NationMaster - Encyclopedia: RAF Volunteer Reserve

The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. Although the 'Junior Service', the RAF is the oldest independent air force in the world, formed on April 1, 1918. The RAF has taken a significant role in British military history since then, playing a large part in World War II, and more recently in conflicts such as the recent war in Iraq. With some 998 aircraft and a manpower of 52,804 (in 2006), the RAF is one of the largest air forces in the world. It is also one of the most technologically advanced, a position that is being enhanced significantly with the purchase of 232 Eurofighter Typhoons. The only founding member of the RAF still living today is Henry Allingham at age 110. ^[1] Image File history File links Ensign_of_the_Royal_Air_Force. ... The Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF) is the volunteer reserve part of the Royal Air Force. ... The Royal Air Force Regiment is a specialist corps within the Royal Air Force, responsible for capturing and defending airfields and associated installations. ... The Royal Air Force Police (RAFP), also called the RAF Provost Branch, is the military police branch of the British Royal Air Force. ... See the History section on the Royal Air Force page. ... // 1900-1918 1901 29 October - The Aero Club of Great Britain is established. ... Many aircraft types have served in the Royal Air Force since it was formed in 1918 by the merger of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service. ... The Royal Air Forces Strike Command is the military organization which controls the majority of the United Kingdoms combat aircraft. ... Number 1 Group of the Royal Air Force is one of the two groups in Strike Command. ... Number 2 Group of the Royal Air Force is one of the two groups in RAF Strike Command. ... The Joint Force Air Component Headquarters is the United Kindgdoms deployable air Command and Control Unit. ... Personnel and Training Command is one of two operational commands of the Royal Air Force along with Strike Command. ... The Training Group of the Royal Air Force is the group that controls the stations of Personnel and Training Command. ... This is a list of Royal Air Force stations in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. ... // Origins Lieutenant-General David Henderson originally proposed that Royal Air Force officers use a combination of British Army and Royal Navy ranks. ... The term used in the Royal Air Force to refer to all ranks below commissioned officer level is Other Ranks (ORs). ... An air force is a military or armed service that primarily conducts aerial warfare. ... The armed forces of the United Kingdom are known as the British Armed Forces or Her Majestys Armed Forces, officially the Armed Forces of the Crown. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... British military history is a long and varied topic, extending from the prehistoric and ancient historic period, through the Roman invasions of Julius CÃ¦sar and Claudius and subsequent Roman occupation; warfare in the Mediaeval period, including the invasions of the Saxons and the Vikings in the Early Middle Ages... This article is becoming very long. ... Combatants Coalition Forces: United States United Kingdom South Korea Italy Poland Romania Australia Denmark others. ... The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine multi-role canard-delta strike fighter aircraft, designed and built by a consortium of European aerospace manufacturers, Eurofighter GmbH, formed in 1983. ... Henry Allingham (born June 6, 1896 in Clapham) is one of the few surviving British veterans of World War I. He is also believed to be Britains longest-lived member of the armed forces ever, and Britains oldest living man since the death of Jack Davis (March 1...

Mission

The RAF's mission is to "Produce a battle-winning agile air force: fit for the challenges of today; ready for the tasks of tomorrow; capable of building for the future; working within Defence to achieve shared purpose."^[2] This is to support the MOD's objectives, which are to "provide the capabilities needed: to ensure the security and defence of the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories, including against terrorism; to support the Government’s foreign policy objectives particularly in promoting international peace and security."^[3]

History

The RAF was founded on April 1, 1918, during the First World War, by Viscount Trenchard when he amalgamated the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service. After the war, the service was cut drastically and its inter-war years were relatively peaceful, with only minor actions policing the British Empire. See the History section on the Royal Air Force page. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... Bust depicting Marshal of the Royal Air Force the Viscount Trenchard Marshal of the Royal Air Force Hugh Montague Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard (February 3, 1873 - February 10, 1956) was the British Chief of the Air Staff during World War I, and was instrumental in establishing the Royal Air Force... The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of World War I. Origin and Early History Formed by Royal Warrant on May 13, 1912, the RFC superseded the Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers. ... Personnel of No 1 Squadron RNAS in late 1914 The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of World War I, when it merged with the British Armys Royal Flying Corps (RFC) to form the Royal Air Force. ... The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ...

The RAF underwent rapid expansion prior to and during the Second World War. A defining period of the RAF's existence came during the Battle of Britain when it held off the Luftwaffe and helped to turn the tide of the war. The largest RAF effort during the war was the controversial strategic bombing campaign against Germany by RAF Bomber Command. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1122x1448, 563 KB) The RAF Memorial on the Victoria Embankment, London (opposite the London Eye). ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1122x1448, 563 KB) The RAF Memorial on the Victoria Embankment, London (opposite the London Eye). ... Victoria Embankment, London The Victoria Embankment, previously the Thames Embankment is a road and walkway along the north bank of the River Thames in London in the cities of Westminster and London. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... Combatants United Kingdom Germany Commanders Hugh Dowding Hermann GÃ¶ring Albert Kesselring Strength 700 fighters 1,260 bombers, 316 dive-bombers, 1,089 fighters Casualties 1,547 aircraft, 27,450 civilian dead, 32,138 wounded 2,698 aircraft One of the major campaigns of the early part of World War... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Bomber Command badge RAF Bomber Command was the organisation that controlled the RAFs bomber forces. ...

