RAF pilot during the exercise
(Picture: RAF)RAF jets shot down 53 drones during training drills in the force’s largest mass firing of advanced short range missiles.
Pilots from eight different squadrons downed dozens of drones over the sea at the Hebrides Air Weapon Ranges in Scotland last month.
The exercise, which took place over the course of ten days, was the biggest mass firing of advanced infra-red guided short-range air-to-air missiles by the RAF.
The test is designed to help pilots and weapons crews gain confidence in using these weapons in the real world.
RAF Typhoon & Lightning jets have conducted their largest ever mass firing of Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missiles. Over the space of 10 days, pilots from 8 different squadrons successfully launched a total of 53 missiles at target drones. Full story: https://t.co/K3CUwD0Dig pic.twitter.com/az0aV8bzu4
— Royal Air Force (@RoyalAirForce) October 22, 2022
Typhoon pilots from RAF Lossiemouth with colleagues from RAF Coningsby and Lightning aircraft pilots from RAF Marham took part in the exercise.
One pilot from RAF Lossiemouth said: "It surpassed all expectations of what my first live firing exercise on the Typhoon would be. Selecting the weapon and knowing a live missile would come off the rail was a unique moment; hearing the missile tone and pulling the trigger, followed by a large whoosh sound and a slight wobble of the aircraft was fantastic.
“Watching the missile disappear into the sky in front of me was a moment to remember, it really is impressive how fast the Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missiles can go.
“The experience has given me a real appreciation of the capability of the missile and how it can be employed in a real combat situation”
One of the weapons technicians involved in preparing the aircraft added: “Seeing the preparation of the aircraft and missiles was crucial to the more junior members on the squadron, it gave them the opportunity to understand the challenges of a live weapon firing exercise.
“Operating armed aircraft requires all those involved to maintain the highest levels of concentration due to the extra risks involved.
“As a weapons technician you get massive job satisfaction when you’ve loaded the aircraft, carried out all the post-load testing and watched it taxi away armed.
“When the aircraft returns ‘clean’ having successfully fired its missiles, it validates the years of training, the hard work and months of preparation.”
