Operation Shader - Iraq, Syria

Discuss current, historical or potential future deployments, as well the defence of the UK's overseas interests.
JayDee
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Re: Operation Shader - Iraq, Syria

Post by JayDee »

Latest update

Royal Air Force aircraft, flying as part of the global coalition against Daesh, have struck further terrorist targets in support of the Iraqi ground forces.

Monday 7 March – Typhoons bombed Daesh extremists engaged in combat with Kurdish troops in northern Iraq.
Tuesday 8 March – Tornados and Typhoons conducted three attacks in northern Iraq, including a large-scale strike on a fortified former village.
Wednesday 9 March – Tornados and Typhoons conducted four attacks in northern and western Iraq, including a further large-scale strike on another fortified former village.
Thursday 10 March – Tornados and Typhoons conducted five attacks in northern and western Iraq, destroying a weapons cache and
several Daesh fighting positions.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/upda ... inst-daesh


S M H
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Re: Operation Shader - Iraq, Syria

Post by S M H »

Doubt the duel refueling probe receptor duplication could be used on other receptor only R.A.F. assist especially the future M.P.A perquirement. . Some forward thinking used for once. As our stupid air to air P.F.I precludes boom refueling or refueling the tankers.

Defiance
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Re: Operation Shader - Iraq, Syria

Post by Defiance »

S M H wrote:Doubt the duel refueling probe receptor duplication could be used on other receptor only R.A.F. assist especially the future M.P.A perquirement. . Some forward thinking used for once. As our stupid air to air P.F.I precludes boom refueling or refueling the tankers.
AirTanker isn't the reason we don't have boom capability, they were pretty keen to fit the 5 non-core aircraft with booms, the customer rejected the proposal.

http://www.janes.com/article/53075/airt ... -provision

downsizer
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Re: Operation Shader - Iraq, Syria

Post by downsizer »

Defiance wrote:
S M H wrote:Doubt the duel refueling probe receptor duplication could be used on other receptor only R.A.F. assist especially the future M.P.A perquirement. . Some forward thinking used for once. As our stupid air to air P.F.I precludes boom refueling or refueling the tankers.
AirTanker isn't the reason we don't have boom capability, they were pretty keen to fit the 5 non-core aircraft with booms, the customer rejected the proposal.

http://www.janes.com/article/53075/airt ... -provision
Because they wanted the MoD to pay for it and they'd keep all the profit.

Defiance
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Re: Operation Shader - Iraq, Syria

Post by Defiance »

downsizer wrote:
Defiance wrote:
S M H wrote:Doubt the duel refueling probe receptor duplication could be used on other receptor only R.A.F. assist especially the future M.P.A perquirement. . Some forward thinking used for once. As our stupid air to air P.F.I precludes boom refueling or refueling the tankers.
AirTanker isn't the reason we don't have boom capability, they were pretty keen to fit the 5 non-core aircraft with booms, the customer rejected the proposal.

http://www.janes.com/article/53075/airt ... -provision
Because they wanted the MoD to pay for it and they'd keep all the profit.
They claimed they would fund the conversion in house, but I guess the actual mechanism of paying for it must've been more cloudy than that.

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The Armchair Soldier
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Re: Operation Shader - Iraq, Syria

Post by The Armchair Soldier »

UK RAF Set for the 'Long-Haul' Against the Islamic State
The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) is confident that it can maintain its current level of operations over Iraq and Syria "for years" if needs be, a senior service official said on 30 March.

Speaking to reporters at the FIDAE Airshow in Santiago, Chile, Deputy Commander of Operations Air Marshal Greg Bagwell said that the RAF's deployment for Operation 'Shader' is set up for a sustained long-term effort against the Islamic State.

"Some countries do six months hard, and then leave and go back in once they've recovered - we are doing things differently. We could have put more [aircraft and personnel] in for a shorter period of time, but we are in this for the long-haul as it looks like it is going to go on for some time, perhaps even years," AM Bagwell said.
Read More: http://www.janes.com/article/59276/uk-r ... amic-state

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shark bait
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Re: Operation Shader - Iraq, Syria

Post by shark bait »

Telegraph is reporting we are considering extending air strikes to help the new libian government.
@LandSharkUK

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Re: Operation Shader - Iraq, Syria

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Image
Aircrew and ground crew from 903 Expeditionary Air Wing RAF, Cyprus, have taken time out of their busy operational tours to spell out the Royal Cypher EIIR to wish Her Majesty the Queen a happy 90th birthday.

