TYPHOONS DEPART FOR THE FALKLANDS

[SUICIDAL 401]

Originally slated for October 2009, the replacement of the Tornado F3 aircraft deployed to RAF Mount Pleasant, Falklands Islands was brought forward to 12th September 2009 as part of the MODs accelerated effort to withdraw the Tornado F3 from service.

 

Four Block 8 Typhoons will replace the four Tornado F3s currently assigned to RAF 1435 Flight. I expect the choice to use Block 8 airframes is to maximise the time they can be away from the UK before they need to return for a major service or upgrade. This did cause a problem with airframe selection though. The RAF only have 10 Block 8 airframes, with two being assigned to 17® Squadron who require the latest build for the type of work they do, that only leaves 8 airframes. Of those, 2 were only delivered in mid to late August, giving very little time to iron out any issues.

 

The first three Typhoons line up to take off

 

 

With a distance of about 8000 miles to cover the RAF covers itself for an airframe becoming unserviceable by sending an extra aircraft. Called an air spare, it's job is to fly with the other aircraft until they are sure there isn't any technical problem with the others. At this point it will return to its base, allowing the other four to continue on.

 

With such a distance to cover the Typhoon requires air to air refuelling. This was provided by a RAF Tristar and two VC-10s (which were also carrying freight) flying as ASCOT 9201.

 

 

The aircraft took off in two lots, the first a three ship at 11:00:

 

 

ZJ944 - RAFAIR 9611

 

 

 

 

 

ZK301 - RAFAIR 9612

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ZJ945 - RAFAIR 9613

 

 

 

The remaining pair were meant to take off 20 minutes behind but a data storage brick on one of the Typhoons refused to work correctly. It was replaced but the second one didn't load the way points correctly. The issue was resolved but it put back the take off by an additional 15 minutes, taking off at 11:37.

 

 

 

 

 

ZJ949 - RAFAIR 9614

 

 

 

 

 

 

ZJ950 - RAFAIR 9615

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see from the photos all the airframes were unmarked. ZJ950 had been displaying the Maltese Cross of 1435 Flight has had the markings removed. It's unclear if they will be marked up in the Falklands or if they will stay unmarked.

 

It was also interesting to note that three of out of the five airframes had the PIRATE fitted (ZK301 and ZJ950 being the ones that didn't). The PIRATE can be removed and fitted relatively easily so they may remove the others in situ and return them to the UK or they might ship out two PIRATEs for ZK301 and ZJ950.

[+ST0RM 145]

Nice photos. Gorgeous weather in the UK as of late. Unlike Kansas :(

 

Well, the torch has been passed to the Typhoon. Hope the Maltese Cross is reapplied. Nice to see a bit of unit pride on aircraft.

 

-S

[+Dave 2,319]

I am sure the Argentinians aren't happy about this at all. Considering those Tiffies could take out most of their air force and Naval air arm with little or no effort.

[Silverbolt 104]

<br />I am sure the Argentinians aren't happy about this at all. Considering those Tiffies could take out most of their air force and Naval air arm with little or no effort.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

 

Well, Actually....the Argies are unhappy with their own force.

2 Crisis, Plus the government Neglect with their Armed Forces....unfortunately they're going nowhere...

 

well, BTW, the Thypoons now are the Best combat a/c in whole continent,if they were in mainland, they could deny the airspace from any airforce here.And they'll be the best till Rafale Arrive here, or something better than it (Maybe Chavez wants Some Su-35Bm?).

 

well, whatever...for what Marcos Said me, they only have 4 Mirages Flying, and some Modernized A-4s.

[SUICIDAL 401]

We are really upset and angry with the Government of marriage "K".

We have been over 6 years without investment in armaments or renewal of our fleet.

We have fighter planes that already have more than 30 years of service.

We only have in served 4 Mirage III EA, 12 IAI-FINGER, 2 IAI-MARA and an unknown number of A-4AR.

That would be our umbrella of aircraft in frontline fighter.

Then we close air support with 25 IA-58 Pucara, 8 IA-63 Pampa and 12 AT-64 PAMPA II.

 

Our navy has only a number that does not exceed 6 Super Etendart.

The good news is that there are 20 Exocet by plane.

along with about 30 Martin Pescador.

And an unknown number of AS-25K A-M

 

We're really going through our worst moment.

And most odious is that there are billions of dollars.

But do not invest a penny in weaponry.

 

Damn politicians.

With the military dictatorship was better.

[+Jug 99]

We are really upset and angry with the Government of marriage "K".

We have been over 6 years without investment in armaments or renewal of our fleet.

We have fighter planes that already have more than 30 years of service.

We only have in served 4 Mirage III EA, 12 IAI-FINGER, 2 IAI-MARA and an unknown number of A-4AR.

