Raf Rivet Joint
The British are scheduled to withdraw the remaining two Nimrod R1's that have been providing signals intelligence in places like Afghanistan sometime next year, leaving a three-year break until the first of the new U.S.-provided aircraft enters service in 2014.
The final aircraft will not be delivered until 2018, an RAF spokesman said.
Analysts reckon U.S. Rivet Joint's partly crewed by British personnel will be tasked to fill a key capability gap in Britain's defenses until the fleet of Boeing aircraft arrives. The spokesman declined to comment on how the British will plug the hole in its intelligence-gathering capability.
The final aircraft will not be delivered until 2018, an RAF spokesman said.
Analysts reckon U.S. Rivet Joint's partly crewed by British personnel will be tasked to fill a key capability gap in Britain's defenses until the fleet of Boeing aircraft arrives. The spokesman declined to comment on how the British will plug the hole in its intelligence-gathering capability.
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Buying into the Rivet Joint programme in a manner that ensures continuous spiral development of the UK's jets is the deal of the 21st century. And if you doubt the importance of the spiral development track that is factored in and apparently paid for, go and ask your friendly E-3D mate how having a UK configuration that will not go to the US Block 40/45 is working out for them. Hmm. 
Yes, the deal should've been signed two years ago, minimising the gap, but we are very fortunate that the US are allowing us to do this, presumably in recognition of the quality of 51 Sqn / RAF Ashby-de-la-Lawn's capability and contribution over the years. If so, good for them!
So, some good news for a change.
We could do with it! 
S41
Yes, the deal should've been signed two years ago, minimising the gap, but we are very fortunate that the US are allowing us to do this, presumably in recognition of the quality of 51 Sqn / RAF Ashby-de-la-Lawn's capability and contribution over the years. If so, good for them!
So, some good news for a change.
We could do with it! S41
mission systems upgraded every four years
never mind that tuc, there is the small matter of finding someone at MAA willing to sign-off the Safety Case on this aircraft before it enter service. All it will need is for the manufacturer to provide evidence of all the current regs being implemented during the aircraft production - what could go wrong there?
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Come come, Sandy, no need to be pessimistic, the baby MAA has a good track record in signing off legacy conversions ..............
I really hope my Waddo mates get their 'new' toys. I won't, however, be holding my breath. Neither shall I be holding it for R Trident or R Carrier (1 or 2)
Remember, a Capability Holiday can turn into a Capability Retirement in the blink of an eye.
I really hope my Waddo mates get their 'new' toys. I won't, however, be holding my breath. Neither shall I be holding it for R Trident or R Carrier (1 or 2)
Remember, a Capability Holiday can turn into a Capability Retirement in the blink of an eye.
RAF aircrews train at Offutt
Royal Air Force aircrew members to train at Offutt
Royal Air Force aircrew members to train at Offutt
Posted 1/4/2011 Updated 1/4/2011
Email story Print story
by Ryan Hansen
55th Wing Public Affairs
1/4/2011 - OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Whether it's performing strategic bombing missions in World War II, defending Europe during the Cold War, monitoring Iraqi no-fly zones, or battling the Taliban in Afghanistan, the U.S. Air Force and the U.K. Royal Air Force have been close allies for many years.
Recently, this partnership was bolstered once again when an agreement was reached between the Department of Defense and the U.K. Ministry of Defense that allows the RAF to purchase three RC-135V/W Rivet Joint aircraft over the next seven years.
As part of this new agreement, the 55th Wing has been tasked to train the initial cadre of RAF aircrews. The Fightin' Fifty-Fifth has the Air Force's only operational RC-135 wing and is the sole provider of Rivet Joint initial qualification training.
Once trained the RAF crews will be allowed to fly on U.S. Rivet Joint aircraft, called co-manning, until the U.K.'s RC-135 fleet reaches full operational capability.
The first group of Brits are scheduled to arrive Jan. 11, and the members of Team Offutt are looking forward to hosting their friends from across the pond.
