RAF join French and US Air Forces in Exercise Atlantic Trident

RAF Typhoons pilots of XI (F) Squadron have been exercising over France as part of a tri-nation Exercise called Atlantic Trident.

The Typhoons have joined US Air Force F-35As and French Rafale fighters in the exercise across two weeks to develop skills in working together, exploiting the strengths of the aircraft and developing the ability to operate as one team.

In week two this knowledge-building will grow further when RAF F-35B Lightnings will join the Exercise from the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The Exercise is taking place over south west and central France with the Typhoons joining daily events in the sky by flying from their home base at RAF Coningsby supported by RAF Voyager Tankers from RAF Brize Norton.

Flight Lieutenant Smyth, XI (F) Squadron pilot said:  “By flying together on Exercise Atlantic Trident, the U.S.A, France and UK will be able to deliver increased effect, as we will be able to better understand each other and come together to achieve optimum interoperability.

Training together is really important because it helps us to understand the similarities of our respective air arm, the strengths of each of our fighter aircraft, and how we can work together to improve, both technologically and operationally in terms of the effect we are trying to achieve."

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Sea trials for F-35B, Italian aircraft carrier confirm readiness to operate fifth gen fighter

Photo By Dane Wiedmann F-35B Lightning II sits on the forward elevator during logistics testing aboard the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550) in the Atlantic Ocean March 20, 2021. The testing was part of flight test to expand the safe flying envelope during sea trials for the fifth generation fighter aircraft and the upgraded Italian Navy flagship. Cavour just completed phase one of its two-phase Ready for Operations campaign. 

The F-35 Joint Program Office has delivered a flight clearance recommendation to the Italian Navy for the safe operation of fifth generation F-35B fighter aircraft on the upgraded Italian Navy flagship aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550). To develop the recommendation, an embarked team from the F-35 Patuxent River Integrated Test Force (Pax River ITF) and the Cavour’s crew conducted five weeks of at-sea flight tests evaluating how the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the Lightning II performed onboard and around the ship, and how well the F-35 air system is integrated with the carrier.

The Cavour Sea Trials comprised more than 115 ski jump short takeoffs and 120 vertical landings plus two vertical takeoffs. These activities were followed by countless hours of data analysis, which yielded information that tells U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) and the Italian Navy how to safely conduct F-35B flight operations on Cavour.

“The (shipboard operating bulletin) is done. We provided the data and recommendations for a limited envelope, or sail home envelope, that will allow U.S. Marine Corps and Italian F-35B pilots to fly training workups aboard the ship,” said Ron Hess, F-35 Pax River ITF Basing and Ship Suitability (BASS) team lead aboard Cavour.

Royal Air Force plans more F35 aircraft as part of Integrated Review

The UK's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has described the plans for the UK's Royal Air Force during his announcement of the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy. The review sees an increase in the F35 fleet size as well as retiring older types of aircraft such as the old, yet reliable C130 Hercules and E3D Sentry early warning plane. 

Wallace said of the Royal Air Force:

    "Royal Air Force is now deploying world-leading capabilities, P8, Rivet Joint, A400M and the latest Typhoons. The F35 – the world’s most capable combat aircraft – is now being deployed to frontline squadrons. In recognition of its battle-winning capabilities, we will commit to growing the fleet beyond 48 aircraft.

    the E3D Sentry, two generations behind its contemporaries, will be replaced by a more capable fleet of three E7 Wedgetail in 2023. These will be based at RAF Lossiemouth, transforming the UK Airborne Early Warning and Control capabilities, as well as contributing to NATO.

    as the transport fleet improves availability we will retire the C130-J Hercules in 2023, after 24 years of service. Twenty-two A400Ms, alongside the C17s, will provide a more capable and flexible transport fleet.

First F-35A for Denmark takes flight

Earlier this week, L-001, Denmark's first F-35 Lightning II production aircraft flew its inaugural flight. Denmark is the fifth European NATO nation to fly and operate an F-35, strengthening NATO's 5th generation airpower foundation. Denmark is joining four other European nations who already operate the F-35: the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway and Italy.

