Personnel from the RAF have been deployed to Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina to support the coordination of Coalition airspace in the Middle East.
The group, comprising Weapons Controllers, Air Traffic Controllers and Air and Space Operations Specialists, are deployed as part of a coalition force alongside US, Danish, Belgian and Canadian contingents to the 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron, known as Kingpin.
The deployment sees the coalition provide 24/7 tactical command and control of 1.1 million square miles of airspace including Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and the Arabian Peninsula. Kingpin enables air operations across the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility and provides the Combined Air Operations Centre, located in the Middle East, with a common air picture.
Kingpin directs a range of Coalition and partner nation aircraft, including fighters, bombers, tankers, surveillance and reconnaissance, and remotely piloted aircraft throughout the region to manage the battlespace and deter any adversary threat within the area of responsibility. The RAF Team have been fully integrated into this process, managing a range of assets, including RAF Typhoon and Voyager, and are deployed as part of 903 Expeditionary Air Wing.
Being deployed to the US is a great opportunity to celebrate local traditions of our host nations and other coalition partners. Last month we celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner which was a great experience, particularly as we have been made to feel so included and welcomed as part of the whole Coalition force.
While everyone misses family and friends when they’re away over the festive period, it’s made slightly easier by the bonds, friendships and kindness we’ve experienced across the whole force with our partners from Belgium, Canada, Denmark and of course the US.
Flight Lieutenant McConville
Member of the Detachment
