OAP, sorry if I was wrong - I thought that the first outbound 4-ship to which the article referred was VC10 supported?

Apologies if that was incorrect. Clarification would be much welcomed!

Anyway, the article has since been amended to remove the reference to Voyager tankers.

Beags,
The mission AAR was provided by a TriStar and a VC10. The Ten led on the way out with 2xGR4 and TriStar 30Nm behind with 2xGR4. Mission closed-up approaching drop and VC10 bingoed out RTB. TriStar loitered and then carried out post strike AAR for 4xGR4 then accompanied 4xGR4 RTB UK with available offload. ;)

OAP

Thanks very much for the clarification, OAP!

It was those missions which led me to include a requirement for fully-automated 'outbound trail - loiter - inbound trail' mission planning and management for a certain non-RAF tanker's mission computer system. Which works very well!

For example, launch from Sicily, RV with receivers from an aircraft carrier, trail them to an eastern Mediterranean cast-off point, loiter on a tactical AARA to refuel fighters on CAP, then a second RV to trail the first receivers back to their boat after spreading peace and joy to some lucky sandpit residents.