Will Take The Designation Of A Recently-Disbanded Tornado
Squadron
A new Reaper squadron is to form at RAF Waddington in
Lincolnshire which will control the aircraft over Afghanistan from
the UK for the first time. Speaking at the disbandment of Number
XIII Tornado Squadron at RAF Marham last week, Chief of the Air
Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, announced that the
squadron number will transfer to a second Reaper squadron next
year.
With its array of high tech sensors and precision-guided
weapons, the remotely-piloted Reaper aircraft, which is based in
Afghanistan, can carry out a wide range of missions that are
currently controlled by 39 Squadron crews on the other side of the
world at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada. Reaper can use its
sensors day and night to spy on insurgent activity for hours at a
time and at a range where it is undetectable from the ground.
"The Royal Air Force is today delivering air power operations in
Afghanistan, Libya and the Falkland Islands and, as XIII Squadron's
Tornados have shown, making a fantastic contribution to the very
positive progress in the military campaigns in all these
locations," said Air Chief Marshal Dalton. "I am confident that
XIII Squadron's reputation and distinguished history will be
carried forward as it transitions to be a part of our Remotely
Piloted Force employing the Reaper over Afghanistan. This
transition will see us bring Reaper mission control to the UK, make
more efficient and effective use of our resources in exploiting
this growing capability, and enable the operation of significantly
more combat intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and
reconnaissance aircraft over Afghanistan 24-hours-a-day."
"Reaper aircraft are providing valuable support to our front
line troops in Afghanistan. We are committed to providing the best
available equipment to our Armed Forces," said Defence Secretary,
Dr Liam Fox. "The formation of this new squadron follows our
doubling of the Reaper capability to ten aircraft, which represents
an increased investment of GBP135m. This extra squadron will help
us get the best out of this valuable armed reconnaissance
aircraft."
XIII Squadron was formed in 1915 and has continued its long and
distinguished record through both world wars and operations over
Iraq and Afghanistan. Notably, in 2009, XIII Squadron conducted the
last Tornado sortie over Iraq in support of Operation TELIC. In the
summer of 2010, XIII Squadron deployed on Operation HERRICK in
Afghanistan providing close air support and combat intelligence,
surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance during a very
busy fighting season.
Finally, just a few weeks from disbandment, XIII Squadron were
at the forefront of operations over Libya, delivering deep strike
with the RAF's Stormshadow missile.