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Typhoon becomes RAF most advanced multi-role aircraft

The Royal Air Force's Typhoon aircraft marked another milestone in its capability this week when it was declared operational in the air-to-ground role, becoming the Service's most advanced multi-role aircraft. The multi-role capability means that RAF Typhoons can now carry out precision Ground Attack as well as Air Defence tasks

Last year Typhoons began contributing to the air defence of the UK by complementing the Tornado F3 Force at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire - one of two UK Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) locations. Earlier this year Typhoon fully took over the role of southern QRA at Coningsby and the F3 QRA force now operates from RAF Leuchars. Following an exercise in the US, where XI Sqn Typhoons acquitted themselves well in a major Air-Land Forces exercise, the Typhoon is now officially declared multi-role and has considerably increased the RAF's war-fighting capability. "Today is another defining day for Typhoon, where potential has been turned into reality. It is a step increase in capability. What we have in Typhoon is a world-beating aircraft. It is agile, adaptable and capable, the three core elements of today's RAF", said Station Commander of RAF Coningsby, Gp Capt Stu Atha. The multi-role capability means that RAF Typhoons can now carry out precision ground attack or air defence tasks as required before take-off, but before long will become "swing-role", which means they will be able to alternate between roles within the same mission once airborne. The declaration of the capability, officially known as the Multi-Role Operational Employment Date (OED), was announced by Commander-in-Chief RAF Air Command, Air Chief Marshal Sir Clive Loader. "Typhoon is the most operationally flexible and effective aircraft the RAF has ever operated. In addition to Typhoon's current capability in the Air Defence role, it will allow us the ability to deliver a wide range of precision and non-precision weapons in the Ground Attack role wherever and whenever needed. It is most relevant to the threats we face today. "Typhoon can now perform both roles and offers unparalleled combat persistence. During the recent trials it achieved virtually 100 percent serviceability. With a service life of many decades, Typhoon's time to deploy as a multi-role combat aircraft is still to come but the important fact is that this new capability is an extra club in the RAF's golf bag." The announcement comes after several intensive weeks of trials in the US which culminated in exercise Green Flag in Nevada. Seven Typhoons dropped a variety of bombs with such precision and effect that plans for the aircraft to be declared combat ready were prepared as soon as they returned to the UK. As of this week a number RAF Typhoons will be at operational readiness to deploy overseas if deemed necessary. There are no plans at present to deploy Typhoon to Afghanistan or Iraq; the RAF's Tornado GR4 Force is due to deploy to Kandahar next spring to replace Harriers. "What we have in Typhoon is a world-beating aircraft. It is agile, adaptable and capable, the three core elements of today's RAF", said Group Captain Stu Atha. Typhoon has been operational since July last year when it started taking on the Air Defence role of "Quick Reaction Alert" (QRA), the 24/7 readiness to intercept and deal with threats to the UK's air space. Mainland UK air defence is conducted from RAF Coningsby (Southern QRA) with Typhoons, and RAF Leuchars in Scotland (Northern QRA), currently with Tornado but within a few years with Typhoon also. The RAF also provides QRA over the Falklands with Tornado. "Typhoon will be the cornerstone of the RAF's airpower capability for the next three decades and enable us to deliver a range of precise effects to defend the UK and support its aims globally" added Group Captain Atha. The cost of each Typhoon is estimated in £ 68 million. (Defence News)