During the Cold War years the main role of the RAF was the defence of the continent of Europe against potential attack by the Soviet Union, including holding the UK's nuclear deterrent for a number of years. Since the end of the Cold War, several large scale operations have been undertaken by the RAF, including the Kosovo War, the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. This image is Crown copyright protected. ... This image is Crown copyright protected. ... The Cold War (Russian: Ð¥Ð¾Ð»Ð¾Ð´Ð½Ð°Ñ Ð’Ð¾Ð¹Ð½Ð° Kholodnaya Voina) was the protracted geopolitical, ideological, and economic struggle that emerged after World War II between a worldwide military alliance of capitalist states led by the United States and a rival alliance of communist states led by the Soviet Union. ... World map showing Europe Political map (neighboring countries in Asia and Africa also shown) Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth. ... The term Kosovo War or Kosovo Conflict is often used to describe two sequential and at times parallel armed conflicts (a civil war followed by an international war) in the southern Serbian province called Kosovo (officially Kosovo and Metohia), part of the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. ... (Redirected from 2001 invasion of Afghanistan) The United States, with support from the United Kingdom, Australia and the Northern Alliance, Afghanistan in October 2001 as part of its War on Terrorism campaign. ... Combatants Coalition Forces: United States United Kingdom South Korea Italy Poland Romania Australia Denmark others. ...

Structure of the RAF

The professional head of the RAF is known as the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), currently Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy. The CAS heads the Air Force Board, which is a committee of the Defence Council. The Air Force Board (AFB) is the management board of the RAF and consists of the Commanders-in-Chief of the Commands, together with several other high ranking officers. The CAS also has a deputy known as the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (ACAS); currently this post is held by Air Vice-Marshal Chris Moran. Chief of the Air Staff can also refer to the head of the Canadian Forces Air Command or the head of the Indian Air Force. ... An Air Chief Marshals sleeve/shoulder insignia Air Chief Marshal is the most senior rank active in the Royal Air Force (RAF) today, after the inactivation of Marshal of the Royal Air Force as a substantive rank in peacetime during defence cuts of the 1990s. ... Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy. ... The Air Force Board of the Defence Council is responsible for the management of the Royal Air Force. ... The Defence Council of the United Kingdom is the body legally entrusted with the defence of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories and with control over the British armed forces, and is part of the Ministry of Defence. ... In a military context, a command is a collection of units or a group of personnel under the control of a single officer. ... Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (ACAS) is the Deputy to the Chief of the Air Staff in the Royal Air Force. ... An Air Vice Marshals sleeve/shoulder insignia Air Vice Marshal is the third most senior rank active in the Royal Air Force today, after the inactivation of Marshal of the Royal Air Force as a substantive rank in peacetime during defence cuts of the 1990s. ... Air Vice-Marshal Chris Moran. ...

Commands

Authority is delegated from the AFB to the RAF's commands. While there were once individual commands responsible for bombers, fighters, training, etc, only two commands exist currently: This is a list of Royal Air Force commands. ...

The Royal Air Forces Strike Command is the military organization which controls the majority of the United Kingdoms combat aircraft. ... RAF High Wycombe is a Royal Air Force station, outside High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire. ... Personnel and Training Command is one of two operational commands of the Royal Air Force along with Strike Command. ... RAF Innsworth is a non-flying Royal Air Force station, near Gloucester. ...

Groups

Groups are the subdivisions of operational Commands, responsible for certain types of operation or for operations in limited geographical areas. As from 1 April 2006, Strike Command is made-up of two Groups following the disbandment of No.3 Group: This is a list of Royal Air Force groups. ... For some other uses of the word group please see Group Group is a term used by different air forces for a unit of command. ... Strike Command is the successor organisation in the Royal Air Force to RAF Bomber Command, RAF Fighter Command and RAF Coastal Command of WWII fame. ...

Only one group exists within Personnel and Training Command, namely Training Group. Number 1 Group of the Royal Air Force is one of the two groups in Strike Command. ... Missing image RAF Harrier GR7 Joint Force Harrier is a defence proposal brought by the British Government as part of Strategic Defence Review. ... Number 2 Group of the Royal Air Force is one of the two groups in RAF Strike Command. ... The Royal Air Force Regiment is a specialist corps within the Royal Air Force, responsible for capturing and defending airfields and associated installations. ... For the program run by NASAs Marshall Space Propulsion Center see: Integrated Systems Test of an Air-Breathing Rocket It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with C4ISR (Discuss) // Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance ISTAR stands for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance. ... The Training Group of the Royal Air Force is the group that controls the stations of Personnel and Training Command. ...

Stations

An RAF Station is ordinarily subordinate to a Group and it is administratively sub-divided into Wings. Since the mid to late 1930s RAF stations have controlled a number of flying squadrons or other units at one location by means of a station headquarters. Image File history File links RAF-Roundel. ... Image File history File links RAF-Roundel. ... The RAF roundel A roundel is a distinctive mostly round logo or marking, most commonly painted today on military aircraft to indicate which air force or navy they belong to. ... An RAF station is a Royal Air Force military base. ... An RAF station is a Royal Air Force military base. ...

Wings

A Wing is either a sub-division of a Group acting independently or a sub-division of an RAF Station. Wing is a term used by different air forces for a unit of command. ...