That would be our umbrella of aircraft in frontline fighter.

Then we close air support with 25 IA-58 Pucara, 8 IA-63 Pampa and 12 AT-64 PAMPA II.

 

Our navy has only a number that does not exceed 6 Super Etendart.

The good news is that there are 20 Exocet by plane.

along with about 30 Martin Pescador.

And an unknown number of AS-25K A-M

 

We're really going through our worst moment.

And most odious is that there are billions of dollars.

But do not invest a penny in weaponry.

 

Damn politicians.

With the military dictatorship was better.

Military expenditures for equipment should match the threat environment demands. What is the threat confronting Argentina? The only military action for at least half a century down there appears to have been initiated by the Argentines themselves. Is Chile a border dispute threat? Uruguay? Brazil?

 

These questions are not inviting an emotional response and are asked from one who genuinely doesn't know. Little help from our Argentine members requested.

[macelena 1,070]

I can´t speak for the Argentinians, but there are some points:

 

@ Dave: I don´t think that they really give a damn about Typhoon in Falklands. IMHO, Argentine is not a threat wich would justify the detachment of Typhoons instead of Tornados, but this deployment, scheduled long ago, is a good way to try the type in hard conditions, an experience wich will benefit all partners.

 

@ Jug: For what i know of Argentinians -a majority in the Spanish Language Subforum- the trouble is about pride, but also about the fear to be pressed by neighbour powers, not necessarely in a violent scenario, but just with a Jane´s on the desk

 

@ suicidal: leave the dictatorship out. You wouldn´t be able to complain, and things wouldn´t be really better

[JediMaster 451]

Old equipment is bad for multiple reasons, including decreased safety, increased maintenance costs/resources, and the political appearance of it. The US has planes far older than that, of course (B-52s!), but we don't ONLY have planes that age, we have many that are newer as well, although I believe the average age is around 20 yrs old.

 

While those RAF birds are indeed capable of taking on the local air force without much effort, their antishipping/AG capabilities are far more limited due to the Typhoon being designed as air superiority/interceptor and not multirole. Fortunately precision munitions means any plane that can carry them can become a capable and even formidable ground pounder, but you need to put in the time and resources to make that happen and the Typhoon's progress there has been slow. That's why Harriers and Tornados are still being used for the ground roles while the air roles are being supplanted by the Typhoons.

[Silverbolt 104]

Well, Argentina is the second biggest Country in South America, and one of the biggers in America, by definition they need to impose themselves , and having a decent military Industrial park(wich they have,but is in foreing hands unfortunately) is one point.

 

the problem is that unfortunately Argentina last governments 2002-today cracked down the country IMO, the people gone too much liberalist and external multinational(even some neighbors companies) companies took over the local industries, Including their Military Industries.

 

Argentina had for decades(and still havin, i guess) the biggest suth america HDI(Human Development Index) wich is one of the points to show how big and developed Argentina is.

 

So, IMO there is no excuse to such of people in don't having money for it, its just ''MilitaryPhobia'' wich many of South America Countries have/had after the ditactorship time.

To the 90's to Early 2000s +- we had the same problem, we also denied an almost free gift from USA that were about 60 F-16(A but with option to modernize)+ 4 OHP + a bunch of M1A1s + thousand of hummvees + a great weapons package, but it was denied by government, many say here , fearing an posible back to power by military(and man, i'm talkning about our economical prosperity time!!!), just to ilustrate how stupid it used to be here.

 

I don't really conccur also with the Military request is made in a external enemy demmand.

now the Relations with Chile are calm, but it was never this way, right before the Falklands war , they got a huge problem with chile, AFAIK there was some bullets flying around but fortunately it didn't turn in to a war.

 

So,for what it seems they have more to worry about than Medical Care, safety and Public Schools.

and remembering that one of biggest Industries in the world is the defense one, investing on that they wouldn't only get armed, but they would develop the region around injecting money in the economy, its pretty the same of what the federal government wants to do here with all those defense contracts.

 

 

Just my 2 cents.

[SUICIDAL 401]

Jug:

Need not be threatened by a foreign power or by a neighboring country to have a modern, well-armed army.

Today overcome our differences with chili so much that we have trained an army for rapid deployment in both countries.

Brazil and Uruguay are our blood brothers.

Brazil, Uruguay and Chile.

At this time are not threatened by any power or by a neighboring country.

But military spending quadrupled.

This is not to see who has las longest ball.

It is jointly strengthen us to be well armed in case of an external threat to the American continent.

Future wars have already begun.

And it is on primary products and natural sources of freshwater.

That here in South America there are many.

 

...................

 

macelena

True, dictatorships are something terrible.