Page 5 - issue08.03.2019

Royal Air Force News Friday, March 8, 2019 P5

News

WEAPONS UPGRADE
Typhoon makes

Brimstone debut

UK jet blasts terrorists’ boat in precision strike

Staff Reporter In a separate attack a pair of despite a large scale evacuation.
RAF Typhoons destroyed a heavy RAF crews are flying daily
A UK Typhoon has launched its machine gun position close to the missions in support of the
first-ever strike against die-hard Abu Kamal on the eastern side of advancing SDF, targeting Daesh
Daesh fighters using the laser the Euphrates. positions as the four-year conflict
guided Brimstone missile. The aircraft launched a reaches its final stages.
The RAF fighter obliterated a Paveway bomb, destroying the
boat on the Euphrates River being position allowing ground forces
used by members of the terror to move in.
group as Syrian Democratic Syrian Democratic Forces
Forces close in on the tiny village are poised to wipe out
of Baghouz – their last enclave what is left of the brutal
close to the Iraq border. Daesh regime, now
The low collateral weapon has confined to a small area of
been used to devastating effect by one village on the border between
RAF Tornados during the four- Iraq and Syria.
year conflict until the aircraft’s Military operations have been
retirement from service this hampered by efforts to evacuate
month. thousands of civilians who have DEADLY ACCURACY: Laser guided low-
The missile has been fitted been used as human shields by the collateral Brimstone weapon is designed to
to the Typhoon as part of a £425 hardline Islamist group. engage fast-moving targets on land and sea
million weapons upgrade which SDF commanders estimate and has been fitted to Typhoon as part of a
£425 million weapons upgrade
also includes Meteor air-to-air there may still be up to 2000
and Storm Shadow cruise missiles. civilians still trapped in the area

MALI OPERATIONS
French call in UK Chinooks

in Mali anti-terror mission

UK CHINOOK crews are stepping
up support for French military
operations against violent
extremists in Mali, West Africa.
The RAF choppers have been
brought in to resupply forward
operating bases and transport
troops in the frontline fight to halt
the country’s growing Islamist
insurgency.
More than 20,000 French, UN and
regional troops have been deployed
following a spate of bomb attacks
which have left hundreds dead.
Two RAF Chinooks with 1310
Flight landed in the trouble-stricken
Gao region, operating in the remote
Hombori Mountains
Chinook commander Sqn Ldr
Matthew Wight-Boycott said:
“Supporting French operations
against violent extremists is an
important and satisfying mission.
“Our aircrew, engineers and
support staff are moving large
numbers of troops and equipment WAR ON TERROR: French Forces on board a RAF Chinook in Mali. Two UK combat
to remote bases, and re-supplying a choppers are based at Gao supporting a French-led counter insurgency mission.
patrol in the desert, we are playing a and it has not disappointed. environment operating towards the
vital part in this operation. “The job calls for flying heavy edge of its performance envelope it
He added: “We help reduce the payloads over long distances, in always delivers.
reliance on road moves, typically intense heat and above some pretty “We have trained hard for this op
vulnerable to Improvised Explosive inhospitable terrain; in many respects and it’s great to see that investment
Devices and some ground patrols the environment is a greater threat paying off; this is an important Plt Off Amy Cokayne took full advantage of her first starting
can only be effectively sustained by than the enemy.” task and by flying French troops 15 Six Nations selection for England women's rugby union
helicopter.” He added: “The ‘fat tanked’ we are keeping them off the roads team playing in a dynamic 12-51 win over Wales in Cardiff.
Pilot Flt Lt Matthew Williams said: Chinook Mk 5 is perfect for this role; and helping sustain their combat l Full story on p27
“This is my first frontline deployment even performing in this extreme operations.”