This following list of Royal Air Force operations includes both national and multi-national operations, as well as joint and air-only operations that the Royal Air Force has participated in.
Name | From | To | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aluminium | 2022, February | Present | Poland & Romania | UK contribution to NATO's response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. [1] |
Azotize | 2014, April | Present | Lithuania & Estonia [2] | UK contribution to NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission. [3] [4] |
Biloxi | 2017, April | Present | Romania | UK contribution to NATO's Southern Air Policing mission. [5] [6] |
Broadshare | 2020, January | Present | British Overseas Territories & overseas military bases | Military assistance to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic overseas. |
Kipion | 2011, June | Present | Oman, UAE, Qatar | UK air presence in the Persian Gulf & Indian Ocean. [7] |
Turus | 2014 | Present | Nigeria | Training and supporting the Nigerian Armed Forces to help it counter violent extremists. [8] |
Shader | 2014, 26 September | Present | Iraq & Syria, operating from RAF Akrotiri [9] | Providing humanitarian aid airdrops, reconnaissance and airstrikes as part of the military intervention against ISIL. [10] |
Name | From | To | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Accolade | Rhodes | Cancelled, part of the Dodecanese campaign, World War II. [11] | ||
Banner | 1969, August | 2007, July | Northern Ireland | Military support to the Royal Ulster Constabulary/Police Service of Northern Ireland |
Bolton | 1998 | 2003 | Southern Iraq | Part of Operation Southern Watch |
Boomster | 2018, March | 2018, March | United Kingdom | Military Aid following extreme weather conditions [8] |
Bushell | 1984, November | 1985, December | Ethiopia | Famine relief [12] |
Chocolate | 12 November 1942 | 13 November 1942 | Part of the Western Desert Campaign, World War II. [13] | |
Coral | 2003, 14 June | 2003, 10 September | Democratic Republic of Congo | Humanitarian operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo |
Corporate | 2 April 1982 | 14 June 1982 | Falkland Islands | Part of the Falklands War [14] |
Decisive Edge | January 1996 | December 1996 | Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatia | Part of the NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [15] |
Deliberate Force | 30 August 1995 | 14 September 1995 | Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatia | Part of the NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [15] |
Deliberate Guard | December 1996 | April 1998 | Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatia | Part of the NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Formerly Op Decisive Edge. [15] |
Deny Flight | 12 April 1993 | 20 December 1995 | Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatia | Part of the NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [15] |
Ellamy | 19 March 2011 | 31 October 2011 | Libya | Part of the 2011 military intervention in Libya |
Engadine | 1999 | 1999 | Kosovo | Part of NATO operations in Kosovo [16] |
Fingal | 1 January 2002 | 2002 | Afghanistan & Asia | Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) [17] |
Fresco | 2002 | 2003 | United Kingdom | Military support during the UK firefighters' dispute |
Granby | 1 October 1990 | March 1991 | Iraq & Asia | Part of the Gulf War |
Gritrock | 30 October 2014 | 13 November 2015 | West Africa | UK military contribution to the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa |
Herrick | 20 June 2002 | 12 December 2014 | Afghanistan & Asia | Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) |
Highbrow | 2006 | 2006 | Lebanon via Cyprus | UK military support to evacuation operation from Beirut. [18] |
Jural | 1992 | 1998 | Southern Iraq | Part of Operation Southern Watch |
Khana Cascade | March 1973 | March 1973 | Nepal | Airlift to villagers. [19] |
Luminous | August 2013 | November 2013 | Cyprus | Protection of UK Sovereign Base Areas [20] |
Masterer | November 2019 | December 2019 | Iceland | UK contribution to NATO's Icelandic Air Policing Mission [21] [22] |
Maturin | October 2005 | January 2006 | Pakistan and Kashmir | UK military contribution to humanitarian operations following earthquake. [23] [24] |
Microbe | 13 September 1943 | 22 November 1943 | Rhodes | Part of the Dodecanese campaign, World War II. [11] |
Newcombe | 13 January 2013 | 14 November 2022 | West Africa | Operation Newcombe was the code name for two separate and concurrent RAF non-combat military operations in Mali. One operation involved logistical and airlift support for the French-led Operation Barkhane (previously Operation Serval), whilst the other encompassed peacekeeping in support of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). [25] [26] [27] |
Palliser | May 2000 | September 2000 | Sierra Leone | UK military intervention in Sierra Leone |
Pitting | 13 August 2021 | 28 August 2021 | Afghanistan | Evacuating British nationals and eligible Afghans from Afghanistan following the 2021 Taliban offensive. |
