Typhoons from XI F Squadron RAF Coningsby Exercise Agile Pirate 190823 CREDIT RAF — The Typhoons were testing the RAF's ability to rapidly disperse and operate assets vital to UK defence (Picture: RAF).

RAF

RAF practises rapidly relocating fighter jets for defence of UK airspace

Four Typhoons from XI(F) Squadron, based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, were instructed without prior notice to transfer to MOD Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, as part of Exercise Agile Pirate.

They operated the Quick Reaction Alert – to respond to potential aerial threats in or near UK airspace – to test the RAF's ability to rapidly disperse and operate assets vital to UK defence.

The Typhoons were airborne within minutes following a scramble call from Tactical Air Command and Control, referred to as Tac Air C2.

Specialists from 19 Squadron at RAF Boulmer dispersed to radar sites across the UK to give a full visual of the situation, called the Recognised Air Picture, and control the scrambled aircraft to intercept simulated threats.

Watch: What is Quick Reaction Alert and how does it work?

Later in the exercise they were joined by two F-35B Lightning aircraft, with the fifth-generation fighter jets also taking the opportunity to test their operability at an unfamiliar airbase.

The exercise is part of the RAF's aim to conduct Agile Combat Employment, or ACE.

It is an approach to operations that requires RAF personnel and assets to be flexible, agile and able to operate in austere locations with minimal support, whether in the UK or overseas, alongside Nato and Joint Expeditionary Force partners.

Wing Commander Paul Hanson, Detachment Commander, said: "Moving at pace presents its own challenges and we have pushed some assumptions to move even faster.

"My experience on Exercise Agile Pirate 10 is that people are thriving on this level of responsibility."

Typhoons from XI F Squadron aircraft shelters RAF Coningsby Exercise Agile Pirate 190823 CREDIT RAF — The Typhoons were airborne within minutes following a scramble call from Tactical Air Command and Control (Picture: RAF).

Support teams from multiple bases provided operations, engineering, logistics, communications, security, and catering to the Typhoon deployment.

They too had no prior notice but were able to depart their home bases three hours after activation.

An Atlas A400M transport aircraft delivered a bulk of essential equipment to Boscombe Down just hours after activation – and a day later the deployment was operational.

MOD Boscombe Down is the home of military aircraft testing and evaluation.

RAF Typhoons previously conducted a Quick Reaction Alert from Boscombe Down in 2012 for the Olympics.