Harrier strikes mark UK’s successful build-up of air assets

Jane's ^ | March 16 2003 | TIM RIPLEY

[knighthawk]

UK Royal Air Force (RAF) officials have announced the completion of its deployment of 100 fixed-wing aircraft and 27 support helicopters to aid a possible US-led invasion of Iraq.

The strength of the UK build-up was underlined early last week, when RAF Harrier GR7 ground-attack aircraft were in action for the first time over Iraq’s southern ‘no-fly zone’, striking two targets that “threatened US and British aircraft”, according to service sources in the Middle East.

UK air assets positioned at a spread of bases in the region include:

• Tornado GR4 strike aircraft at Ali Al Salem, Kuwait
• Harrier GR7s at Ahmed al Jaber, Kuwait
• Tristar tanker/transports in Bahrain
• Tornado F3 air-defence fighters and E-3D Sentry AWACS at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia
• Tornado GR4s at Al Udeid, Qatar
• Jaguar GR3 reconnaissance aircraft and VC10 tankers are also deployed at Incirlik airbase.

Service spokesman Gp Capt Jon Fynes told Jane’s Defence Weekly that British air operations are “seamlessly integrated” with the US air effort around Iraq’s borders. He said that the RAF is rotating its fast jet aircrew through daily sorties over the southern ‘no-fly zone’ to give new arrivals flying experience inside Iraqi airspace.

Gp Capt Fynes denied that the RAF was participating in a US campaign to use the ‘no-fly zone’ patrols to prepare the battlefield ahead of any invasion. “We only attack in reaction to threats to our aircraft,” he said. “We are not conducting pre-emptive strikes, it is just that the Iraqis keep firing at us.” Although the official stressed that the UK government has made no decision to participate in any US-led attack on Iraq, he outlined some of the possible roles RAF aircraft could assume in the event of war. He said the Tornado F3 would most likely fly in a force-protection role. The RAF would want to use the Tornado F3s to protect coalition air packages. In particular, the RAF is worried about a surprise Iraqi attack on high-value assets, such as an AWACS or inflight-refuelling aircraft.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[Grampa Dave]

During the later part of February, pilots from the USA and the UK were averaging over 500 sorties per day.

It sounds like that number has been increased.

This war started in ernest in February.

[MEG33]

I heard 1000 a day now.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks. It has to be way up there!

[uncbob]

I heard 1000 a day now.

What the hell are they attacking at 1000 a day
That many sorties something ought to be going BOOM

[MEG33]

Practice ?!