The RAF remains a benchmark air force, air chief says
The head of the Royal Air Force says a "ruthless and reckless" Russia must be defeated in Ukraine to stop Putin's expansionist ambitions.
In a speech, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston also discussed the Red Arrows and recent allegations of sexual misconduct.
In his annual address to the Freeman Air and Space Institute, Sir Mike highlighted that the RAF remains a benchmark air force from new green fuels to cutting-edge tech.
However, he did address that culturally it must improve, with pockets of poor behaviour damaging its reputation and ability to recruit.
The sexual misconduct allegations surrounding the Red Arrows have left the RAF bruised, but the chief said the team was now moving on.
"We investigated, and five people were sanctioned, including dismissals from the service, and the team has turned a corner," he said.
"I have absolute admiration for what the team has done just over the last month in the Middle East, whilst dealing with significant turmoil as they've come to terms with what has gone on in the past.
"But that is a better team, without a shadow of a doubt, a better team now."
Talking to former BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt, the chief described how Nato launched a huge wall of air power as Russian forces crossed into Ukraine with hundreds of jets airborne along its eastern flank.
And he revealed that RAF Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft were patrolling the skies above Ukraine the day before Russia invaded.
Since then, the RAF has continued to deliver military aid to Ukraine, including 100,000 artillery shells and 3,000,000 rounds of small arms ammunition.
Sir Mike went on: "We should recognise that what Russia achieved in Ukraine on its first night, it had over a dozen strategic bombers airborne, over a hundred missiles in the air, cruise missiles, it's capable of mass precision attack and it is still capable of mass precision attack.
"That is why it is so important that Russia is defeated in Ukraine, that Ukraine prevails because, if Russia gets away with what it's doing in Ukraine, it will come back for more."
In August last year, the RAF had Typhoons operating from seven countries.
The air chief said last year's Integrated Review rightly predicted a more aggressive Russia and next year defence will carry out a 'refresh' of the document to reflect what has happened since.
"Russia was called out as the most pressing threat in the Integrated Review but things have happened so quickly.
"I think it's right that we take a stock check, I think the Government has been very clear that the threats that we face means that there will need to be an increase in defence funds," the Chief said.
The Air Chief Marshal also discussed the RAF's heavy investment into renewable aircraft fuels, expanding its presence in space and working with other Nato partners to try to counter Russian and Chinese development of hypersonic weapons.
New digital platforms and cutting-edge tech are changing the skillsets of those the RAF is recruiting.
But despite the many changes, combat air power remains as vital as ever.
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