MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
News Release (147/2008) issued by The Government News Network on 1
July 2008
The Royal Air
Force has declared its Typhoon jets multi-role capable today. The
RAF Typhoons can now carryout precision Ground Attack as well as
Air Defence tasks. The declaration, which was made at the home
base of the Typhoon Force, RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire,
represents a major milestone in the development of the
state-of-the-art aircraft.
Commander-in-Chief of the RAF, Air Chief Marshal Sir Clive Loader said:
"The declaration of Typhoon being Multi-role capable is a
truly significant step in the development of this remarkable
aircraft...This latest capability upgrade gives the Royal Air
Force the most operationally flexible aircraft it has ever had."
Typhoon aircraft took part in a very successful deployment to the
USA in spring for trials and front-line training culminating in
Exercise Green Flag, which is a large USAF and US Army exercise
that involves Close Air Support to troops. The Typhoons proved
their ability to deploy to environments that are representative of
current operational theatres. During this deployment the aircraft
demonstrated exceptional serviceability by achieving 99% of
planned sorties.
A delighted Group Captain Stuart Atha, Station Commander of RAF
Coningsby said at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada:
"What we have in Typhoon is a world-beating aircraft. The
mantra in the RAF is, 'agile, adaptable and capable' and
that is precisely what this aircraft is." Talking about the
ground attack role, he added: "You just have to look at the
world today to see the relevance of the air-to-surface role, and
hence it is really important that this aircraft should have this
capability. Well we've done it; we have achieved it. The guys
have demonstrated the capability, which is great news."
Notes to Editors:
1. The Typhoon Multi-Role declaration is formally known as MR
OED: Multi-Role Operational Employment Date.
2. Exercise Green Flag ran from 23rd May to 6th June this year at
Nellis Air force Base, Nevada, USA. The exercise provides world
class Close Air Support training for US and Allied forces in
realistic combat environments.
3. Over a two-week period of pre-exercise training at Davis
Monthan AFB, Arizona, a total of ten Typhoons from XI and
17(Reserve) Squadrons, dropped a total of 67 munitions, comprising
43 Paveway II bombs, eight enhanced Paveway IIIs and 16 1,000 lb
free-fall bombs.
4. The Typhoon's first operational role started on 29th June
2007 when it assumed Quick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) South
duties, which it shared at the time with Tornado F3 aircraft.
5. In January 2008 Typhoon achieved its planned Air Defence
Operational Employment Date (ADX OED). In April 08 the Typhoon
assumed complete responsibility for QRA(I) South and was declared
deployable in the Air Defence role to NATO.
6. Typhoon is the result of a formal agreement in 1988 between
the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Spain to develop an agile
multi-role aircraft capable of being deployed in the full spectrum
of air operations.