Possible Typhoon 'Aggressor' squadron...

[Rhino power]

RAF to establish a 'Top Gun' elite fighter pilot unit to perfect dogfighting skills (http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/raf-establish-top-gun-elite-fighter-pilot-unit-perfect-dogfighting-skills-1541069)

-RP

[Stitchbitch]

Nice. Looks like a good idea for an FTRS squadron. Wasn't there a 'euro' civilian red air company that were using Spanish Typhoons? Also read somewhere that they were going to operate from a disused airport in Murcia (where else)..

[chopper2004]

The only one in Europe I am aware of is the Canadian Discovery Air Services Discovery Air Defence contract with A-4K up in Wittmund

Discovery Air - Discovery Air Defence Deploys A-4 Skyhawks to Support the German Air Force in Italy (http://www.discoveryair.com/page?a=1536&lang=en-CA)


They took over the old BAe Flight Systems (formerly Flight Systems from Mojave) contract also operating the Scooter as previously they operated the F-100 for decades.

cheers

[BEagle]

Commanders are said to be concerned that after 20 years of focussing on bombing raids, RAF pilots are ill-equipped for air-to-air combat.

One of many 'capabilities' that has been having a 'holiday', thanks to years of defence cuts?

[DODGYOLDFART]

Could this be a reincarnation of Day Fighter Leaders School? All they need to do now is put West Raynham back together and try to remember what real dog fighting is all about! :)

[twothree]

If I can suggest the following book to be read by all interested in this area of aviation.
"FIGHTER COMBAT, Tactics and Maneuvering" by Robert L. Shaw

[MAINJAFAD]

All they need to do now is put West Raynham back together
That would be difficult seeing the runway has been dug up and the place is covered with solar panels.


http://www.westraynhamsolar.co.uk/sites/default/files/styles/kampa_style_showcase/public/west_raynham_google_earth_0.jpg?itok=y7CCQgfX


Allows something useful to be done with the Tranch 1 Typhoons instead of scraping them though.

[glad rag]

Where's the money coming from?

All ground trades to be paid minimum wage?

[Evalu8ter]

This has been mooted for a while as a justification for keeping the Tranche 1 jets to maintain "combat mass". It would be an ideal opportunity for some of the squadron to be a cadre of FTRS, retaining a diversity of experience and, perhaps, becoming something of a "rest tour". Like the US Aggressors there would certainly be kudos and esprit de corps on such a unit.

Perhaps consideration could be given to a multi-type unit with a flight of Typhoons, a flight of Hawks/Scorpions and a flight of T6/Tucano? This would be ideal to provide full spectrum threat training across the RAF - it's not just FJs that need "red air" for training and not just "near peer" opponents we may find ourselves going air-air with.

[pr00ne]

glad rag,

"Where's the money coming from? "


From the worlds fifth largest defence budget. A budget that is ring fenced and increasing and has a 2% of GDP commitment.

Did SDSR 2015 pass you by completely?

[chopper2004]

Wonder if they will have the Red Star and exotic camouflage paint scheme to go? :)

cheers

[RAFEngO74to09]

Here's an example of a civilian company in the USA providing additional capacity over and above that provided by the regular aggressor sqns of the USAF (F-15C/F-16C) and USN / USMC (F-5N/F-5F).

Capabilities | Air USA (http://air-usa.com/capabilities)

Air USA operates a mixed fleet of Mig 29, Hawk, Alpha Jet and L-59.

It appears to have assembled a bunch of suitably qualified ex-military personnel to operate their fleet at a high mission accomplishment rate.

[Not_a_boffin]

This has been mooted for a while as a justification for keeping the Tranche 1 jets to maintain "combat mass".

Let's hope it doesn't become one of the "two additional squadrons" that the Tranche 1s were supposed to create - as opposed to an existing sqn converting to type. One would also hope its a joint squadron - if the T1As go without replacement, 736NAS won't be far behind - and the FAA do airdefending too.

[Stitchbitch]

http://www.ecaprogram.co.uk/
That's the one as I recall. They were going to fly Flankers in Iceland at one point, then it all went quiet.

Good news if the Typhoon red air gets off the ground, would Leeming get a look in?

The only one in Europe I am aware of is the Canadian Discovery Air Services Discovery Air Defence contract with A-4K up in Wittmund

Discovery Air - Discovery Air Defence Deploys A-4 Skyhawks to Support the German Air Force in Italy (http://www.discoveryair.com/page?a=1536&lang=en-CA)


They took over the old BAe Flight Systems (formerly Flight Systems from Mojave) contract also operating the Scooter as previously they operated the F-100 for decades.

cheers

[TwoStep]

What is 100 Sqn, if it is not an aggressor unit?

[chopper2004]

http://www.ecaprogram.co.uk/eve.html

On their website this reminds me of 'EDI' UCAV the 2005 film Stealth :eek:

736 NAS also provides adversary training as well as 100 Sqn. In 2013 when the French came over to Leeming with their Alpha Jets - as they have a dedicated aggressor squadron during the entente cordiale that year.

cheers

[EAP86]

"suitably qualified ex-military personnel"

You might care to have a look at a couple of recent Air USA accidents...

EAP

[Melchett01]

glad rag,

"Where's the money coming from? "


From the worlds fifth largest defence budget. A budget that is ring fenced and increasing and has a 2% of GDP commitment.

Did SDSR 2015 pass you by completely?

Quite right too. Plenty of capacity in the system to do more. I even let some of my lot go home before 2000 last week and even let them have the odd weekend every now and then.

[Finningley Boy]

Speaking as an individual, it strikes that there is a recognised need to reverse the trend of 2010 and before, when Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, happily pruned the defence budget for other projects. There will be those who utterley disagree.

The world political climate is changing again.

FB:):)

[DD24.5C]

Air USA had an unfortunate accident at Yuma back in March 2015 with one of their ex RokAF Hawks, full report not yet released.

http://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20150311X71032http://

As for Scorpion i'm still not convinced that a market exists for it, nor do i believe their claimed $3,000/hr operating cost. However, it's still early days i guess.