Independent Wings are a grouping of two or more squadrons, either flying squadrons or ground support squadrons. In former times, numbered flying Wings have existed, but more recently they have only been created when required, for example during Operation Telic, Tornado Wings were formed to operate from Ali Al Salem and Al Udeid Air Bases; each of these were made up of aircraft and crews from several squadrons. Operation Telic is the codename under which all British operations of the 2003 Invasion of Iraq and after are being conducted. ... The Tornado GR4 is a Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) used for low-level penetration to attack ground targets. ... Ali Al Salem is an airfield situated in Kuwait approximately 23 miles from the Iraqi border. ... Al Udeid Air Base is a military base in Qatar. ...

On 31st March 2006, the RAF formed nine Expeditionary Air Wings (EAW). The Expeditionary Air Wings have been established to support operations. They have been formed at the nine main operating bases; RAF Coningsby, RAF Cottesmore, RAF Kinloss, RAF Leeming, RAF Leuchars, RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Lyneham, RAF Marham, and RAF Waddington. These units will be commanded by a Group Captain who is also the Station Commander. The unit is formed around the squadrons based at the stations housing the wing, however, they are flexible and can be quickly adapted for operations and deployment. ^[4] RAF Coningsby, is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England. ... RAF Cottesmore is a Royal Air Force station in Rutland, England. ... RAF Kinloss is an Royal Air Force station on the Moray Firth in the north of Scotland. ... RAF air defence bases RAF Leeming is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire, England. ... RAF Leuchars is the most northerly air defence station in the United Kingdom. ... RAF Lossiemouth is a Royal Air Force station in Moray, Scotland. ... RAF Lyneham is a Royal Air Force station in Wiltshire, England. ... RAF Marham is a Royal Air Force station in Norfolk, England. ... Waddington-based Hawker-Siddeley (now BAE Systems) Nimrod R.1 RAF Waddington is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire England. ... A Group Captains sleeve/shoulder insignia A Group Captains command flag Group Captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. ...

On RAF Stations, a Wing is an administrative sub-division. For a flying station these will normally be Engineering Wing, Operations Wing and Administration Wing. Aside from these, the only Wings currently in permanent existence are the Air Combat Service Support wings of 2 Group which provide support services such as communications, supply and policing to operationally deployed units.

Squadrons

The term squadron (sqn) can be used to refer to an administrative sub-unit of a station, e.g. Air Traffic Control sqn, Personnel Management sqn; there are also ground support squadrons, e.g. 2 (MT) Sqn. This is a list of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons. ... A Squadron is a small unit or formation of cavalry, aircraft (including balloons), or naval vessels. ...

However, the primary use for the term is as the name of the flying squadrons which carry out the primary tasks of the RAF. RAF squadrons are somewhat analogous to the regiments of the British army, in that they have histories and traditions going back to their formation, regardless of where they are currently based, which aircraft they are operating, etc. They can be awarded standards and battle honours for meritorious service. The tricolour flag of France A flag is a piece of cloth, often flown from a pole or mast, generally used for signalling or identification. ... Battle Honours are awarded by the Sovereign to Royal Air Force squadrons to commemorate the squadrons role in a particular operation. ...

Whilst every squadron is different, most flying squadrons are commanded by a Wing Commander and, for a fast-jet squadron, have an establishment of around 100 personnel and 12 aircraft, but 16 aircraft for Tornado F3 Squadrons. A Wing Commanders sleeve/shoulder insignia A Wing Commanders command flag Wing Commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. ...

Flights

A flight is a sub-division of a squadron. Flying squadrons are often divided into two flights, under the command of a Squadron Leader; administrative squadrons on a station are also divided into flights. A flight is a military unit in an air force, naval air service, or army air corps. ...

There are several flying units formed as Flights rather than Squadrons, due to their small size.

RAF Personnel

In 2006 the RAF employed 52,804 active duty personnel and more than 12,000 reservists.At its height during the Second World War, in excess of 1,000,000 personnel were serving at any one time.

This article lists those members of the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom who have become either nationally or internationally famous. ... Comparative military ranks are a means of comparing military rank systems of different nations as a means of categorizing the hierarchy of an armed force compared to another. ...

Officers

Officers hold a commission from the Sovereign, which provides the legal authority for them to issue orders to subordinates. The commission is granted after successfully completing the 30-week-long Initial Officer Training course at the RAF College, Cranwell. // Origins Lieutenant-General David Henderson originally proposed that Royal Air Force officers use a combination of British Army and Royal Navy ranks. ... In military organizations, a commissioned officer is a member of the service who derives authority directly from a sovereign power, and as such holds a commission from that power. ... This article describes the British monarchy from the perspective of the United Kingdom. ... College Hall The Royal Air Force College (RAFC) is the Royal Air Force establishment which provides initial training to all RAF personnel who are preparing to be commissioned officers. ...

The titles and insignia of RAF Officers were derived from those used by the Royal Navy, specifically the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) during World War I. For example, the rank of Squadron Leader derived its name from the RNAS rank of Squadron Commander. RAF officers fall into three categories: air officers, senior officers and junior officers. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... Personnel of No 1 Squadron RNAS in late 1914 The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of World War I, when it merged with the British Armys Royal Flying Corps (RFC) to form the Royal Air Force. ... A Squadron Leaders sleeve/shoulder insignia Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in some air forces. ... An Air Officer is a U.K. Royal Air Force officer of rank Air Commodore or higher. ... The term junior officer is sometimes used to make clear that an officer in a military or para-military command is not in over-all command. ...