Plainfare | 24 June 1948 | 12 May 1949 | Allied-occupied Germany | Part of the Cold War. [28] |
Rescript | 23 March 2020 | 2022 | United Kingdom | Homeland military operation to support tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Resinate | 2001 | 2003 | Iraq | Maintaining no-fly zones in Iraq. [16] |
River | 27 May 1944 | Part of World War II. [29] | ||
Ruman | September 2017 | October 2017 | Caribbean | Providing relief to the British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean affected by Hurricane Irma. [30] |
Shaku | December 2016 | December 2016 | Northern England | Repairing flood defences during the 2015–16 Great Britain and Ireland floods. [31] |
Stamina | July 1944 | Part of World War II [32] | ||
Telic | 19 March 2003 | 22 May 2011 | Iraq & Asia | Part of the Iraq War |
Thursday | 5 March 1944 | Burma | Part of the Burma Campaign, World War II | |
Toral | 2015 | 8 July 2021 | Afghanistan | UK's contribution to NATO's Resolute Support Mission |
Trenton | 2017 | 2020 | South Sudan | British contribution to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). |
Veritas | 2001 | 20 June 2002 | Afghanistan & Asia | Part of Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan |
Vigour | 12 December 1992 | 12 December 1992 | Kenya | Relief flights. [15] |
Warden | September 1991 | 1991 | Iraq | [15] |
Wildhorn | 1944 | 1994 | Poland | Part of the World War II. [33] |
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the second independent air force in the world after the Finnish Air Force merging the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). Following the Allied victory over the Central Powers in 1918, the RAF emerged as the largest air force in the world at the time. Since its formation, the RAF has played a significant role in British military history. In particular, during the Second World War, the RAF established air superiority over Nazi Germany's Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain, and led the Allied strategic bombing effort.
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a European multinational twin-engine, supersonic, canard delta wing, multirole fighter. The Typhoon was designed originally as an air-superiority fighter and is manufactured by a consortium of Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo that conducts the majority of the project through a joint holding company, Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH. The NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency, representing the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain, manages the project and is the prime customer.
Royal Air Force Akrotiri, commonly abbreviated RAF Akrotiri is a large Royal Air Force (RAF) military airbase on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. It is located in the Western Sovereign Base Area, one of two areas which comprise Akrotiri and Dhekelia, a British Overseas Territory, administered as a Sovereign Base Area.
Royal Air Force Leeming or more simply RAF Leeming is a Royal Air Force station located near Leeming, North Yorkshire, England. It was opened in 1940 and was jointly used by the RAF and the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Between 1950 and 1991, it operated mostly as a training base with Quick Reaction Force (QRF) Panavia Tornado F3 fighters based there in the latter stages of the Cold War and into the early 21st century. Since 2006, it has become the home of the deployable RAF communications cadre and the home of No. 135 Expeditionary Air Wing.
Number 9 Squadron is the oldest dedicated Bomber Squadron of the Royal Air Force. Formed in December 1914, it saw service throughout the First World War, including at the Somme and Passchendaele. During the Second World War, No. IX (B) Squadron was one of two Avro Lancaster units specialising in heavy precision bombing and sank the battleship Tirpitz on 12 November 1944 in Operation Catechism. Between 1962 and April 1982, the squadron flew the Avro Vulcan B.2 as part of the V-Force. In June 1982, it became the first front-line squadron in the world to operate the Panavia Tornado GR.1. In May 1998, No. IX (B) Squadron received the RAF's first Tornado GR.4, which it operated until reequipping with the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 at its present home base of RAF Lossiemouth on 1 April 2019.
No. 11 or XI Squadron, is "the world's oldest, dedicated fighter unit" and continues the traditions established by the similarly numbered Royal Flying Corps squadron, established in 1915. After a history of equipment with numerous different aircraft types, the squadron most recently operated the Tornado F3 until 2005 when it was disbanded. It was reactivated in 2006 to operate the Typhoon F2, receiving its first aircraft on 9 October 2006.
Number 1 Squadron, also known as No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was the first squadron to fly a VTOL aircraft. It currently operates Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth.
