July 10, 2013 Source: BAE Systems

The first four pioneering pilots to train in the revolutionary Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer have graduated from RAF Valley.

The quartet is the first group to develop their skills on the new-look Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT), which uses state of the art advanced avionics suite and sensor simulation software to help make the step up between trainer aircraft and Typhoon easier.

Converting training into flying

The Hawk – dubbed the T2 by the RAF – has a digital glass cockpit designed to closely resemble those of fast jets and it therefore cuts the time to convert training into flying fighter aircraft such as Typhoon and F-35 Lightning II.

Learning to fly

Fight Lieutenant, Victoria ‘Tori’ Lyle, one of the four graduates said: "The last year has been both a challenging and rewarding one.

“Learning to fly the new Hawk T2 has been fantastic, presenting us with opportunities to develop skills that are more in line with the front line aircraft we will be going to fly after Valley.

"It was a wonderful opportunity to be part of the first course, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at RAF Valley. Whilst it is always difficult to simulate all aspects of airborne flying in the simulator, the sophistication of the ground based training facilities has allowed us to develop our ‘kit manipulation’ to a high degree, having said that, nothing can quite beat the feeling of flying low level through the Welsh hills.”

In July the graduates will continue their frontline operational conversion unit training at RAF Coningsby on the Typhoon.

Proud

To mark their achievement a small ceremony was held at RAF Valley attended by Air Chief Marshall Sir Stephen Dalton, the Chief of Air Staff, who said: "The pilots who graduated can be proud of what they have achieved as the pioneers of this new advanced training system, the Hawk T2, and can look forward with confidence that, following their conversion to operational aircraft, they will very soon take on their roles on Royal Air Force frontline squadrons.

"Having completed the course on the new Hawk they are some of the best trained pilots to graduate from UK fast jet training. RAF Valley delivers the most advanced fast jet training programme in the world. At the core of it, the Hawk's advanced cockpit closely resembles that of our current and future combat aircraft, which will reduce the time required to convert to flying an operational aircraft, be that Typhoon, Tornado or the Lightning II.

"The live flying at RAF Valley, on the Hawk T2, is supported by an increasing range of synthetic training on the ground. This makes every flying hour more productive and makes this entire programme even more cost effective for the United Kingdom."

Preparing for the front line

The ‘synthetic’ classroom based training using simulators is ahead of its time, preparing the fast jet pilot for the frontline and reducing the time it takes to become familiar with flying a combat aircraft once they move to their operational conversion units.

The course runs for approximately 11 months, with around 120 hours of live flying. There is no final examination. The last flight on the course involves the student evading airborne and surface-to-air threats at medium and low level. The student has to take part in a simulated Paveway IV bomb attack against a designated target whilst trying to evade a low level airborne threat and lead their wingman home in a simulated emergency.

10 July 2013 baesystems.com

The Royal Air Force has completed the biggest training mission ever undertaken by its Typhoon force.

Over the past two weeks a total of 265 sorties have been flown on six days in Exercise Android Preference.

Availability of aircraft

One of the main aims of the Typhoon Availability Service and ATTAC (Availability Transformation Tornado Aircraft Contract)TAS and ATTAC contracts is to ensure the RAF has the maximum amount of aircraft available. Working in partnership with the RAF, our colleagues on both these contracts contributed towards ensuring such a large scale training mission could take place.

Qualified Weapons Instructor Course

Exercise Android Preference, which concluded at RAF Coningsby on 5 July, forms part of the Qualified Weapons Instructor (QWI) course regarded as the pinnacle qualification for RAF aircrew, as RAF Coningsby Station Commander, Gp Capt Johnny Stringer, explained:

“The QWI courses are where we fuse the physical, moral and conceptual components of air fighting power at the tactical level. We’re taking our brightest and best and making them the most capable and aware tactical operators they can be. What Android Preference allows us to do is not only to prepare them for the QWI operational phase, but also to expose them to some of the wider and higher-level considerations and consequences of their tactical appreciation, planning and subsequent execution.”