Other Ranks

Other Ranks attend the Recruit Training Squadron at RAF Halton for basic training, with the exception of the RAF Regiment, which trains its recruits at RAF Honington. The term used in the Royal Air Force to refer to all ranks below commissioned officer level is Other Ranks (ORs). ... RAF Halton is one of the larger Royal Air Force (RAF) stations in the United Kingdom, located near the village of Halton, Buckinghamshire. ... The Royal Air Force Regiment is a specialist corps within the Royal Air Force, responsible for capturing and defending airfields and associated installations. ... RAF Honington is a Royal Air Force station in Suffolk, England. ...

The titles and insignia of Other Ranks in the RAF was based on that of the Army, with some alterations in terminology. Over the years, this structure has seen significant changes, for example there was once a separate system for those in technical trades and the rank of Chief Technician continues to be held only by personnel in technical trades. RAF other ranks fall into four categories: warrant officers, senior non-commissioned officers, junior non-commissioned officers and airmen. The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Chief Technician (CT or Ch Tech) is a non_commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force which is only held by airmen in technical trades and by musicians. ...

Branches and Trades

The majority of the members of the RAF serve in vital support roles on the ground. An aviator is a person who flies aircraft for pleasure or as a profession. ... A navigator is the person onboard a ship responsible for the navigation of the vessel. ...

The Royal Air Force Regiment is a specialist corps within the Royal Air Force, responsible for capturing and defending airfields and associated installations. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. Infantry are soldiers who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units, though they may be transported to the battlefield by horses, ships, automobiles, skis, or other means. ... Rapier Type surface to air Nationality UK Era Cold War Launch platform vehicle Target aircraft History Builder British Aerospace Date of design Production period Service duration Operators UK Variants ? Number built ? Specifications Type Diameter 0. ... RGA redirects here. ... The Royal Air Force Police (RAFP), also called the RAF Provost Branch, is the military police branch of the British Royal Air Force. ... It has been suggested that Gendarmerie be merged into this article or section. ... The British police are a group of similar but independent police services which operate in the United Kingdom. ... Intelligence Officers are staff that specialise in the gathering, fusion and analysis of information and intelligence sources in order to provide advise to the Government or organisation that they work for. ... RAF Intelligence Crest The Royal Air Force (RAF) Intelligence branch is a dedicated organisation within the RAF that maintains intelligence staff and equipment. ... Military intelligence (abbreviated MI, int. ... Air Traffic Control Towers (ATCTs) at Schiphol Airport Air Traffic Control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. ... Amport House is a manor house near Andover, Hampshire used by the British military. ...

Aircraft

Many types of aircraft currently serve with the RAF, although there is less variety in the order of battle of the organisation than in previous decades due to the increasing cost of military systems. The types currently in the RAF inventory are listed below. Westland Sea King HAR.3 search and rescue helicopter (ZH545), Ilfracombe, north Devon, England . ... Westland Sea King HAR.3 search and rescue helicopter (ZH545), Ilfracombe, north Devon, England . ... Download high resolution version (1500x1063, 460 KB) Chinook HC2 (ZA677) of the RAF at an air display at Kemble airfield, Gloucestershire, England. ... Download high resolution version (1500x1063, 460 KB) Chinook HC2 (ZA677) of the RAF at an air display at Kemble airfield, Gloucestershire, England. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2601x1775, 852 KB) RAF Panavia Tornado F3 (identifier ZE342) taxiing for take off at the Royal International Air Tattoo, RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, England. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2601x1775, 852 KB) RAF Panavia Tornado F3 (identifier ZE342) taxiing for take off at the Royal International Air Tattoo, RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, England. ... Many aircraft types have served in the Royal Air Force since it was formed in 1918 by the merger of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service. ...

The code which follows each aircraft's name describe the role of the variant. For example, the Tornado F.3 is designated as a fighter by the 'F', and is the third variant of the type to be produced. Generally, aircraft in British military service were known by names assigned by their manufacturer, or (for various imported types) bestowed upon them by the first military service to bring them into service. ...

Strike, attack and offensive support aircraft

The mainstay of what the RAF calls its Offensive Support fleet is the Tornado GR.4. This supersonic aircraft can carry a wide range of weaponry, including Storm Shadow cruise missiles, laser guided bombs and the ALARM anti-radar missile. The Tornado is supplemented by the Harrier GR.7 & GR.7A and Jaguar GR.3 & GR.3A, which are used in the close air support role and to counter enemy air defences. The Harrier is being upgraded to GR.9 standard with newer systems and more powerful engines. The Jaguar is being withdrawn from service by 2008, to be replaced by the Typhoon. Tornado GR4 The Tornado GR4 is a Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) originally designed for low-level penetration to attack ground targets, now increasingly used to deliver stand-off weapons and guided bombs at medium altitude. ... Storm Shadow is an Anglo-French air-launched cruise missile, manufactured by MBDA and used by Britain, France, and Italy. ... RAF Harrier GR7 The Harrier GR5, GR7, GR7A, GR9 and GR9A are all Royal Air Force variants of the BAE Systems/Boeing Harrier II. The Aircraft was solely designed and built by British Aerospace, though the US eventually purchased them, as well (In US service, they go by the designation... The SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French ground attack aircraft in service with the Royal Air Force and several export customers, notably the Indian Air Force. ...

