OPERATIONAL SUMMARY FOR WEEK ENDING 21 NOV 09

OPERATION HERRICK

Another busy week for the Tornados of 904 EAW. The week began with aircraft being scrambled to assist British and coalition ground forces who were being engaged with small arms and rocket propelled grenade fire. The Tornados were on station within minutes and were feeding imagery from the Litening 3 pod down to the ground to assist the ground commanders. When small arms fire was still being received a Tornado aircraft conducted a Show of Force and the fire was sufficiently reduced to allow the ground forces to continue with their mission. It was a busy day, and the Tornados launched an extra sortie over their planned tasking to assist ground forces.

The next day, aircraft were tasked with providing Armed Overwatch and also conducted counter improvised explosive device (IED) and counter indirect fire (IDF) reconnaissance tasking. The missions were in support of coalition forces and also Afghan National Police activity. Later, aircraft were tasked with supporting a coalition convoy, searching the road ahead of the convoy for potential IEDs and enemy activity, and also to support a coalition vehicle check point. The Tornados also provided valuable observation of enemy forces to ground commanders after a small arms attack.

Towards the middle of the week, aircraft were tasked with Armed Overwatch and searching areas for signs of enemy activity in support of ground forces. Later, they supported an air drop mission by Hercules aircraft by providing Armed Overwatch and observation for the convoy that would collect the Air Drop consignment. The mission was conducted successfully and without incident.

In the middle of the week, the aircraft were very busy supporting multiple operations on the ground and working very much in partnership with ground forces. The observation and imagery available from the cutting edge technology carried by Tornado, is a significant enabler to the ground commander, enhancing his freedom of manoeuvre and ability to conduct operations safely. Also that day, aircraft were tasked with providing air intelligence using the acclaimed RAPTOR pod. Several missions using the RAPTOR pod are carried out weekly, conducting Counter IED activity and air reconnaissance in support of ground operations. Also that day, aircraft were scrambled to support an incident involving an enemy small arms fire attack on Afghan National Security Forces. The aircraft provided valuable observation and Armed Overwatch of the area while medical evacuation was carried out by helicopter.

Towards the end of the week, Tornado aircraft provided observation and search activities directly in support of Troops who had been attacked with Small Arms Fire. They also carried out Counter-IED searches in support of Coalition Patrols.

The next day, aircraft were tasked with providing Armed Overwatch for a ground operation in a district centre and spent time identifying and observing possible enemy forces vehicles.

At the end of the week, Tornado aircraft were tasked with supporting British Forces who had come under attack by small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades. Although the incident was over, the aircraft searched potential enemy positions and provided Armed Overwatch for the Patrol to continue its Task. Later that day, the aircraft were busy observing potential enemy movements in support of ground operations and also conducted a Show of Force which prevented a potential enemy attack. Aircraft also conducted more RAPTOR pod reconnaissance tasking. This was another busy week for the Tornados of 904 EAW.

This week, the Hercules aircraft of 904 EAW were busy moving over 260 tonnes of freight and approximately 2000 passengers around the Operational Theatre. They also conducted 3 Air Drop sorties supplying remote FOBs with valuable supplies to support the ground forces. This activity demonstrates how successfully air and land assets are working together in Theatre.

This week, the HS 125 aircraft of 901 EAW carried 12 passengers around Theatre including one prominent government minister.

The Tristar aircraft of 902 EAW suffered unserviceability problems this week and although the highly skilled engineers of the Tristar detachment recovered the aircraft as soon as possible, only one mission was flown, delivering approximately 35 tonnes of fuel to coalition fast jet aircraft. Even with the most highly skilled and well trained engineers available, as those of the Tristar detachment are, problems with unserviceability are concomitant with operating aircraft on occasions.

OPERATION TELIC

The Hercules aircraft of 901 EAW delivered approximately 40 tonnes of freight and over 50 passengers around the Gulf region.

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