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Re: Operation Shader - Iraq, Syria

Post by The Armchair Soldier »

Tornado mission on Thursday 21 April saw the first use of the RAF’s Enhanced Paveway III (EPWIII) against Daesh – a guided bomb with a 2000lb deep penetration warhead. Our aircraft normally carry the smaller Paveway IV guided bombs and Brimstone missiles, which can be carried in larger numbers and are more useful for close air support missions. The EPW III has been held in reserve for use if needed against particularly challenging underground or hardened targets. The Tornados flew as part of a coalition air strike on a large complex of tunnels and bunkers dug into terraced hillsides above the Euphrates in western Iraq, successfully scoring direct hits with a pair of EPW IIIs on two entrances to the bunker network.[/quote]

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Re: Operation Shader - Iraq, Syria

Post by The Armchair Soldier »

UK to Send Warship to Mediterranean to Cut Off Isis Arms Supplies
Britain is poised to send a warship to the Mediterranean to tackle arms smugglers trying to get weapons into Europe.

The Prime Minister told fellow leaders at the G7 summit in Japan the UK was ready to take an "active leadership role" in building the capacity of Libya's coastguard to clamp down on smuggling operations.
Read More: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 51226.html

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The Armchair Soldier
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Re: Operation Shader - Iraq, Syria

Post by The Armchair Soldier »

Storm Shadow is now being used against ISIL - some piccies:
Image

Image

Image

downsizer
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Re: Operation Shader - Iraq, Syria

Post by downsizer »

Must have some life ex stock to use up! Ha ha

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Re: Operation Shader - Iraq, Syria

Post by Timmymagic »

There must be a lot of Storm Shadow knocking around that needs to be fired off. We had about 800 and only 300 are being kept. Another 498 to go then...

Can't understand why we're not dropping PWII like they're going out of fashion though? We're using PWIV primarily, plus a few EPWIII. With Tornado retiring PWII goes with it. A lot of the targets seem pretty clear of any potential for colateral damage and it seems to be pretty clear skys as well. I'd have thought we'd have tried to clear the inventory of PWII before dipping into the PWIV stocks, or even the Enhanced Paveway stocks.
Probably some good reasons though...weight on Combat Air Patrol etc...

downsizer
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Re: Operation Shader - Iraq, Syria

Post by downsizer »

Tornado no longer uses PWII. PWII only remains in stock as it's taken so long for typhoon to get cleared for PW4.

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Re: Operation Shader - Iraq, Syria

Post by The Armchair Soldier »

Syria conflict: UK took part in strike that killed government troops
The UK took part in a recent coalition air strike in Syria that killed dozens of government troops fighting the so-called Islamic State, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed.

Russia said at least 62 Syrian personnel were killed in the Deir al-Zour strikes on Saturday.

The MoD said it would "not intentionally target Syrian military units".

The US has already expressed "regret" for the "unintentional loss of life".

The British aircraft that took part in the operation was an unmanned remotely piloted Reaper drone.

An MoD spokesman said: "We can confirm that the UK participated in the recent coalition air strike in Syria, south of Deir al-Zour on Saturday and we are fully co-operating with the coalition investigation."
Read More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37409236

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Re: Operation Shader - Iraq, Syria

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Re: Operation Shader - Iraq, Syria

Post by AstuteAssassin »

Battle for Mosul: RAF steps up air strikes on Islamic State stronghold
The RAF is stepping up attacks on self-styled Islamic State forces in the city of Mosul as part of a bid to cripple the group's last major stronghold in Iraq, Michael Fallon says.
It comes as Iraqi government forces are "on the cusp" of retaking the city - held by IS since 2014, the UK Defence Secretary says.
Meanwhile, a senior RAF commander says IS has been firing surface-to-air missiles at coalition planes.
Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37450080


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Re: Operation Shader - Iraq, Syria

Post by The Armchair Soldier »

Johnson: Time to look again at military options in Syria
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has said it is "right we should be looking again at military options" in Syria.

"Our options now are on the humanitarian front, to intensify sanctions on some of the key players in the Assad regime and on Russians as well.

"It is right that we should be looking again at the more kinetic options and military options.

"I think we're still a pretty long day's march from getting there, but that doesn't mean discussions aren't going on - because they are."
Source: http://www.itv.com/news/update/2016-10- ... -in-syria/

~UNiOnJaCk~
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Re: Operation Shader - Iraq, Syria

Post by ~UNiOnJaCk~ »

^ Piss off, Boris. Have the political elite learnt nothing?

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Re: Operation Shader - Iraq, Syria

Post by ArmChairCivvy »

They may have... from the Spanish Civil War?
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)


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Re: Operation Shader - Iraq, Syria

Post by ArmChairCivvy »

Mattis has called a meeting of C-ISIL (Global Coalition to Counter ISIL) for today (in Brussels).
- perhaps changing from 2nd gear to 4th, skipping one in between?

Actually, never seen any news items under that acronym before; I guess it exists because not all actors are NATO members?
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)

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ArmChairCivvy
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Re: Operation Shader - Iraq, Syria

Post by ArmChairCivvy »

Now, as I was saying years ago, when DAESH was still making progress
- use kettling tactics
- local forces holding those lines (not physical, but surveillance based)
- other intel for locating hi-value targets
- airstrikes, if applicable. Otherwise go in (and out) airmobile.

The core Daesh force is dwindling; barbers will soon be doing booming business.
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)

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