RAF Top Guns will team up with their French counterparts to spearhead a massive military exercise which starts on Sunday. (6 October)
The 11-day event will see aircraft from Britain, France, america, Canada and Germany being hosted at RAF stations for a UK wide tri-service keep fit exercise for operations.
And building at the continuing defence cooperation between the united kingdom and France, a Combined Joint Anglo-French Expeditionary Force would be exercised at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire under the codename Exercise Capable Eagle with the intention to host the operation of French Air Force (FAF) Mirage 2000N aircraft and RAF Typhoons.
The RAF’s Joint Force Air Component (JFAC) operating from RAF High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, with augmentation from FAF personnel, will for the primary time in a Joint Warrior Exercise, simulate the role of Command and Control over live air forces.
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford said:
“This is the primary time that the British and French air forces could have conducted a combined end-to-end exercise. Recent operations have demonstrated the tangible benefits of French and British airmen and girls working closely together, in any respect levels, and that i know that this exercise will provide the chance to further enhance the flexibility of 2 of NATO’s major partners to take a number one role in future multinational operations.
The twice yearly Exercise Joint Warrior is classified to be one of the crucial largest tactically focused military exercises in Europe and greater than 40 RAF aircraft are expected to participate including:
- Air to Air Refuelling Tankers based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire
- Tornado GR4s from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland and RAF Marham in Norfolk
- Typhoons from RAF Leuchars in Scotland flying from RAF Leeming in Yorkshire
- Hawks from RAF Leeming in Yorkshire
Aircraft from other nations participating include:
- French Air Force Mirage 2000 F5s flying directly from Luxeuil in France with their very own KC135 tanker support and Mirage 2000Ns flying from RAF Leeming.
- Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) from the usa, Canada, France and Germany hosted by RAF Lossiemouth.
The exercise was planned primarily by RAF and Naval personnel from the Joint Tactical Exercise Planning Staff (JTEPS) based at Northwood HQ, London.
JTEPS RAF spokesman Wing Commander Steve Boyle said: “To meet the participant nations training needs Joint Warrior simulates a really broad range of evolving crisis and conflict scenarios which may be realistically experienced in current and up to date operations.
“These include disputes between multiple sovereign nations, internal disputes, smuggling, piracy and terrorist activity.
“The exercise will develop over two weeks, through a period of military and political tension into simulated warfighting and, potentially, hostilities; all of which generate quality training opportunities for Exercise participants to practice and improve procedures which are increasingly required of today’s modern Military.”
Exercise Joint Warrior 2013 will happen around the UK including live ranges. Among those running the air battlespace include the London and Scottish Air Traffic Control Centres and the Control and Reporting Centre at RAF Boulmer in Northumberland.
They will join in with sea and land-based units in a chain of scenarios including counter insurgency operations, responses to incidents of state sponsored terrorism, and anti-drugs and piracy missions in addition to state on state conflict situations.
Among the joint operations and coaching occurring are:
- Composite Air Operations – where aircraft of various types and roles from UK and allied air forces fly from varied locations and mix into one package
- Close Air Support – where UK and allied aircraft, occasionally using live weapons, practice supporting troops at the ground.
- Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) – where RAF aircraft collect and disseminate digital imagery and video and send it to other Air, Land and Maritime units to be able to understand the battle space during which they’re operating.
- Electronic Warfare (EW) Training – This crucial aspect of military air operational training will primarily be undertaken at RAF Spadeadam in Cumbria and from mobile EW emitters in Northumberland.
- Anti-Submarine Warfare
- Joint Fires – Involving the live firing of Naval Gunfire, Fast Air and land based mortars within the Cape Wrath Weapons Range area
- Counter Piracy, Narcotics and Insurgency – where Naval and Air participants interact to detect and deter pirates and maritime criminals.
Background Information
Exercise Joint Warrior Area of Operation
Exercise Joint Warrior will turn up around the UK utilising live ranges and Managed Danger Areas (MDAs) – see graphic below. Partners in battlespace provision include: QinetiQ (for multiple range locations), London & Scottish Air Traffic Control Centres and the Control & Reporting Centre at RAF Boulmer in Northumberland.
Exercise Joint Warrior Operations and Training
The Exercise Joint Warrior series of exercises provide opportunities for training within the warfighting disciplines similar to:
GPS Denial Operations
Temporary radar and communications jamming is routinely practised in military exercises and is an important component to preparation for operations. As such it can be a crucial component of Exercise Joint Warrior. GPS jamming throughout the exercise should be limited to a confined area in North West Scotland. While such activity is just not universally welcomed, as for all jamming exercises, the relevant authorities, including aviation and maritime communities had been consulted. This has led to a risk assessment to minimise the impact of such activity and put robust procedures in place for any unforeseen eventuality.
Logistics Support and Training
None of this important military activity should be sustained without comprehensive logistics support and Exercise Joint Warrior offers participants the chance to devise and exercise all aspects of this vital skill for example, the air participants should be ready to practice their in flight re-fuelling using among the air-to-air re-fuelling tankers.
Environment
Some of the Exercise Joint Warrior exercise areas overlap environmentally sensitive conservation zones, which contain a wide range of marine wildlife, sea bird breeding grounds and guarded fauna and flora. By contrast background, the MOD recognises the impact of military activity and takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously. In the course of the planning of the exercise, Environmental Impact Assessments could be produced where required. Furthermore, close working relationships with landowners, combined with engagement with local communities, be sure that appropriate environmental mitigation procedures are installed place after which adhered to. The MOD has stated that environmental considerations will always be considered when planning exercises to fulfill training objectives; this direction remains a major consideration throughout exercise planning and execution.
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