MAINJAFAD, I did read the thread again, my interpreation is less bullish than yours
Great teamwork getting Typhoons to Falklands
Senior RAF officers have paid tribute to squadrons across Britain following the successful deployment of four Eurofighter Typhoons to the Falkland Islands.
Following one of the largest peacetime logistical missions of its kind in the Service’s history, codenamed Operation Typhoon Tempest Trail, four of the latest jets touched down in the South Atlantic after travelling 9,000 miles across the globe.
The aircraft, from 11 Squadron RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, replace the Tornado F3 fighters from RAF Leuchars, in Fife, which have completed 17 years’ service protecting UK interests on the other side of the world.
The touchdown at Mount Pleasant airbase marked the completion of months of planning and hard work.
“The extent of the challenge should not be underestimated,” said Squadron Leader Pete Morgan, an air-to-air refuelling specialist working for 2 Group at Air Command – the controlling authority for the operation.
“Not only was there a real requirement to deploy the Typhoons to replace the shortly-to-be-retired Tornado F3s, but the UK was also keen to demonstrate its continued ability to force project air power over strategic distances.”
Typhoon Tempest Trail involved 10 support aircraft from four squadrons flying 280 hours backed by 95 personnel, in addition to the fighters and their aircrews.
In a two-stage operation the aircraft were trailed by tankers to Ascension Island, using the Canary Islands as a staging post. From Ascension, they were trailed again to the Falkland Islands without any outside assistance.
Sqn Ldr Morgan said: “As a result, a complicated air-to-air refuelling plan was required with the Ascension to Falkland Islands leg being by far the most challenging.
The Typhoons were accompanied by a TriStar aircraft throughout, whereas the other air-to-air assets provided fuel at various stages before returning to Ascension; in all, each Typhoon was required to refuel seven times.
“The Falkland Islands-based VC10 aircraft was on hand to provide a final top-up of fuel if required and to enable the Typhoons to divert to the South American mainland had the weather deteriorated unexpectedly during the nine-and-a-half hour transit.”
In addition, Hercules and Nimrod aircraft provided Search and Rescue cover for the long sea transits, and were equipped with survival equipment and spare life rafts that could be dropped to any survivors in the water in the event of an incident that necessitated the Typhoons ditching.
Originally posted on RAF website. (Currently being updated)
To me this was/is a very fragile stance to rely upon rapid reinforcement, especially during the capability holidays we are taking.
hval, surely no modern honourable country would use such a Trojan horse to start an invasion? The only proper means to begin an invasion would be highly publicised massing of manpower, equipment and naval forces to raise the morale of the population. Perhaps an inspection by a visiting head of state would allow the British Intelligence Services to spot something was happening and instigate the formation of a task force to reinforce the garrison...