By UK Ministry of Defence on Tuesday, June 18th, 2013
RAF Tornado Squadron Prepares for Afghanistan
An RAF Tornado Squadron is being put through its paces at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland this week because it makes final preparations for a deployment to Afghanistan.
Dubbed ‘War Week’, the exercise is the culmination of months of educating for 12 (Bomber) Squadron who will soon depart for a 4-month tour at Kandahar Airfield. The RAF Tornados provide vital support to ground forces in Afghanistan including the collection of reconnaissance imagery using sensors carried aboard the aircraft.
Challenges have come thick and fast for all personnel involved. Insurgent rocket attacks, unexploded bombs, road accidents and other events are carefully stage managed to check the reactions of airmen. Each event is closely monitored and participants receive an entire debrief on their performance after each training serial.
Despite these challenges the Squadron has maintained its flying programme, launching several Tornado GR4 strike aircraft every day to fly training sorties a dead ringer for those they’re going to conduct in Afghanistan. Once airborne the Tornado crew work closely with RAF Regiment Forward Air Controllers, deployed at various locations in Scotland, to hone their skills.
Officer Commanding 12(B) Squadron is Wing Commander Simon Strasdin who said: “What we’ve achieved was quite remarkable when it comes to our readiness and capability to visit theatre. We’re able to go.”
Leading the team providing the learning is Squadron Leader Simon Reade who said: “War Week is the overall confidence building exercise that gives a secure environment to practice the talents they’ve been instructed in previous to the deployment to Afghanistan.
“It unifies the squadron of their preparations for Afghanistan and ensures they deploy with a legitimate understanding of what they could be required to do in support of ISAF [International Security Assistance Force]. War Week is quite much concerning the team and the way the team performs and the Squadron have engaged fully.
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