Like the F-16 before it, the F-35 is spearheading NATO's air power and ensuring strategic integration of allied combat airpower. The vital interoperability of the 5th Generation F-35 binds 13 allies and partners with the United States in air dominance and enabling critical joint capabilities. The F-35 will serve as a force multiplier for Denmark, allowing the Royal Danish Air Force to train and fight alongside NATO allies and create a strong deterrent.

£76m contract boosts F-35 Lightning fleet support

Photo Crown Copyright

A £76 million aircraft support contract, supporting more than 170 jobs, will maximise the availability and capability of the UK’s F-35 Lightning stealth jets, ensuring they are ready for combat operations across the globe.

Signed by Lockheed Martin and the F-35 Joint Program Office, the Lightning Air system National Capability Enterprise (LANCE) contract will provide additional expertise on aircraft maintenance, bespoke UK training courses for pilots, ground crew and engineers, and logistical and technical support for the fleet.

Providing additional experienced technical personnel at existing facilities, the contract will also allow three new capabilities to come into operation. These include an ejection seat maintenance workshop, a ‘Pilot fit facility’ to fit aircrew equipment, and component spray facility to transfer coatings onto aircraft components.

The Royal Air Force concludes its largest exercise in a decade

The Royal Air Force concludes its largest exercise in a decade

Exercise Crimson Warrior was the largest and most complex exercise the RAF has run in recent years.

The largest military exercise to be run by the Royal Air Force in the UK for many years has finished after three weeks of complex air activities.

The Exercise, called Exercise Crimson Warrior, involved personnel and aircraft from the Royal Air Force as well as the Royal Navy, British Army, United States Marine Corps and United States Air Force. Fast jets, multi-engine aircraft, helicopters and Unmanned Air Systems operated from Stations across the country.

F-35B Lightning from 617 Squadron.

Exercise Crimson Warrior is a development of the regular Cobra Warrior exercises with the addition of missions to support the work up of F-35B Lightnings and helicopters that will form the Carrier Strike Group Air Wing during next year’s operational deployment of HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Qatar might get F-35s despite Israel's objections, Israeli minister says

Photo REUTERS/Amir

An Israeli cabinet minister said on Sunday that a U.S. sale of advanced F-35 warplanes to Qatar could be possible despite Israel’s objections to such a deal given the Gulf state’s links to Iran and Palestinian Hamas.

“I have no doubt that if they (Qatar) want it and are willing to pay, sooner or later they will get it,” Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz, who sits in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet, told Ynet TV.

“This is a supposition that we must take into account,” he said, arguing that the U.S. administration “ultimately looks out for American interests,” especially in the face of rival stealth jets on offer from Russia and China.

Israel will not oppose U.S. sale of F-35 to UAE

By Dan Williams, Mike Stone

Israel said on Friday it will not oppose U.S. sales of “specific weapons systems” to the United Arab Emirates, in an apparent reference to the F-35 warplanes sought by Abu Dhabi.

Under a principle of preserving Israel’s “qualitative military edge”, the United States consults with it on proposed sales of advanced arms to other countries in the region.

Israel has reiterated a need to maintain its military superiority even since forging official ties with the UAE and its fellow Gulf Arab state Bahrain under deals brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump last month.

US Marine Corps F35 fighter collides with KC-130 refuelling aircraft in California

An investigation is underway in to how a US Marine Corps F-35 fighter jet has crashed in California after clipping the wing of a KC-130 refuelling tanker on Tuesday afternoon.

Initial reports indicate the pilot of the F-35 was able to eject from the fighter after clipping wings with the much larger KC-130, he is now being treated for injuries sustained during the ejection and landing.  The refuelling aircraft was able to make a safe emergency landing.

The Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in Arizona issued the following statement "At approximately 1600 (4 p.m. Pacific time) it was reported that an F-35B made contact with a KC-130J during an air-to-air refuelling evolution, resulting in the crash of the F-35B The pilot of the F-35B ejected successfully and is currently being treated."

"The KC-130J is on deck in the vicinity of Thermal Airport. All crew members of the KC-130J have been reported safe,"

According to officials,  both aircraft are based at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, formally the Naval Air Station Miramar made famous by the film TOP GUN, based on the United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor programme.

Audio of the communications between aircraft and ground controllers has been released on LiveATC and details how the KC-130 using the callsign RAIDER 50, told controllers there was a problem.  "LA Center, LA Center, RAIDER 50 declaring an emergency, midair collision with VOLT 93,"  which was the callsign assigned to the F-35 fighter.  "We have two engines out, we're leaking fuel, and likely on fire, and in emergency descent at this time. RAIDER 50."  

"We declare an emergency. We still have partial control of the aircraft. Two engines out. We are aiming towards, uh" the crew said before the transmission is lost.  The crew performed an emergency landing in a field near the airport,  all 8 people onboard at the time were unhurt in the incident.  

UPDATE: Military officials confirm a fighter crashed near Salton City during air-to-air refueling, causing another military aircraft to make an emergency landing in Thermal. @JakeKESQ will have the latest tonight at 10 and 11 p.m.

Details: https://t.co/zUdzCumC68 pic.twitter.com/NLiQkdhbrz

— KESQ News Channel 3 (@KESQ) September 30, 2020

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Naval aviators from the UK's Royal Navy are grappling with 50 fighters and bombers over the North Sea........

Photo  Royal Navy

Royal Navy aviators are grappling with 50 fighters and bombers over the North Sea to practice and hone combat skills before joining HMS Queen Elizabeth for autumn exercises.

Sea to hone combat skills before joining HMS Queen Elizabeth for autumn exercises.

Eighty years since the Battle of Britain reached its climax in UK skies, British, the US and Dutch jets have ‘joined battle’ for the latest Point Blank exercise.

British, American and Dutch F-35 stealth fighters shared airspace with RAF Typhoons, US Air Force F-15 Strike Eagles, F-16s and even mighty B-52 bombers, while RAF Voyagers and American KC-135 Stratotankers kept fuel tanks topped up to allow the dogfights to continue.

Photo  Royal Navy

RAF Jets Join NATO Allies in Exercise Over The North Sea

Aircraft from the Royal Air Force, United States Marine Corps, the United States Air Force and the Royal Netherlands Air Force have been conducting large scale exercises over the North Sea.

Exercise Point Blank is a regular quarterly exercise  based in the UK, conducted by the Royal Air Force and the United States Air Force. For this exercise both RAF and United State Marine Corps F-35Bs jets are taking part as the first step in their training ready for deployment on HMS Queen Elizabeth. 

The Royal Netherlands Air Force sent their F-35As and there are also two USAF F-16 squadrons that are based in Italy taking part plus US B.  The gathering of so many aircraft allows large-scale training missions to be conducted.

 

US F-35 Jets arrive at RAF Marham

Aircraft from V Marine Fighter Attack (VMFA) - 211 Squadron arrived at RAF Marham on Thursday 3rd September,  to start their UK detachment. The ten F-35B jets flew from their base in Yuma Arizona via MCAS Beaufort to visit the UK for the first time.

The US Marine Corps Squadron will be working alongside 617 Squadron ahead of a Group Exercise in September where they will embark on Her Majesty’s Ship (HMS) Queen Elizabeth to take part in Exercise Joint Warrior. VMFA-211 Squadron will conduct synthetic training in the purpose built simulators at RAF Marham to familiarise themselves with the local airspace and procedures before they take to the Norfolk skies to fly training sorties alongside 617 Squadron in  preparation for their embarkation with the carrier later this month. They will also be participating in Exercise Point Blank with their colleagues from local base RAF Lakenheath along with other NATO partners.