Air defence and Airborne Early Warning Aircraft

The Tornado F.3 is the RAF's air defence fighter aircraft, based at RAF Leuchars and RAF Leeming to defend the UK’s airspace. The Sentry AEW.1 provides airborne radar to detect incoming enemy aircraft and to co-ordinate the aerial battlefield. Both the Sentry and the F.3 have been involved in recent operations including over Iraq and the Balkans. The Tornado, in service in the air defence role since the late 1980s, is due to be replaced by the more agile Typhoon F.2. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Panavia Tornado. ... RAF Leuchars is the most northerly air defence station in the United Kingdom. ... RAF air defence bases RAF Leeming is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire, England. ... The E-3 Sentry is a military airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft that provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications, to the United States, NATO and other air defense forces. ... For history and background of the Eurofighter programme please see Eurofighter Typhoon. ...

Reconnaissance Aircraft

Variants of attack aircraft, the Jaguar GR.3/GR.3A and Tornado GR.4A are fitted with specialist reconnaissance pods and squadrons exist with both types in the reconnaissance role. The elderly Canberra PR.9 was also used in this role for its ability to fly at high altitude for long duration sorties, however was recently retired from service. All three types are/were equipped with a range of cameras and sensors in the visual, infra-red and radar ranges of the spectrum. Providing electronic and signals intelligence is the Nimrod R.1. The new Sentinel R.1 provides ASTOR ground radar surveillance platform based on the Bombardier Global Express long range business jet. The SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French ground attack aircraft in service with the Royal Air Force and several export customers, notably the Indian Air Force. ... A RAF Tornado GR4A The Tornado GR.4A, an upgrade of the Tornado GR1. ... The English Electric Canberra was a first-generation jet bomber manufactured in large numbers through the 1950s, and as of 2006 some still remain in service. ... The BAE Systems (formerly Hawker-Siddeley) Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft is derived from the De Havilland Comet, the worlds first jet airliner. ... Raytheon Production aircraft first flight The Raytheon Sentinel is under development as the RAFs ASTOR (Airborne STand-Off Radar) aircraft. ...

Search and Rescue Aircraft

Three squadrons of helicopters exist with the primary role of rescuing aircrew who have ejected or crash-landed their aircraft. These are 22 Sqn and 202 Sqn with the Sea King HAR.3/HAR.3A in the UK and 84 Sqn with the Griffin HAR.2 in Cyprus. Although established in a military role, most of their operational missions are to rescue civilians from ships at sea, mountains and other locations. No. ... No. ... The Sea King helicopter is the only helicopter used by the Norwegian rescue service The Westland Sea King is a license-built version of the Sikorsky helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. ... No. ...

Maritime Patrol

The Nimrod MR2 primary role is that of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti-Surface Unit Warfare (ASUW). The Nimrod MR2 is additionaly used in a Search and Rescue (SAR) role, where its long range and extensive communications facilities allow it to co-ordinate rescues by acting as a link between rescue helicopters, ships and shore bases. It can also drop pods containing life rafts and survival supplies to people in the sea.The already very capable MR2,will begin to be replaced by 12 NIMROD MRA4 aircraft in the next few years.The NIMROD MRA4 is described by BAE Systems as a world leader in terms of maritime patrol platforms. The BAE Systems (formerly Hawker-Siddeley) Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft is derived from the De Havilland Comet, the worlds first jet airliner. ... Anti-submarine warfare is a term referring to warfare directed against submarines. ... Anti-surface warfare, or ASuW (sometimes anti-surface unit warfare or ASUW) is a type of naval warfare directed against surface ships, typically by other surface vessels or aircraft. ... The BAE Systems (formerly Hawker-Siddeley) Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft is derived from the De Havilland Comet, the worlds first jet airliner. ... Search and Rescue (acronym SAR) is an operation mounted by emergency services, often well-trained volunteers, to find someone believed to be in distress, lost, sick or injured either in a remote or difficult to access area, such as mountains, desert or forest (Wilderness search and rescue), or at sea...

Support helicopters

An important part of the work of the RAF is to support the Army by ferrying troops and equipment to and across the battlefield. The support helicopters are organised into the tri-service Joint Helicopter Command with Army and Navy aircraft. The large twin- rotor Chinook HC.2/HC.2A, based at RAF Odiham provides heavy lift and is supported by Merlin HC.3 and the smaller Puma HC.1, based at RAF Benson and RAF Aldergrove. The Royal Air Force is the second largest operator of the Boeing CH-47 Chinook of the 16 nations which use the type. ... RAF Odiham crest RAF Odiham is a Royal Air Force station situated a little to the south of the historic small town of Odiham in Hampshire, England. ... The AgustaWestland EH101 is a medium-lift helicopter originally developed as a joint venture between Westland Aircraft in the UK and Agusta in Italy for military applications but also marketed for civil use. ... The Aerospatiale Puma is a medium-sized twin-engined transport/utility helicopter originally manufactured by Aerospatiale of France. ... RAF Benson is a Royal Air Force station near Benson in Oxfordshire, England. ... Aldergrove Crest USAF C-17 operating from Aldergrove in support of U.S. Presidential visit, 2003. ...

