RAF Gulf camo

By: Dazza - 5th March 2003 at 18:51 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

RAF Tornado GR.4s are being sprayed up in an overall light grey camo for this deployment, the F.3s retain their original camo, try the following link for some pics.

http://www.f4aviation.co.uk/Hangar/2003/marham/marham.htm

Regards, Dazza.:)

By: coanda - 5th March 2003 at 18:58 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Those schemes(pink and grey at least) are formally from the flashman trials carried out in america.

I dont think the RAF consider it cost effective to paint the aircraft back up into this scheme.

tactically its probably not that great a benefit, considering the likely operating conditions....medium altitude.

coanda

By: Rafale - 5th March 2003 at 20:22 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

I past you bellow an article publish a couple of weeks ago by the electronic version of Janes Defense Weekly, with two pictures (I hope it works...)

JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY - FEBRUARY 19, 2003
RAF deployment offers muscle during Gulf build-up
CRAIG HOYLE JDW Aviation

The UK's announcement of plans to deploy around
100 fixed-wing aircraft to the Iraqi theatre of operations has highlighted the country's success in fielding an 'all-weather air force' over recent years. The advanced air-launched weapons now available to the Royal Air Force (RAF) will allow the service's aircraft to operate in markedly different roles to the 1990-91 Gulf War, as will its revised operational procedures polished over more
than a decade of 'policing' activities above Iraq.

More than a dozen additional strike aircraft have deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation 'Telic' since Secretary of State for Defence Geoff Hoon announced the UK's enhanced commitment to the region on 6 February. These left RAF Marham within days of his statement, and comprised an initial flight of Tornado GR4 ground-attack aircraft and on 10 February a second wave of a further seven of the aircraft. The Marham-based wing of GR4 strike and GR4A reconnaissance aircraft assumed responsibility for the UK's Operation 'Southern Watch' missions earlier this year over Iraq's southern 'no-fly zone' until August 2003 from units at RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland.

The newly deployed platforms boost the RAF's standing fixed-wing force in the Gulf theatre, which in mid-January comprised just 21 aircraft: four Jaguar GR3 reconnaissance aircraft and two VC10 tanker/transports at Incirlik, Turkey; eight Tornado GR4s at Ali Al Salem airbase, Kuwait; six Tornado F3 air-defence aircraft in Saudi Arabia; and one Tristar tanker in Bahrain. Thought to have
deployed to Ali Al Salem, the new aircraft have been equipped with systems acquired through a number of urgent operational requirements, including long-required updates to the aircraft's defensive aids system. The strike aircraft also left Marham carrying thermal-imaging and laser-designation pods, which will allow them to deploy laser-guided bombs.

The next UK aircraft deployment is anticipated on 15 February, when an undisclosed number of Harrier GR7 ground-attack aircraft are scheduled to depart RAF Cottesmore for the Gulf. These will operate from an undisclosed facility in the region, and not from the Royal Navy's Invincible-class aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, which is being used as an amphibious assault platform with helicopters embarked (Jane's Defence Weekly 22 January).

Jaguar GR3A reconnaissance aircraft from RAF Coltishall are also awaiting deployment orders and the Coltishall wing is maintaining a high operational tempo in preparation for this eventuality. The aircraft could be used to augment the Jaguar force at Incirlik.

As an indication of the UK's potential war-footing, aircraft awaiting
deployment or en route to the Gulf have been repainted in a new light-grey alkali removable temporary finish, which JDW understands has a major impact on aircraft visibility at medium altitude.

Further assets to be assigned to Operation 'Telic' include E-3D Sentry airborne early warning, additional Tristar and VC10 tanker/transports, C-130 Hercules and C-17 airlifters, plus 27 RAF Puma and Chinook transport helicopters assigned to the UK's Joint Helicopter Command, said Hoon. Additional platforms, such as Canberra PR9 photographic reconnaissance, Nimrod MR2 maritime patrol and Nimrod R1 electronic intelligence aircraft, could support an enhanced UK presence in the region.

UK Tornado GR4 and the Harrier GR7 platforms equipped with Paveway II/III laser-guided bombs will allow ground targets to be engaged precisely. The GR4 is also capable of deploying Raytheon's Enhanced Paveway II/III systems, which feature dual laser- and global positioning system-guidance and represent the
RAF's most accurate bomb capability. Tornado GR4s could also use the RAF's Storm Shadow cruise missile for the first time during the campaign, industry sources have suggested (JDW 29 January). In addition to carrying laser-guided Paveways, the Harrier GR7 is also expected to use the all-weather AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missile during any future hostilities with Iraq.

In a new development, some of the RAF's Tornado F3s have received the capability to use the Air-Launched Anti-Radiation Missile against enemy air-defence radars, vastly expanding the aircraft's likely utility in a revived conflict (Jane's Defence Upgrades 7 February). While the aircraft are expected to face only a limited enemy air force, they are equipped with MBDA's Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile for self-defence.

A number of unguided weapon systems, including 1,000 lb (453kg)
high-explosive bombs and RBL755 cluster bombs, could also be used against Iraqi targets. However, the RAF's developmental Brimstone air-launched anti-armour weapon is not expected to be operationally available until late this year, having missed its revised in-service date of October 2002.

An indication of the RAF's enhanced strike potential will be available only after the end of any new campaign, when its percentage of precision-guided weapons used can be compared against previous conflicts. In the most recent of these, Operation 'Allied Force' against Yugoslavia in 1999, unguided munitions accounted for 75% of the service's deployed weapons, primarily as a result of
adverse weather conditions.

The Tornado GR1's primary mission at the start of the 1990-91 Gulf War (which carried the UK operational name 'Granby') was low-level operations against Iraqi airfields; a dangerous mission that led directly to the loss of four aircraft to enemy air-defence activity. A further platform was lost when it flew into the ground after conducting a low-level bombing raid, bringing to five the number of aircrew killed.

The aircraft's role changed to medium-level strike operations later in the air war, and it is most likely that this higher-altitude tactical employment will be repeated by the service's aircraft during any new campaign. This is as a result of the increased accuracy afforded by the service's precision-guided weapons, the high threat posed by Iraq's extensive air-defence network of surface-to-air missiles, and the removal from service of the RAF's primary runway denial weapon; the JP 233 munitions dispenser, tied with Iraq's reduced air force capability. Widely used during the Gulf War, the JP 233 was withdrawn from operations in accordance with anti-personnel landmine legislation brought into effect by the Ottawa Treaty.

A further sign of the UK's level of commitment to increase pressure on Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is Hoon's intention to deploy 7,000 RAF personnel to the Gulf during Operation 'Telic'; this compares with a total of 6,205 in theatre during the Gulf War. RAF aircraft flew offensive missions from facilities in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and reconnaissance flights from Oman during the service's 1991 deployment. UK assets flew almost 6,400 sorties before the cessation of hostilities on 28 February 1991.

Weblink: Historical site detailing the RAF's activities during the 1990-91 Gulf War

http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/gulf/gulfhome.html

Seven Tornado GR4s departed RAF Marham on 10 February to continue the UK's fixed-wing build-up in support of Operation Telic'
(Source: J Hunter/Jane's)

Jaguar GR3A reconnaissance aircraft based at RAF Coltishall are maintaining an increased operational tempo in preparation for deployment to the Persian Gulf
(Source: J Hunter/Jane's)

By: Rafale - 5th March 2003 at 20:30 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

The last pict:

By: coanda - 5th March 2003 at 20:48 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

interesting to note that the Tornado GR4 aircraft now have twin shoulder sidewinder/asraam launchers.

coanda