Number 31 Squadron, known as the Goldstars, is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. The Squadron lays claim to being the first military unit to fly in India, where it was based from 1915 to 1947. Throughout the Cold War, No. 31 Squadron was based in West Germany, flying from RAF Laarbruch and RAF Brüggen. Between September 1984 and March 2019, the Goldstars operated the Panavia Tornado GR1/4, initially from RAF Brüggen and after August 2001 from RAF Marham, Norfolk. No. 31 Squadron was disbanded on 14 March 2019 at RAF Marham and reformed on 11 October 2023 at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, equipped with the General Atomics Protector RG1.
Number 12 Squadron, also known as No. 12 (Bomber) Squadron and occasionally as No. XII Squadron, is a flying squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF). The squadron reformed in July 2018 as a joint RAF/Qatar Emiri Air Force squadron. It is currently based at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, and operates the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4, while temporarily integrating Qatari air and ground crews in order to provide training and support as part of the Qatari purchase of 24 Typhoons from the UK.
No. 85 Expeditionary Logistics Wing RAF is a wing of the Royal Air Force Support Force based at RAF Wittering, England.
The history of the Royal Air Force, the air force of the United Kingdom, spans a century of British military aviation.
Number 19 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was the first squadron to operate the Supermarine Spitfire. It currently operates the UK's Control and Reporting Centre from RAF Boulmer. No. 19 Squadron delivers persistent surveillance of UK airspace, and Tactical Control of RAF and NATO aircraft, including the UK's contribution to NATO's Quick Reaction Alert mission.
No. 35 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force.
On 1 April 2006 Expeditionary Air Wings (EAWs) were formed at nine of the RAF's Main Operating Bases. Each EAW has its own identity and is led by the Station Commander, supported by their Station management team. The deployable elements of the station structures form the core of each EAW, reinforced by elements of the Air Combat Service Support Units (ACSSUs). Flying and Force Protection force elements are attached to meet the requirements of each operation. EAWs enable the RAF to train as cohesive air power units which are prepared and capable of transitioning quickly from peacetime structures and deploying swiftly on operations in tailored packages.
Icelandic Air Policing is a NATO operation conducted to patrol Iceland's airspace. As Iceland does not have an air force, in 2006 it requested that its NATO allies periodically deploy fighter aircraft to Keflavik Air Base to provide protection of its airspace. The first deployment of aircraft took place in May 2008.
Operation Ellamy was the codename for the United Kingdom participation in the 2011 military intervention in Libya. The operation was part of an international coalition aimed at enforcing a Libyan no-fly zone in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 which stipulated that "all necessary measures" shall be taken to protect civilians. The coalition operation was designated by NATO as Operation Unified Protector, by the US as Operation Odyssey Dawn. The Canadian participation as Operation Mobile and the French participation as Opération Harmattan. It was confirmed in December 2011 that the cost of the operations was £212m – less than was estimated, including £67m for replacing spent munitions, is all expected to be met from the Treasury reserve.
Operation Toral was the codename for the British presence within Afghanistan post-2014 as part of NATO's Resolute Support Mission. UK forces had two major tasks: training and mentoring Afghan Forces, and providing force protection for NATO advisors via the Kabul Security Force/Kabul Protection Unit.
No. 135 Expeditionary Air Wing previously No. 135 Wing is a wing of the Royal Air Force. It was stationed at RAF Leeming, controlling the deployable subunits of the base. It was activated on 1 April 2006 as part of a modernisation package to make the RAF more deployable on an expeditionary basis.
Air Marshal John Jackson Stringer is a senior Royal Air Force officer. Since August 2022 he has been Deputy Commander, Allied Air Command.
By 2013, There was increasing concern that escalating violence in Syria was threatening to destabilise neighbouring nations. In Aug 13, 121 Expeditionary Air Wg was deployed to RAF Akrotiri in support of Op LUMINOUS. Op LUMINOUS cemented the Stations work on contingency it affirmed the decision to split Ops Wg into an Ops and a Logs Wg on 10th June 2013. This enabled Logs to concentrate on enablement the inflow of personnel and equipment while allowing Ops to concentrate on the operation itself. Activity during LUMINOUS was frenetic and the 'plug and play' of support Units into the Stn proved a success. Op LUMINOUS wound down in Nov 13 and a number of significant Lessons Identified have or are being implemented.
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