Transport and Air-to-Air Refuelling aircraft

Having absorbed the former Queen's Flight in 1995, 32 (The Royal) Squadron uses the BAe 125 CC.3, Agusta A109 and BAe 146 CC.2 in the VIP transport role, based at RAF Northolt in west London. More routine air transport tasks are carried out by the Tristars and VC10s based at RAF Brize Norton, both used to transport troops and cargo, and for air-to-air refuelling. Shorter range tactical transport is provided by the C-130 Hercules, the fleet including both older K-model and new J-model aircraft. The RAF has leased 4 C-17 Globemaster IIIs from Boeing to provide a strategic heavy airlift capability; it was announced in 2004 that these will be purchased, together with a further example, once the lease expires. The MOD as expressed a wish to buy a further 3 C-17's, but due to budget constraints the MOD can only afford to buy one each year, running the risk that the production line may be shut down before the RAF gets the aircraft it needs. No. ... BAe 125-1000 The twin-engined BAe 125 is the worlds best selling mid-size corporate jet, now marketed as the Raytheon Hawker 800. ... The Agusta A109 is a helicopter manufactured by Agusta (now AgustaWestland) of Italy. ... The BAe 146 (also known as the Avro RJ) is a medium-sized commercial aircraft manufactured by BAE SYSTEMS. It carries its four jet engines on a high wing above the fuselage; not below, or at mid-fuselage, as on most conventional civilian aircraft. ... RAF Northolt (IATA: NHT, ICAO: EGWU) is a Royal Air Force station in west London in the London Borough of Hillingdon which also handles a large number of civilian flights. ... London (pronounced ) is the capital city of England and of the United Kingdom. ... The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar was the third widebody passenger jet airliner to enter operation, following the Boeing 747 and the Douglas DC-10. ... The VC-10 airliner was designed and built by Vickers in the 1960s. ... RAF Brize Norton is a Royal Air Force station in Oxfordshire about 50 miles west of London, England, United Kingdom. ... The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop cargo aircraft and the main tactical airlifter for military forces worldwide. ... The C-17 Globemaster III is a strategic airlifter manufactured by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, and operated by the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force. ... The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA, TYO: 7661 ) is an aerospace and defense corporation headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. ...

Training aircraft

A wide range of aircraft types are used for training aircrew in their duties. At the more advanced stage in training, variants of front-line aircraft have been adapted for operational conversion of trained pilots, these include the Canberra T.4, Harrier T.10, Jaguar T.4 and Typhoon T.1. Advanced flying training for fast-jet, helicopter and multi-engine pilots is provided using the Hawk T.1, Griffin HT.1 and Super King Air T.1 respectively. RAF Harrier GR7 The Harrier GR5, GR7, GR7A, GR9 and GR9A are all Royal Air Force variants of the BAE Systems/Boeing Harrier II. The Aircraft was solely designed and built by British Aerospace, though the US eventually purchased them, as well (In US service, they go by the designation... The SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French ground attack aircraft in service with the Royal Air Force and several export customers, notably the Indian Air Force. ... For history and background of the Eurofighter programme please see Eurofighter Typhoon. ... The BAE Hawk is an advanced jet trainer manufactured by BAE SYSTEMS and used by the Royal Air Force and other countries. ... It has been suggested that CH-146 Griffon be merged into this article or section. ... King Air is the general name for a family of all-metal, twin-turboprop civilian aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation (now Raytheon). ...

Basic pilot training is provided on the Tucano T.1 and Eurocopter Squirrel HT.1, while navigator training is in the Dominie T.1. Elementary flying training is conducted on either the Slingsby Firefly or Tutor T.1, depending on the new pilot's route of entry to the service. The Tutor is also used, along with the Viking T.1 and Vigilant T.1 gliders, to provide air experience for Air Cadets. The Short Tucano is a basic two seat turboprop trainer used by the RAF. It is an adaptation of the EMBRAER Tucano, the principle alteration being the use of a Garrett turboprop powerplant over the standard Pratt & Whitney engine. ... The Eurocopter Ecureuil (Squirrel) is a single-engine helicopter manufactured by Eurocopter. ... Originally the Hawker-Siddeley Dominie, the BAe Dominie is purpose-built to serve as a navigation trainer for the RAF. It is a militarised version of the BAe 125. ... The Grob Tutor is a single-engined low-wing monoplane used as a basic training aircraft by the RAF. The aircraft has fixed tricycle undercarriage with spatted wheels, a short nose, and a cabin with a broad canopy and two windows each side. ... Grob G109B motor glider, built in 1986 Grob Aircraft SPn at ILA 2006 This article is about aircraft manufacturer. ... Grob G109B motor glider, built in 1986 Grob Aircraft SPn at ILA 2006 This article is about aircraft manufacturer. ... The Air Training Corps (ATC) is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. ...

Future aircraft

The aircraft operated by the RAF continue to be upgraded and improved throughout their service life. In addition, new aircraft to replace existing fleets or fill new roles come into service every so often.

