RAF to lead the air blitz

The Sun ^ | January 28, 2003 | TREVOR KAVANAGH

[MadIvan]

On standby ... RAF Tornadoes like these

THREE dozen RAF bombers are on standby to lead an air blitz on Iraq.

Tornados, Jaguars and Harriers have a fortnight to prepare to fly to the Gulf.

The RAF package will be beefed up by reconnaissance aircraft, refuelling tankers and early warning AWACS jets.

Defence chiefs have ordered 60 extra aircraft to fly to Kuwait and Turkey ready for an air war.

They will be armed with the latest "fire and forget" laser and satellite-guided missiles, making them 100 times more powerful than those used in the Gulf War.

Britain already has 21 aircraft in the region patrolling the two no-fly zones over north and south Iraq. Up to 12 Tornado GR4s armed with Paveway II and III bombs will be sent. They will be able to launch weapons in all weathers thanks to satellite control.

The Harriers will be able to launch strike missions from makeshift runways in Iraq.

They carry Maverick missiles bought from the US after the Kosovo campaign proved RAF weapons could not be fired in poor weather.

Tornados from Marham in Norfolk and Harriers from Wittering, Cambs, are likely to be based in Incirlik, Turkey.

[Blueflag]

The B-1 is sleek. The Jaguar is NOT sleek by comparison. With all the hard points and ordinance, the aircraft in the pic is anything but sleek, fast, high-endurance or maneuverable.

Effective perhaps -- maybe the best in the RAF stable. But not sleek. e.g., the Spitfire was sleek; the Hawker was not.

[DeFault User]

TALLY-HO!

[rmlew]

I was talking about the Tornado, not the Jaguar.
The Jaguar is a perfect example Euro-socialist design.
It meets the short-sighted standards of all commitees but is overcost, underperforms, is ugly to look at, and fails to work in the long run.

It is my understanding that the F-16 is a better light bomber than the Jaguar.

The B-1B is a beautiful plane, as is the Russian Blackjack (commie copycats). The Tornado is a beauty. It may not have the classic charm of the Spitfire, but it is nicer than its replacement, the Tempest.

[Blueflag]

I regret the error. but ...

Opinions are like noses, we all have them and they all smell. My opinion is that niether the Jaguar nor the Tornado would be considered sleek. Menacing, effective, powerful, sure. Just not sleek. AS an example, I would never call an F-14D sleek, but I love the way it looks, especially head on, loaded for Bear. Awesome, fierce, purpose-built.

[branicap]

Mate,I am not Iraqi,far from it!

My comment is about this idiotic and inacurate article!Read it carefully and than make a stupid remark about bases and their ownership!

[branicap]

Thanks`Ivan,just driking a mug of regular brand!

Next time,post a Page 3 Girl from The Sun,will be more fun!