RAF
RAF Stands Ready To Bomb Syria
While MPs wrangle over whether to bomb Syria, behind the scenes the RAF is already in a position to carry out airstrikes.
There are significant numbers of planes and personnel involved in the mission against Islamic State in Iraq. Those numbers are likely to be further boosted if airstrikes are extended into Syria.
The quickest easiest system to bring to bear would be the Tornado GR4. Eight of the planes are currently flying out of RAF Akrotiri against Islamic State targets in Iraq.
They fly armed with a combination of Paveway IV 500lb laser guided bombs and Dual Mode Brimstone missiles. These are both niche British capabilities, so accurate they don’t need vast explosive charges, and a world away from the large semi-guided bombs being used by the Russians for instance.
The MOD won’t say whether the Tornados currently targeting Iraq fly around or through Syrian airspace to get there. Clearly though it is on the way, which means the first bombs could be dropped very shortly after a vote.
There’s plenty of British targeting intelligence available already: the RAF has been flying surveillance flights over Syria for months to guide in coalition bombers. This involves Sentinel and Rivet Joint spy planes as well as a number of Reaper drones operating out of Kuwait. These are routinely armed with American GBU12 bombs and Hellfire missiles, and have been directly involved in two airstrikes in Syria in the last few weeks.
Defence cuts have left the Tornado fleet stretched white. RAF Marham may be able to muster up a couple more airframes but that’s about it. That could open the door for a small number of Typhoons to deploy.
Typhoon was used in Libya, arguably before it was really ready as a ground attack platform. That situation has changed: Typhoon has been cleared to use the same Paveway IV bombs as Tornado since around Easter but is yet to drop one in anger.
This operation could be its chance: good not just for operational reasons but also, potentially, for export sales.
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