Aircraft in development or soon to be deployed include the Airbus A400M, of which 25 are to be used to replace the remaining Hercules C-130Ks. (Some of the C-130K fleet was replaced by 25 new C-130J Hercules in 1999, 5 C-17s will be retained). A new version of the Chinook, the HC.3, with improved avionics and increased range, was developed mainly for special forces missions. Service entry has been delayed due to software problems and legal issues. The Eurofighter Typhoon is entering service and the RAF will be the largest operator of the type. The Typhoon will replace the Tornado F3 interceptor and the Jaguar GR3A ground attack aircraft by 2010. The Hawk 128 will replace the existing Hawks in service; the newer model being more similar in equipment and performance to modern front line aircraft. The ageing aerial refuelling fleet of VC10s and Tristars should be replaced with the Airbus A330 MRTT under the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft programme. Problems with contract negotiations have led to unsolicited proposals for the conversion of civil Tristars or DC-10s. The Joint Combat Aircraft (the British designation for the F-35 Lightning II) will replace the Harrier GR.7 and GR.9. Studies have begun regarding the long term replacement for the Tornado GR.4 (Although the Future Offensive Air System project was cancelled in 2005). The RAF transport helicopter force, the Puma and Sea Kings, are to be replaced by the Support Amphibious and Battlefield Rotorcraft (SABR) project, likely a mix of Merlins and Chinooks. The Airbus A400M is a four-engine turboprop aircraft, designed by Airbus Military to meet the demand of European nations for military airlift. ... A field artillery section slingloading a M-198 howitzer for airlift by a CH-47 Chinook The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a versatile, twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. ... The Royal Air Force is the second largest operator of the Boeing CH-47 Chinook of the 16 nations which use the type. ... The RAF Tornado F3 is a fighter/interceptor version of the Panavia Tornado in service with the Royal Air Force. ... The SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French ground attack aircraft in service with the Royal Air Force and several export customers, notably the Indian Air Force. ... The BAE Hawk is an advanced jet trainer manufactured by BAE SYSTEMS and used by the Royal Air Force and other countries. ... The Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) is a next generation aerial refueling tanker aircraft based on the Airbus A330-200. ... The Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) will provide aerial refueling (AR) and Air Transport (AT) for the Royal Air Force using a version of the Airbus A330 MRTT. The Royal Australian Air Force announced in April 2004 that they had selected Airbus to provide tankers to a similar specification. ... Biman Bangladesh Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-10 The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is a three-engined long-range airliner, with two engines mounted on underwing pylons and a third engine at the base of the vertical stabilizer. ... The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is a military fighter aircraft designed by the United States and the United Kingdom. ... BAE SYSTEMS FOAS Concept The Future Offensive Air System is the system which will replace the RAFs strike capability currently provided by the Tornado GR4. ...

RAF deployments

^[5] The three Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania The Baltic air-policing mission is a NATO air policing mission over the skies of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. ... Operation Veritas was the codename used for British military operations against the Taliban government of Afghanistan in 2001. ... French Army forces, 4Ã¨mes chasseurs (27th mountain infantry brigade), in Afghanistan in 2004, passing a woman in a burka. ... Motto: none Anthem: Intermeco Capital Sarajevo Largest city Sarajevo Official language(s) Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian Government Republic - Presidency members Sulejman TihiÄ‡1 (Bosniak) Borislav Paravac (Serb) Ivo Miro JoviÄ‡ (Croat) - Chairman of the Council of Ministers Adnan TerziÄ‡ Independence From Yugoslavia - Recognized 6 April 1992 Area - Total 51,197 km... The United Nations (UN) is an international organization that aims at facilitating co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, and social equity. ... Anthem: God Save the Queen, Capital Georgetown Status Overseas territory of the United Kingdom Official language(s) English Administrator Michael Hill Area - Total - % water Ranked 77 (United Kingdom) 50 kmÂ² 0 Population - Total - Density 1,100 22kmÂ² Currency Pound sterling; US Dollar (accepted) Time zone UTC: +6 (DST: ?) Internet TLD . ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerospace branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Goose Bay, also referred to as 5 Wing Goose Bay or Goose Bay Airport, (IATA: YYR, ICAO: CYYR) is an air force base in eastern Canada, located in the town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador. ... CF-18 Hornet CC-115 Buffalo CT-114 Tutor Canadian Forces Air Command (AIRCOM) is the air force element of the Canadian Forces. ... RAF Akrotiri is one of the few full-scale Royal Air Force stations left outside the United Kingdom. ... The UK Sovereign Base Areas are those British military base areas located in countries formerly ruled by the United Kingdom which were retained by it and not handed over when those countries attained independence. ... RAF Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands is the most recent purpose-built airfield in the Royal Air Force. ... Combatants United Kingdom Argentina Casualties 258 killed[1] 777 wounded 2 taken prisoner 649 killed 1,068 wounded 11,313 taken prisoner The Falklands War was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. ... RAF Gibraltar is a Royal Air Force station on Gibraltar. ... The tsunami caused by the December 26, 2004 earthquake strikes Ao Nang, Thailand. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... Combatants UN Coalition Republic of Iraq Commanders Norman Schwarzkopf Saddam Hussein Strength 660,000 545,000 Casualties 345 dead, 1,000 wounded 25,000 dead, 100,000 - 300,000 wounded The Gulf War (1990â€“1991) (also called the Persian Gulf War, First Gulf War, or Operation Desert Storm) was a... Combatants Coalition Forces: United States United Kingdom South Korea Italy Poland Romania Australia Denmark others. ... Location of Basra Basra (also spelled BaÅŸrah or Basara; historically sometimes written Busra, Busrah, and the early form Bassorah; Arabic: , Al-Basrah) is the second largest city of Iraq with an estimated population of c. ... The AgustaWestland EH101 is a medium-lift helicopter originally developed as a joint venture between Westland Aircraft in the UK and Agusta in Italy for military applications but also marketed for civil use. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Chinook has several meanings: The Chinookan nation of Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest, which inhabited the lower Columbia River valley in what is now Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. ... -1...

