Building block missions cement RAF/UAE relations

The RAF’s Typhoon force deployed to the UAE again for further bilateral exercises with the UAE Air Force and Air Defence (UAE AF&AD).

This followed up earlier deployments to the UAE to participate in ATLC exercises and to Oman for Exercise Magic Carpet.

The most recent exercise also involved HMS Cumberland, operating in the Gulf, and an E-3D Sentry Airborne Warning And Control aircraft from No.8 Squadron.

The Typhoons, drawn from all of the RAF’s squadrons but flown by No.XI Squadron pilots, flew directly to Al Dhafra after participating in Exercise Indra Danush in India. This was an intensive three-week air defence exercise which saw the Typhoons operating in an oppressive 35-degree heat and 100 per cent humidity, while the UAE’s Air Khanjar exercise was intended to provide valuable experience of operating in more arid, and equally challenging, desert conditions, putting the Typhoon into a dry, warm environment.

For the exercise, the Typhoons operated as part of an Expeditionary Air Wing, with the combined force of both Typhoons and Sentry, deploying as a single unit, with a common force headquarters and with the engineers and administrators acting together.

The main aim of the exercise was to develop the bi-lateral relationship between the RAF and the UAE AF&AD, outside of the ATLC structure, reinforcing the bilateral defence co-operation accord between the UK and UAE and building on previous exercises.

In ten days of operations, the two air forces developed their co-operation, drawing up common standard operating procedures (SOPs), and developing compatible work practises.

The exercise had been planned around a gradual and incremental ‘building block’ approach, gradually increasing the complexity of missions and training objectives. But the plan was modified and accelerated into more complex areas as it rapidly became apparent that the skill levels at both individual and squadron levels were already closely aligned, and that the UAE AF&AD was very flexible in its operations and was rapidly able to adapt to working with the RAF.

The Typhoon pilots were able to practice ‘dissimilar air combat training’ against Block 60 F-16s and Mirage 2000-9s – both representing new and challenging adversaries for the RAF pilots, and allowing the Emirati pilots to experience going up against a ‘later generation’ threat.

Wing Commander Jez Attridge, the officer commanding No.XI Squadron and also officer commanding 906 Expeditionary Air Wing for the duration of Air Khanjar, highlighted the value of the exercise. “The UK has long-standing close co-operation with UAE and complementary weapons systems which, given the current political and military realities of most military operations worldwide being coalitions, means it is always good to rehearse operations with other proficient partner nations.”

The Typhoons also participated in a royal fly-past for Her Majesty the Queen during her state visit to Abu Dhabi. The fly-past involved an RAF Sentry and four Typhoons, as well as about 16 UAE AF&AD aircraft. This provided a very obvious and very public demonstration of the seamless co-operation and levels of precision that were achieved between the RAF and their UAE counterparts.

The Typhoons achieved virtually 100 per cent serviceability during the deployment, proving the sustainability of the aircraft in a hot and dusty environment.

The deployment of RAF Typhoons to the UAE was seen in some circles as further evidence of a growing campaign to sell the aircraft to the UAE AF&AD in the face of what many see as a dramatic loosening of the UAE’s commitment to buy the French Dassault Rafale. The opportunity was taken to fly Colonel Mubarak, the base commander at Al Dhafra, in the Typhoon, allowing him to experience the aircraft’s power, agility and capabilities at first hand.