in Renton
Boeing has mated the wing and fuselage of the UK’s first 737NG-based P-8A Poseidon, as the Royal Air Force advances preparations to restore its lapsed maritime patrol aircraft capability.
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Opinion
E-7 purchase is good news for UK
Confirming one of the worst-kept secrets in UK defence procurement, late March’s £1.5 billion ($1.96 billion) order for five Boeing 737NG-based E-7 airborne early warning and control system aircraft was nevertheless a welcome development for the Royal Air Force (RAF).
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News
Brimstone 3 test success fires MBDA ambitions
The latest iteration of MBDA's combat-proven Brimstone precision-strike weapon has undergone a successful first test firing. Conducted at the Vidsel range in Sweden, the telemetry unit-equipped Brimstone 3 was deployed from a surface launcher against a pick-up truck target.
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News
UK signs E-7 airborne early warning contract
The UK Ministry of Defence has confirmed plans to acquire five Boeing 737-based E-7 airborne early warning and control system aircraft, with the platforms to be modified by Marshall Aerospace & Defence Group.
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News
Meteor, Spear additions to give UK F-35s added punch
Weapons integration activities on the Lockheed Martin F-35B are to be expanded for the UK, with the pending addition of MBDA's Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile and in-development Spear ground-attack system.
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Opinion
OPINION: Bidding a fond farewell to RAF's mighty Tonka
Out with the old, as the saying goes. This week, we mark the Royal Air Force’s retirement of its last Tornado strike aircraft, a half-century after it was conceived by the three-nation Panavia consortium, and 40 years after it entered UK service.
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News
PICTURES: Diamond nine formation marks end for RAF Tornados
The UK Royal Air Force has drawn to a close 40 years of service by its Panavia Tornado strike aircraft, with a final formation flight involving nine GR4-model examples conducted from the service's Marham base in Norfolk on 28 February.
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News
PICTURES: RAF Tornados complete operational duties
Deployed operations with the UK's Panavia Tornado GR4 strike aircraft have come to an end, with its last examples having returned to the Royal Air Force's Marham base in Norfolk.
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News
UK military studies high-speed helicopter benefits
The UK Ministry of Defence intends to complete a study later this year that will determine the future requirements for its medium- and heavy-lift helicopter fleets, opening up the possibility of an acquisition of high-speed designs.
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News
PICTURES: RAF Tornados poised for operational end
The UK Royal Air Force is within days of completing its last combat deployment involving the Panavia Tornado GR4, as preparations gather pace for the ground-attack stalwart's formal retirement by 31 March.
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News
PICTURE: UK F-35s, Typhoon update hit operational milestones
The UK has met its initial operational capability target for the Lockheed Martin F-35B, with nine examples assigned to the Royal Air Force's 617 Sqn now deemed "ready to be deployed on operations around the world".
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News
Raytheon UK awarded 11-year Shadow support contract
Raytheon UK has been awarded a £250 million ($315 million) contract to support operations with the Royal Air Force's Beechcraft King Air 350CER-derived Shadow R1 surveillance fleet until 2030.
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News
PICTURE: RAF Typhoon makes air-defence debut with Meteor missile
UK Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons have begun flying quick reaction alert sorties armed with MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles, the Ministry of Defence confirms.
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News
PICTURE: T-6C arrival completes UK trainer fleet renewal
A key milestone in the UK Military Flying Training System programme was met on 3 December, with the early arrival of the last of 38 fixed-wing aircraft acquired via Elbit Systems UK/KBR joint-venture Affinity Flying Training Services.