Throughout this preparation period personnel from both 211 and 617 Squadron will be in quarantine and will undergo COVID-19 testing to ensure they are COVID-19 free before they join the ship.

The RAF is wasting money on already outdated F35 aircraft

The UK's Royal Air Force stands accused of wasting money on already outdated F35 aircraft according to a special briefing that, according to the media, has been shown to the Treasury.

According to reports in The Telegraph, a massive row is ongoing over the F-35 fighter jets the UK's RAF is buying from the U.S. which are said to be "outdated"  with some not able to take off from the new Royal Navy aircraft carriers.

The newspaper cites sources telling them there are serious concerns about the RAF’s priorities over buying F-35s, as one of the models being purchases - the F-35A ais not able to operate from the new carriers. According to the source it was “nonsensical” the RAF was going ahead with the desire for the aircraft.  “Why do they think they need F-35As when they cannot operate them from an aircraft carrier?”

An F-35 Lightning jet pilot talks about operating the F-35 jet

An F-35 Lightning jet pilot has given unparalleled insight into the experience of flying the stealth fighter from the deck of one of the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers.

As HMS Queen Elizabeth continues to work towards her first operational deployment in 2021, more qualifying training for UK F35 Lightning fighter jet crews is in the offing.

The F-35s will be conducting practice manoeuvres from her decks, giving vital experience to the aircrews and ship’s company involved in air operations.

Ahead of this next vital step, pilot Lieutenant Commander Stephen Collins, call sign Lothar, has revealed his experiences as a Royal Navy F-35 pilot in a fascinating interview that took place during the recent Westlant 19 deployment to the east coast of the United States.

UK's F-35 Lightnings depart for Exercise RED FLAG in USA

F-35 Lightning aircraft from 617 Squadron set off from RAF Marham today on a transatlantic flight to take part in Exercise RED FLAG at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. The jets will initially land back at their former home at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in South Carolina before continuing their journey to Nellis Air Force Base.

Exercise RED FLAG is a multi-national combat training exercise which is conducted on the vast bombing ranges of the Nevada Test and Training Area. This will be the first time that the UK's F-35 Lightnings will have taken part in Exercise RED FLAG which will see them flying alongside a variety of aircraft from other nations to maximise combat readiness, capability and interoperability.

RAF Marham Station Commander, Group Captain Beck said: "This is another first for the Lightning Force and will give the opportunity for our pilots to really put the F-35s to the test in a combat representative environment.  This training is as near to high-end operational flying as our pilots can get in a controlled environment and will really test them and the teams that support the Squadron."

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UK's RAF F-35 Lightning jets fly in formation with US Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers.

For the first time, UK F-35 Lightning jets have been conducting integration flying training with the B-2 Spirit stealth bombers of the United States Air Force as part of their deployment to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, UK.

The USAF deployment of the B-2’s from the Bomber Task Force Europe is long-planned. Whilst deployed to the UK the aircraft will conduct a series of training activities in Europe. During this deployment, UK F-35B Lightning fighters are conducting sorties with the USAF B-2 bombers. Both are 5th generation aircraft and this is the first time that USAF B-2’s has trained with non-US F-35’s.

Second Lightening fighter jet squadron arrives in the UK

The United Kingdom's Defence Minister Mark Lancaster has welcomed the arrival of a second training squadron of state-of-the-art F-35 Lightning jets to RAF Marham, including the UK’s 18th jet.

The arrival of 207 Squadron will see all training on the next-generation jet conducted in the UK for the first time.

“The arrival of 207 Squadron represents another milestone in the progress of this world-beating aircraft." Said Mark Lancaster, Minister for the Armed Forces.

Mark Lancaster also added; “As we welcome 207 Squadron home from our US allies, the transatlantic military relationship continues to be the strongest and deepest of any two nations in the world.”

Since 2013 Royal Air Force and Royal Navy personnel have trained alongside US Marine Corps counterparts at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort.