Page 10 - issue19.04.2019

Royal Air Force News Friday, April 19, 2019 P10

News

Lighting strikes

Warrior nations

F-35 stealth fighter debut on

Nato’s UK- based war game

GAME ON: Virtual reality hardware replicates Red Arrows manoeuvres
Gamers seeing Reds

in cyber showdown

Siimon Mander flew as best as l could.”
Sqn Ldr Morris said: “That was a
THE UK’S top computer gamers lot of fun, but I fully appreciate how
challenged RAF aerobatics aces to difficult it is to fly a virtual display.
put on a display in cyberspace. What they do is very impressive.”
Nine members of the Virtual The Virtual Red Arrows Hawk
Red Arrows team took on the has been specially constructed
real deal using hi-spec for the team to match the
tech complete with real aircraft in every
aircraft seat, joystick detail possible.
and headset at Red 1 Sqn Simon Mander Nato warships, helicopter crews, the new fifth generation F-35
Scampton. Ldr Martin Pert tankers and other surveillance Lightning aircraft and our Royal
Dale Brewis, who led the THE RAF’S newest jet is taking aircraft. Navy colleagues’ latest Type 45
who plays Real Arrows part in one of Europe’s biggest Dambusters commanding Destroyers.
‘Red 5,’ in the for a display in military manoeuvres for the first officer, Wg Cdr John Butcher, “This level of training is vital
online outfit, cyberspace said: time. said: “Being able to provide the to maintain our ability to face
who practise “Leading the And combat-hardened unique fifth generation capabilities our adversaries, whomever and
together three team in virtual Typhoon crews back from that Lightning has, proved to be wherever they may be in the
times a week reality was very targeting Daesh on Operation decisive in enabling control of the world.”
for live displays challenging. Shader are using the opportunity air to be gained.” He said aircrews were also
streamed on the “The Virtual to team up with the Lightning Officer Commanding XI(F) honing their Quick Reaction
internet, paired-up Red Arrows rely on and the Navy’s newest warships to Sqn, Wg Cdr Paul O’Grady, said: Alert skills in preparation for
with his real-life alter ego great teamwork and lots of forge a potent fighting force. “Exercise Joint Warrior provides the squadron’s forthcoming
Squadron Leader Steve Morris and practise. Just like we do.” Crews from 617 Dambusters vital training. deployment to Estonia on Nato
taught him how to ‘fly’ the virtual The Red Arrows’ UK display Sqn, reformed to operate the “The Squadron has been Baltic Air Policing duties later this
jet. season starts in June. UK’s stealth jet, have been used conducting essential offensive year followed by a deployment to
He said: “I was really nervous Later in the summer the team to network combat critical data to and defensive missions with Iceland.
before the display but once we had will be jetting off across the Atlantic
started, l tried to forget that l was to fly the flag and thrill audiences
displaying for my heroes and just in the USA and Canada.

Stateside training lifts Poseidon P-8

RAF AIRCREW who will pilot includes honing anti-submarine conducting basic pilot training in
the UK’s new Poseidon sub hunter and anti-surface warfare skills at Texas alongside the USAF on the
have launched a series of low level medium and low altitude. simulator-based ‘Pilot Training
combat drills alongside the US The UK has ordered nine Next’ programme designed to
Navy in Florida Poseidon P-8 maritime patrol reduce the time it takes for students
Pilots, weapons system operators aircraft which will guard the UK’s to get airborne.
and engineers from Lossiemouth- nuclear submarines and carry out A spokesman said: “We need to
based 120 Sqn are taking part in search and rescue missions. push the envelope and innovate our
a six-month course ahead of the Work on a £132 million facility pilot training pipeline.
aircraft’s delivery to the Scottish to house the new P-8 fleet is nearing “Having this partnership and
station in 2020. completion at Lossiemouth. having people here to learn what the
The latest phase of their training RAF instructors are also US Air Force is doing is invaluable.”