Typhoon to Afghanistan Flight feature

[RichardIC]

Next week's Flight Int is carrying a feature on RAF Typhoon ops, including potential operational deployments "possibly including to Afghanistan".

Should make interesting reading.

[Mike Oxmels]

http://www.ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave/images/camm_typhoon_500.jpg

I would imagine that this mark of Typhoon would be more suitable for asymmetric warfare coin type ops in the Stan. Count the cannons for starters. Save the other mark of Typhoon for the more conventional forthcoming Iran war.

[cokecan]

was it not supposed to be going to MPA to 'discourage les Argies'?

would of thought that an uber-performance swing role jet would be a rather more pressing operational requirementover the South Atlantic than in the 'Stan.

or are we at yet another 'HMS Endurance' moment....?

[LOTA]

Some details of any possible/probable deployment of the Eurofighter to Afghanistan on page 3 of RAF News, April 13 edition!

[Pontius Navigator]

http://www.rafnews.co.uk/default.asp?channel_id=117

Latest Typhoon squadron forms Eurofighter Typhoons could be deployed to Afghanistan in the ground attack role to support British forces opetrating there as early as next year. Speaking at a parade to mark the re-formation of 11 Squadron at Coningsby, Wg Cdr Gavin Parker said: 'We will be prepared and ready to deploy to Afghanistan next year. It has not been timetabled, but I expect that when we are prepared, we will go.'

They have already been practising attack profiles on the ranges.

[BootFlap]

Excellent boys, we will expect you out to take over from us in July then, is that ok? Booking a family holiday as we speak!
.... then again, maybe I'll wait just a while longer, wouldn't want to tempt fate and all that. I am sure after all that the Typhoon will be fully A-G capable and all the ex air defenders will be suitably trained to deliver precision CAS with TIC on the ground, but just in case.................

[Pontius Navigator]

Boot, PM. Don't book that holiday without insurance.:}

[BootFlap]

PN, PM to you too!
Insurance? You are wise!:ok:
Banter aside, it would be good to see it in theatre, but lets make sure it can do what it needs to do (i.e consistent CAS results with a suitable weapons loadout) before bandying around dates; it only gets me excited.

[wokkameister]

I'm sure the Taliban Air Force will be reading the article with trembling fingers. Can't we keep the Harriers? They seem to do stuff other than Airshows.

[serf]

Were these not the same chaps who found it too challenging to find the airfield for a flypast?

Might find CAS a problem!

[LateArmLive]

wokka,

It wasn't that long ago that folk here were slagging off Harrier pilots for only doing airshows :ok:

[Gainesy]

What OC 11 also said, was that they would not be fully qualified in the AG role until 1 July 2008.

[RichardIC]

RAF to put Typhoon cannon capability into action
The UK is considering re-adoption of the Mauser 27 mm cannon as a weapon for the Royal Air Force (RAF) Eurofighter Typhoon. This has emerged as one of several new plans being prepared by RAF commanders to concentrate resources on the Typhoon's deployment to southwest Asia
[Jane's Defence Weekly - first posted to http://jdw.janes.com (http://jdw.janes.com/) - 18 April 2007]

And from Air Scene UK:

http://www.airsceneuk.org.uk/hangar/2007/427-11sqn/11sqn.htm

As the Typhoon will only use 'smart' weapons, most air-to-ground training will be done in the simulator with occasional live-firing on the Aberporth range. However, the Wash ranges will be used for strafing practice.

[Pontius Navigator]

As the Typhoon will only use 'smart' weapons, most air-to-ground training will be done in the simulator with occasional live-firing on the Aberporth range. However, the Wash ranges will be used for strafing practice.

There may be some truth in this statement.