RAF View @RAFView

Defence journalist, analyst and commentator. Former RAF Officer. Views expressed are entirely in a personal capacity. Joined February 2013

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RAF View @RAFView

3 weeks ago

As Air Force One approaches Anchorage there are a pair of E-3 Sentry AWACS airborne. Not taking any chances?

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A UK F-35B has made an emergency landing at Japan's Kagoshima airport after experiencing a mechanical problem local media report. This is standard on carrier ops, just gets tricky when there isn’t a friendly place to put down.

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RAF View @RAFView

a month ago

Missed by operators, customers and enthusiasts alike, I don’t see anything from A400 to convince me we should not have opted for half a dozen MC-130s to replace the J models. (MOD Crown Copyright)

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RAF View @RAFView

a month ago

RAF RC-135 pilot Flt Lt Keable serving on exchange with the USAF has been awarded a U.S. Air Medal for meritorious service in an operational environment. Equivalent I believe to a Mention in Dispatches.

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RAF View @RAFView

a month ago

Set up a commercial company, hire a Skyvan photoship, charge folks £1000s to fly on it, and the RAF will supply a variety of aircraft free of charge to you (but not the taxpayer) to ensure you make a healthy profit. Genius.

Martyn Foss @Martynfoss

a month ago

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RAF View @RAFView

2 months ago

A good choice for CAS. A good leader and warfighter but most of all just a decent bloke.

Royal Air Force @RoyalAirForce

2 months ago

A good choice for CAS. A good leader and warfighter but most of all just a decent bloke.

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RAF View @RAFView

2 months ago

Credit where credit’s due, Brize Norton’s runway hasn’t melted this summer.

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RAF View @RAFView

2 months ago

Three RAF Voyager tankers have not flown since the Brize incursion. ZZ337 likely in maintenance as not flown since 23 May which leaves ZZ338 and ZZ343 as the likely damaged aircraft.

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RAF View @RAFView

2 months ago

One option for the ‘how to refuel an RAF F-35A’ conundrum, although with the Air Tanker contract ending in 2035 the RAF may go it’s own way, the A models won’t be delivered anytime soon.

Airbus Defence @AirbusDefence

2 months ago

One option for the ‘how to refuel an RAF F-35A’ conundrum, although with the Air Tanker contract ending in 2035 the RAF may go it’s own way, the A models won’t be delivered anytime soon.

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RAF View @RAFView

2 months ago

Appears the rumours were true, RAF is to get a dozen F-35As to carry tactical nukes.

Jack Surfleet @jacksurfleet

2 months ago

Appears the rumours were true, RAF is to get a dozen F-35As to carry tactical nukes.

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RAF View @RAFView

3 months ago

Am I the only one who thinks that as Iran threatens to close shipping lanes in the Straits of Hormuz and harm UK interests one of our big war canoes is hosting cocktails parties?

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RAF View @RAFView

3 months ago

If this had been a UK operation it would have been called something like Op Peristeronic, Op Scripturient or Op Quincunx.

Deborah Haynes @haynesdeborah

3 months ago

If this had been a UK operation it would have been called something like Op Peristeronic, Op Scripturient or Op Quincunx.

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RAF View @RAFView

3 months ago

Brize: worth noting the roles of Stn Cdr and running the flying side of things are now separate. An ability to fly a plane and memorise checklists isn’t necessarily the best prep for the demands of running a large busy station where the daily challenges are very broad.

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RAF View @RAFView

3 months ago

Re the Brize debacle, RAF can count itself lucky the intruders didn’t target every aircraft present, or do more than use paint. And bizarre of course that Brize based A400s dropped humanitarian aid over Gaza.

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RAF View @RAFView

3 months ago

Temporary loss of 2 Voyagers will hurt. Fleet today is in Akrotiri (2), Falklands (1), US (1) and Brize (6 but 2 now u/s). Plot is always tight & planned weeks in advance but chartering for trooping flights can ease the pain.

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RAF View @RAFView

3 months ago

Am sure security at Brize has been tightened immediately by ensuring images of the damage aren't taken and released to prevent compounding the bad publicity. Oh….

DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 @DefenceGeek

3 months ago

Am sure security at Brize has been tightened immediately by ensuring images of the damage aren't taken and released to prevent compounding the bad publicity. Oh….

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RAF View @RAFView

3 months ago

Have always been struck at the overt security you see at US bases compared to RAF. At one, for weeks the only thing stopping entry was a traffic cone and an unarmed MPGS guy in a little plastic hut.

The Telegraph @Telegraph

3 months ago

Have always been struck at the overt security you see at US bases compared to RAF. At one, for weeks the only thing stopping entry was a traffic cone and an unarmed MPGS guy in a little plastic hut.

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RAF View @RAFView

3 months ago

Speculation that USAF may base tankers at RAF Akrotiri not without precedent, in 2003 they had 36 KC-135s there plus E-3 AWACS and E-8 JSTARS. Also had numerous Navy fast jet diverts from Carriers but that’s a different thread!

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RAF View @RAFView

3 months ago

RAF Typhoon headed south from Lossiemouth, potentially first move of additional fighters to Akrotiri. Voyager RRR9401 also up.

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RAF View @RAFView

3 months ago

Influx of US tankers eastward (Crete, Germany, Spain, UK). Some host nations won’t approve op sorties from their territory so likely passing through further East.