History in the making: RAF Typhoons fly first combat missions in Operation Ellamy
10:18 GMT, March 24, 2011 defpro.com | Yesterday, the commander of British aircraft operating over Libya, Air Vice-Marshal Greg Bagwell, announced that the Libyan Air Force has been entirely defeated and that Coalition forces could now operate “with near impunity.” The aircraft that mostly contributed to this result have names that sound very familiar to those who have followed airborne combat operations during the past three to four decades: Rafale, Mirage 2000, Tornado, F-18 F-15, F-16, B-2 and the Harrier jump jets. Leaving out the Rafale, this pretty much represents a large share of Coalition combat aircraft types that have been involved in the 1991 Gulf War (since, naturally, with a few technological improvements and different configurations).
However, one aircraft that significantly supported Operation Odyssey Dawn over Libya during the past week has not seen combat operations ever before; and it is not a stealthy, so-called fifth-generation air superiority fighter, such as the F-22, which, by the way, has “too limited communications”, and “too advanced capabilities” for the Libya conflict, according to a DailyTech report [1].
Military history books and technology databases will henceforth note that the Eurofighter Typhoon’s saw its first combat operation during the “military intervention in Libya” (let’s wait a little to see what the definite designation of this undertaking, with a yet undetermined outcome, will be). Keep in mind that this is an aircraft that has been designed during the 1980s and 1990s. Further, it has been often criticised by experts and other observers of being merely a relic of the Cold War era and already outdated when it entered service.
The Royal Air Force’s Typhoon fighter aircraft have proven during the first five days of Operation Odyssey Dawn – or Operation Ellamy, as the British forces call their involvement in Libya – that they are a legitimate asset for conventional military tasks, such as they are now required over Libya.
On Monday, March 21 (the third day of the operation), Major General John Lorimer, spokesman for the British Chief of Defence Staff, announced: “Today, Typhoons flew their first ever combat mission while patrolling the no-fly zone in support of UNSCR 1973.” In a later briefing, Lorimer explained: “These aircraft mounted their first ever mission into hostile airspace, patrolling the no-fly zone under the control of an RAF Sentry AWACS aircraft and supported by an RAF VC10 tanker.”
RAF Typhoon pilot Wing Commander Jez Attridge told the BBC in a recent video interview made at the British post in Gioia Del Colle, Italy: “RAF Typhoons are engaged every single day in operational missions back in the UK, protecting the UK airspace itself. So, again, this is no different from the way that we normally operate and train. For me, it was just a case of getting on with the job.”[2] Although, Bagwell confirmed that British jets had not been fired at during the entire course of the operation, it has certainly not been the usual routine when Typhoon pilots entered Libyan airspace for the first time.
Having deployed to Italy on Sunday evening and flying the first combat mission over Libya the next day proves that the Typhoon fighter aircraft has been effectively integrated into the Royal Air Force operational structures since the RAF received its first Typhoons in August 2007. This fact was also underlined by Attridge: “To deploy to Italy and operate within twelve hours of arriving here, I think, shows the flexibility and the capability not only of the Royal Air Force Typhoons, but of the Royal Air Force.”
Furthermore, Operation Ellamy saw another first: the Royal Air Force confirmed that on Wednesday the first female Typhoon pilot took part in combat operations over Libya. The name of the female pilot was not disclosed, but it was reported that she has been part of a sortie that took off from Gioia Del Colle.
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By Nicolas von Kospoth, Managing Editor
[1] “Lockheed's F-22 Raptor Communications Too Limited, Capabilities Too Advanced for Libya Conflict”, by DailyTech, http://goo.gl/Cfw6P
[2] “Libya: RAF Typhoon mission ‘complicated’”, by BBC, http://goo.gl/XYGin
Πηγή:
Defence Professionals
10:18 GMT, March 24, 2011 defpro.com | Yesterday, the commander of British aircraft operating over Libya, Air Vice-Marshal Greg Bagwell, announced that the Libyan Air Force has been entirely defeated and that Coalition forces could now operate “with near impunity.” The aircraft that mostly contributed to this result have names that sound very familiar to those who have followed airborne combat operations during the past three to four decades: Rafale, Mirage 2000, Tornado, F-18 F-15, F-16, B-2 and the Harrier jump jets. Leaving out the Rafale, this pretty much represents a large share of Coalition combat aircraft types that have been involved in the 1991 Gulf War (since, naturally, with a few technological improvements and different configurations).
However, one aircraft that significantly supported Operation Odyssey Dawn over Libya during the past week has not seen combat operations ever before; and it is not a stealthy, so-called fifth-generation air superiority fighter, such as the F-22, which, by the way, has “too limited communications”, and “too advanced capabilities” for the Libya conflict, according to a DailyTech report [1].
Military history books and technology databases will henceforth note that the Eurofighter Typhoon’s saw its first combat operation during the “military intervention in Libya” (let’s wait a little to see what the definite designation of this undertaking, with a yet undetermined outcome, will be). Keep in mind that this is an aircraft that has been designed during the 1980s and 1990s. Further, it has been often criticised by experts and other observers of being merely a relic of the Cold War era and already outdated when it entered service.
The Royal Air Force’s Typhoon fighter aircraft have proven during the first five days of Operation Odyssey Dawn – or Operation Ellamy, as the British forces call their involvement in Libya – that they are a legitimate asset for conventional military tasks, such as they are now required over Libya.
On Monday, March 21 (the third day of the operation), Major General John Lorimer, spokesman for the British Chief of Defence Staff, announced: “Today, Typhoons flew their first ever combat mission while patrolling the no-fly zone in support of UNSCR 1973.” In a later briefing, Lorimer explained: “These aircraft mounted their first ever mission into hostile airspace, patrolling the no-fly zone under the control of an RAF Sentry AWACS aircraft and supported by an RAF VC10 tanker.”
RAF Typhoon pilot Wing Commander Jez Attridge told the BBC in a recent video interview made at the British post in Gioia Del Colle, Italy: “RAF Typhoons are engaged every single day in operational missions back in the UK, protecting the UK airspace itself. So, again, this is no different from the way that we normally operate and train. For me, it was just a case of getting on with the job.”[2] Although, Bagwell confirmed that British jets had not been fired at during the entire course of the operation, it has certainly not been the usual routine when Typhoon pilots entered Libyan airspace for the first time.
Having deployed to Italy on Sunday evening and flying the first combat mission over Libya the next day proves that the Typhoon fighter aircraft has been effectively integrated into the Royal Air Force operational structures since the RAF received its first Typhoons in August 2007. This fact was also underlined by Attridge: “To deploy to Italy and operate within twelve hours of arriving here, I think, shows the flexibility and the capability not only of the Royal Air Force Typhoons, but of the Royal Air Force.”
Furthermore, Operation Ellamy saw another first: the Royal Air Force confirmed that on Wednesday the first female Typhoon pilot took part in combat operations over Libya. The name of the female pilot was not disclosed, but it was reported that she has been part of a sortie that took off from Gioia Del Colle.
----
By Nicolas von Kospoth, Managing Editor
[1] “Lockheed's F-22 Raptor Communications Too Limited, Capabilities Too Advanced for Libya Conflict”, by DailyTech, http://goo.gl/Cfw6P
[2] “Libya: RAF Typhoon mission ‘complicated’”, by BBC, http://goo.gl/XYGin
Πηγή:
Defence Professionals
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