"We are truly excited about this unique opportunity to have members of the RAF training with us here," said Brig. Gen. John N.T. Shanahan, 55th Wing commander. "The U.K.-U.S. special relationship has been the cornerstone of relations between the two countries and we look forward to strengthening our intelligence ties through this cooperative arrangement."
Pilots, navigators, electronic warfare officers and a whole host of intelligence operators and airborne maintenance technicians from 51 Squadron at RAF Waddington are all scheduled to attend the training.
"The RAF is delighted to be joining the RJ component in a new era of joint training and operations," said RAF Wing Commander Garry Crosby, who is in the initial training group and will assume command of 51 Squadron in June.
"We look forward to sharing some peculiar British customs with our U.S. colleagues and competing with the (Airmen) of Offutt in a variety of sporting challenges," he continued. "Most of all, we are looking forward to our first training missions on a Rivet Joint and then setting our sights on future operational success together."
The visiting RAF personnel will be assigned to the 338th Combat Training Squadron while at Offutt. They'll participate in course work that is standard curriculum for anyone in the Air Force assigned to the RC-135V/W Rivet Joint.
"The first group of 51 Squadron personnel in course number one are the pioneers," said Wing Commander Crosby, "and they face a demanding period of training."
Personnel taking part in this cooperative program are RAF aircrew members who are mostly from the retiring RAF Nimrod R1 aircraft. Like the RJ, the Nimrod includes a sophisticated and sensitive suite of systems used for reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.
"Almost everyone who joins the co-manning program will have Nimrod R1 experience," said Wing Commander Crosby, who has two tours on the Nimrod R1 himself and almost 5,000 flying hours. "Some have been with the fleet only a year or so, but have operational experience from tours of duty in the Middle East."
The remaining RAF crew members participating in the program have backgrounds with either the E-3 Sentry or the Nimrod MR2 reconnaissance and maritime patrol aircraft.
Training will take between three and five months depending on specific crew positions. Once complete, the RAF aircrew members will be attached to the 55th Wing's 343rd Reconnaissance Squadron and return to the U.K.
The fully mission capable RAF personnel will have the ability to deploy from their home station alongside crews from the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth starting as early as mid-2011.
"Our aircrews have flown alongside the United States Air Force for many years in a variety of conflicts," Wing Commander Crosby said. "Now to fly in the same aircraft brings the best of both fleets together to support operations."
"Through this new agreement, we'll have a unique opportunity for mission integration and information interoperability, which will be advantageous to both countries," General Shanahan said. "The RAF Nimrod crews are some of the most capable ISR experts in the world and we look forward to taking advantage of their wealth of experience as part of the Rivet Joint team."
Although training of maintenance and other support personnel is covered under this agreement, it is not currently part of the co-manning memorandum of understanding. However, the DOD and MOD are working on an additional training plan that will be synchronized with planned RC-135 deliveries to the U.K. in late 2013.
"The U.K. will be able to fly their own global ISR missions, as well as offer relief to 55th Wing aircrews by shouldering some portion of 55th WG-tasked ISR missions," General Shanahan said. "As part of this agreement, 55th Wing aircrews will also be permitted to fly on RAF RC-135 aircraft."
All told, nearly 100 RAF personnel are scheduled to train at Offutt throughout 2011.
Royal Air Force aircrew members to train at Offutt
Posted 1/4/2011 Updated 1/4/2011
Email story Print story by Ryan Hansen
55th Wing Public Affairs
1/4/2011 - OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Whether it's performing strategic bombing missions in World War II, defending Europe during the Cold War, monitoring Iraqi no-fly zones, or battling the Taliban in Afghanistan, the U.S. Air Force and the U.K. Royal Air Force have been close allies for many years.
Recently, this partnership was bolstered once again when an agreement was reached between the Department of Defense and the U.K. Ministry of Defense that allows the RAF to purchase three RC-135V/W Rivet Joint aircraft over the next seven years.
As part of this new agreement, the 55th Wing has been tasked to train the initial cadre of RAF aircrews. The Fightin' Fifty-Fifth has the Air Force's only operational RC-135 wing and is the sole provider of Rivet Joint initial qualification training.
