Exercise Cobra Warrior, the RAF’s capstone tactical training event is now fully underway.
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This years iteration includes UK, Italian, German, United States of America and NATO involvement which allows development of interoperability between the NATO members and fine tuning of tactics, techniques and procedures.
The 7th of September saw Mission 2 of the 3-week exercise undertaken which also coincided with a media day being held at RAF Waddington. RAF Waddington delivers the Cobra Warrior training package via the Air Space Warfare Centre and is also hosting the Italian detachment of Eurofighter Typhoons and the German ECR Tornados.
This exercise brings lots of different capabilities together, in turn ensuring that by working together we can be more than the sum of our parts. Things in the Military never happen by accident and we train as we may need to fight in the future.
Group Captain Burton
Deputy Commandant of the Air Space Warfare Centre
The exercise is routinely undertaken twice a year but due to COVID-19 restrictions this month’s event is the first in several years and will pave the way for larger exercises in future.
This is one of the best exercises, not just in Europe, but in the world. It’s an opportunity to integrate with partner nations just to be ready and so we know each other in the best way possible. It’s a very challenging exercise and we are maximising the potential of our jets.
Major Setini
Eurofighter Detachment Lead
The German detachment of six ECR Tornados, which notably bring Suppression of Enemy Air Defence capability to the exercise, is led by Detachment Commander Lieutenant Colonel Köllner.
This is a very important exercise for our crews, we want to prepare with our allies and be able to stand together with the same procedures and thinking. The exercise is very realistic for us, planning together, working together, flying together. It also gives our people a focus, they know what they’re working for and we want to be ready for any situation that may come up.
Lieutenant Colonel Köllner
Detachment Commander
The exercise is also complemented by United States Air Force F-16s, F-15s, F35As and HH-60Gs (combat search and rescue) along with a NATO E-3A Sentry and Italian G550 providing command and control along with UK and Italian refuelling aircraft.
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