Symbols, flags and emblems

Following the tradition of the other British fighting services, the RAF has adopted various symbols to represent it and act as a rallying point for its members [1]. Image File history File links Ensign_of_the_Royal_Air_Force. ... Image File history File links Ensign_of_the_Royal_Air_Force. ... Ensign of the Imperial Japanese Navy. ...

The RAF Ensign is flown from the flagstaff on every RAF station during daylight hours. It is hoisted and hauled down by station duty staff daily. The design was approved by King George V in 1921, after much opposition from the Admiralty, who have the right to approve or veto any flag flown ashore or on board ship. Royal Air Force Ensign The Royal Air Force Ensign is the official flag which used to represent the Royal Air Force. ... George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 - 20 January 1936) was the first British monarch belonging to the House of Windsor, as a result of his creating it from the British branch of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. ...

British aircraft in the early stages of the First World War carried the Union Flag as an identifying feature, however this was easy to confuse with the German Iron Cross motif. Therefore in October 1914 the French system of three concentric rings was adopted, with the colours reversed to a red disc surrounded by a white ring and an outer blue ring. The relative sizes of the rings have changed over the years and during World War II an outer yellow ring was added. Aircraft serving in the Far East during World War II had the red disc removed to prevent confusion with Japanese aircraft. Since the 1970s, camouflaged aircraft carry low-visibility roundels, either red and blue on dark camouflage, or washed-out pink and light blue on light colours. Most uncamouflaged training and transport aircraft retain the traditional red-white-blue roundel. Flag Ratio: 1:2 The Union Flag (commonly, the Union Jack) is the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. ... Far East is an inexact term often used for East Asia and Southeast Asia combined, sometimes including also the easternmost territories of Russia, i. ...

The Latin motto of the RAF, "Per Ardua ad Astra", is usually translated as "Through Adversity to the Stars". The choice of motto is attributed to a junior officer by the name of J S Yule, in response to a request from the first Commander of the RFC, Colonel Sykes, for suggestions. Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ... Major-General Right Honourable Sir Frederick Hugh Sykes (1877â€“1954) was an English statesman and politician. ...

The badge of the RAF, shown at the top of this article, is in heraldic terms: "In front of a circle inscribed with the motto Per Ardua Ad Astra and ensigned by the Imperial Crown an eagle volant and affronty Head lowered and to the sinister." It was approved in 1923 based on a design by a tailor at Gieves Ltd of Savile Row, although the original had an albatross rather than the eagle and was surrounded by a garter belt rather than the plain circle. Image File history File links RAF-Finflash-Noncombat. ... Image File history File links RAF-Finflash-Noncombat. ... Rampant redirects here. ... A tailor is a person whose occupation is to sew clothes custom-fit to individuals, and to repair clothes. ... Gieves & Hawkes is a well-known tailor based in Savile Row, London. ... Savile Row Savile Row Savile Row is a road in the City of Westminster in central London that runs parallel to Regent Street between Conduit Street at the northern end and Vigo Street at the southern. ...

In 2006 a flash was designed and issued to personnel with the same design as the tail panel for wear on combat clothing. It is 45mm squared. There is also a badge to go over the right chest pocket with the text ROYAL AIR FORCE in black capitals on a green background. There is no desert pattern available.

The RAF also has its own tartan. Designed in 1988, it was only officially recognised by the Ministry of Defence in 2001. It is used by the RAF Pipes Band and may be worn by Officers serving at Scottish units with their No.5 HD Mess Dress. A tartan is a specific woven pattern that often signifies a particular Scottish clan in the modern era. ... The Ministry of Defence (MOD, pronounced em-oh-dee) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and the headquarters of the British Armed Forces. ... Militaries are composed of two main types of personnel: enlisted men and women and officers. ...

References

Future

Military leaders such as Colonel Tim Collins, the former Army officer described as a hero during the Iraq war[[2]] and civilian commentators such as Richard Need [[3]] have prompted controversy by calling for the RAF to be disbanded as a separate arm; allowing the Fleet Air Arm and Army Air Corps to absorb aircrew and aircraft dedicated to specific sea and ground roles. They claim there would be significant savings, not least in Whitehall by the closing down of MoD (Air).[[4]]

Contents

Mission

History

Structure of the RAF

Commands

Groups

Stations

Wings

Squadrons

Flights

RAF Personnel

Officers

Other Ranks

Branches and Trades

Aircraft

Strike, attack and offensive support aircraft

Air defence and Airborne Early Warning Aircraft

Reconnaissance Aircraft

Search and Rescue Aircraft

Maritime Patrol

Support helicopters

Transport and Air-to-Air Refuelling aircraft

Training aircraft

Future aircraft

RAF deployments

Symbols, flags and emblems

References

Future

See also

External links

Contents

Mission var ACE_AR = {Site: '756743', Size: '300250'};

History

Structure of the RAF

Commands

Groups

Stations

Wings

Squadrons

Flights

RAF Personnel

Officers

Other Ranks

Branches and Trades

Aircraft

Strike, attack and offensive support aircraft

Air defence and Airborne Early Warning Aircraft

Reconnaissance Aircraft

Search and Rescue Aircraft

Maritime Patrol

Support helicopters

Transport and Air-to-Air Refuelling aircraft

Training aircraft

Future aircraft

RAF deployments

Symbols, flags and emblems

References

Future

See also

External links

Mission