Once trained the RAF crews will be allowed to fly on U.S. Rivet Joint aircraft, called co-manning, until the U.K.'s RC-135 fleet reaches full operational capability.
The first group of Brits are scheduled to arrive Jan. 11, and the members of Team Offutt are looking forward to hosting their friends from across the pond.
"We are truly excited about this unique opportunity to have members of the RAF training with us here," said Brig. Gen. John N.T. Shanahan, 55th Wing commander. "The U.K.-U.S. special relationship has been the cornerstone of relations between the two countries and we look forward to strengthening our intelligence ties through this cooperative arrangement."
Pilots, navigators, electronic warfare officers and a whole host of intelligence operators and airborne maintenance technicians from 51 Squadron at RAF Waddington are all scheduled to attend the training.
"The RAF is delighted to be joining the RJ component in a new era of joint training and operations," said RAF Wing Commander Garry Crosby, who is in the initial training group and will assume command of 51 Squadron in June.
"We look forward to sharing some peculiar British customs with our U.S. colleagues and competing with the (Airmen) of Offutt in a variety of sporting challenges," he continued. "Most of all, we are looking forward to our first training missions on a Rivet Joint and then setting our sights on future operational success together."
The visiting RAF personnel will be assigned to the 338th Combat Training Squadron while at Offutt. They'll participate in course work that is standard curriculum for anyone in the Air Force assigned to the RC-135V/W Rivet Joint.
"The first group of 51 Squadron personnel in course number one are the pioneers," said Wing Commander Crosby, "and they face a demanding period of training."
Personnel taking part in this cooperative program are RAF aircrew members who are mostly from the retiring RAF Nimrod R1 aircraft. Like the RJ, the Nimrod includes a sophisticated and sensitive suite of systems used for reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.
"Almost everyone who joins the co-manning program will have Nimrod R1 experience," said Wing Commander Crosby, who has two tours on the Nimrod R1 himself and almost 5,000 flying hours. "Some have been with the fleet only a year or so, but have operational experience from tours of duty in the Middle East."
The remaining RAF crew members participating in the program have backgrounds with either the E-3 Sentry or the Nimrod MR2 reconnaissance and maritime patrol aircraft.
Training will take between three and five months depending on specific crew positions. Once complete, the RAF aircrew members will be attached to the 55th Wing's 343rd Reconnaissance Squadron and return to the U.K.
The fully mission capable RAF personnel will have the ability to deploy from their home station alongside crews from the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth starting as early as mid-2011.
"Our aircrews have flown alongside the United States Air Force for many years in a variety of conflicts," Wing Commander Crosby said. "Now to fly in the same aircraft brings the best of both fleets together to support operations."
"Through this new agreement, we'll have a unique opportunity for mission integration and information interoperability, which will be advantageous to both countries," General Shanahan said. "The RAF Nimrod crews are some of the most capable ISR experts in the world and we look forward to taking advantage of their wealth of experience as part of the Rivet Joint team."
Although training of maintenance and other support personnel is covered under this agreement, it is not currently part of the co-manning memorandum of understanding. However, the DOD and MOD are working on an additional training plan that will be synchronized with planned RC-135 deliveries to the U.K. in late 2013.
"The U.K. will be able to fly their own global ISR missions, as well as offer relief to 55th Wing aircrews by shouldering some portion of 55th WG-tasked ISR missions," General Shanahan said. "As part of this agreement, 55th Wing aircrews will also be permitted to fly on RAF RC-135 aircraft."
All told, nearly 100 RAF personnel are scheduled to train at Offutt throughout 2011.
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I was going to post this up earlyer;
RAF - News by Date
No sense as to why needed :/
Sentinel and E-3 still in op, close down of Kinloss.
RAF - News by Date
No sense as to why needed :/
Sentinel and E-3 still in op, close down of Kinloss.
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Does someone need to point out to RAF media that their photoshop removal of US Air Force from the fuselage doesn't remove it from the reflection in the water that is in front of it?
Just sayin'...
S41
Just sayin'...
S41
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Squirrel 41,
For once, RAF media have nothing to do with that. The original is from an L3 presentation dating to at least two years ago, and posted on another thread on this forum about the middle of last year.
Edit: Found it
HH2, yes.
For once, RAF media have nothing to do with that. The original is from an L3 presentation dating to at least two years ago, and posted on another thread on this forum about the middle of last year.
Edit: Found it
HH2, yes.
Last edited by Cpt_Pugwash; 12th Jan 2011 at 20:09.
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The 2010 edition of the British spotters Bible "Military Aircraft Markings" list the USAF serials for the 3 Jointed Rivets that are due to join the RAF , they are all F.Y.'64 RC-135W models , so all 3 airframes will be well over 45 years old when back in service !
We are scrapping 9 brand new paid for MRA4 airframes that could be converted for this role with some US 45 year old scrap
Is there anyone in MOD procurements with an ounce of sense
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From a Continued Airworthiness and Regulatory point of view, I think I'd rather have an airframe that I understood and had had sight of from start to finish (warts an' all), than an unknown entity, the corporate knowledge of which lies with another State's manufacturer and maintenance organisation. What oversight has the MAA/Boscombe Down had? Very little I suspect.
Perhaps some of you don't care about that sort of thing but I can tell you for nothing, in this post Haddon-Cave world, this is exactly what worries the bejesus out of Senior Management. They are being asked to underwrite something over which they have no control, authority or input.
So maybe we should have gone for the R5 option in the first place.
Perhaps some of you don't care about that sort of thing but I can tell you for nothing, in this post Haddon-Cave world, this is exactly what worries the bejesus out of Senior Management. They are being asked to underwrite something over which they have no control, authority or input.
So maybe we should have gone for the R5 option in the first place.
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SFO
Exactly.
2 Gp were so concerned with the 'airworthiness' of the MRA4 that they prevented 2 Gp personnel from flying on the aircraft.
What knowledge of the RJ 'airworthiness' does 2 Gp currently have?
What assessment of the USAF airworthiness, initial and continued, processes and procedures has been undertaken by 2 Gp to assure themselves that the RJ does and will continue to meet/exceed those requirements as laid down in UK regulations?
What work has been carried out to ensure that the USAF regulations under which these personnel will fly do not expose them to a higher risk than that would be encountered under UK regulation?
I am unaware but I am sure that it has been carried out to the DH's satisfaction..
Exactly.
2 Gp were so concerned with the 'airworthiness' of the MRA4 that they prevented 2 Gp personnel from flying on the aircraft.
What knowledge of the RJ 'airworthiness' does 2 Gp currently have?
What assessment of the USAF airworthiness, initial and continued, processes and procedures has been undertaken by 2 Gp to assure themselves that the RJ does and will continue to meet/exceed those requirements as laid down in UK regulations?
What work has been carried out to ensure that the USAF regulations under which these personnel will fly do not expose them to a higher risk than that would be encountered under UK regulation?
I am unaware but I am sure that it has been carried out to the DH's satisfaction..
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Conversion of MR to R standard is a major rebuild as opposed to a refurb of a tried and trusted platform, much as I lament the passing of the mighty 'Rod.
Witness XV249. 18 months?
Witness XV249. 18 months?
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.....in this post Haddon-Cave world, this is exactly what worries the bejesus out of Senior Management. They are being asked to underwrite something over which they have no control, authority or input.
(oh and Haddon-Cave barely scratched the surface!)Hence, this 'post Haddon-Cave world' is of our own, selfish making and the people who should feel the force of our venom are not the USAF, not the MAA, nor anyone involved in trying to rectify the shambles created by their predecessors but instead, a number of retired Air Ranks and Lords/Sirs who, to add insult to injury, are commonly found in high-earning posts in aviation companies. It makes you wonder about our collective sanity, it really does!
Good Luck to the MAA and UK Riveted Joints.
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Why do we let them get away with it...
As we have seen in the last few days, the legal system exists to bring to book wrong-doers however lofted their position appears.
Surely it is now the time to 'out' these smug individuals and expose their actions for what they were.
Just a thought...
5d2d
Surely it is now the time to 'out' these smug individuals and expose their actions for what they were.
Just a thought...
5d2d