A real operational feel

The exercise designer, Flight Lieutenant Andrew Tidmarsh, said:

“For the first time we’ve executed missions involving the entire Typhoon Force which, along with other Force Elements, gives a real operational feel. The exercise challenges the whole spectrum of what Typhoon can do as a platform; not only fighting air-to-air, but also finding, fixing and prosecuting targets on the ground.

“Being fully swing role the Typhoon is able to fight its way to the target and then fight its way out again. This places a high training demand on the pilots who have to be extremely capable in the air-to-air role and the air-to-surface role and be able to make timely tactical decisions to enable them to fulfil both in a high threat environment.”

Largest training mission for Typhoon

In the first week of the Exercise the single largest training mission Typhoon has ever undertaken as one complete Force was executed. A total of 22 Typhoons from five different squadrons took part in a Combat Search and Rescue scenario that also included Tornado GR4s, USAF F-15 Eagles and Danish F16s, as well as Support and Attack Helicopters. Tactical air control and command was provided by an E-3D Sentry from RAF Waddington and 1 Air Control Centre (1 ACC), which deployed to RAF Coningsby from their home station at RAF Scampton.

Gp Capt Stringer explained: “The key involvement of 1 Air Control Centre and E-3 Sentry underlines the importance of air command and control, as well as ISTAR, to the effective employment of modern combat air power. We’re also delighted and very grateful to have had the excellent support from the Support Helicopter and Tornado GR4 Forces, 100 Squadron, the Army Air Corps and our USAF and Danish colleagues.”

Challenging roles

This variety and scope of exercise participants presented its own challenge for mission planning and execution in addition to an excellent opportunity for training large and diverse packages of aircraft. Each QWI student took it in turns to act as a Mission Commander, a challenging role which requires individual tactical prowess and wider integration in order to succeed.

Flt Lt Tidmarsh added: “At one point there was a 16 versus 20 air-to-air fight concurrent with ground serials including Air Interdiction, Close Air Support and Dynamic Targeting. I can’t remember in my career the whole force attempting one Defensive Counter Air mission that lasted an entire day.”

20 June 2013 adsadvance.co.uk

Working with Lockheed Martin and the UK Ministry of Defence, BAE Systems have linked simulation facilities across five UK sites to create a common synthetic environment to evaluate F-35 interoperability with other UK military platforms.

Linking Air and Maritime

A recent trial saw Royal Navy, RAF and US Navy pilots operating the F-35 fighter jet during a live simulated maritime scenario with the Queen Elizabeth Carrier, a Type 45 Destroyer and Sea King helicopter. This is the first time that we and Lockheed Martin have linked our Air and Maritime simulation capabilities and mission system laboratories at multiple locations into one common battlespace environment.

Roles and responsibilities

Royal Navy, RAF and US Navy pilots flew the F-35 aircraft from Lockheed Martin supplied desk top simulators at our Samlesbury site, alongside two Royal Navy Sea King aircrew who provided command and control directions to the F-35 pilots.

Linking into the live scenario, Royal Navy air warfare officers from HMS DUNCAN were at the controls of the Queen Elizabeth Carrier lab in the Isle of Wight whilst in Portsdown, Royal Navy air warfare officers and fighter controllers from HMS DAUNTLESS operated from the Type 45 Destroyer lab.

Lt Cdr Mark Humphries, RAF Air Warfare Centre, took part in the trials. He said: “Bringing both air and maritime capabilities into a common mission scenario, we have been able to begin to test the interoperability between F-35 and other key maritime assets, something we have never been able to do before. Today we have taken part in a maritime scenario where the F-35 was the first line of defence for a Carrier Task Force in a hostile threat situation. Being able to evaluate interoperability concepts for passing commands and threat information via digital datalinks in real-time between air warfare officers on the Queen Elizabeth Carrier, fighter controllers on the Type 45 destroyer and Sea King helicopter and F-35 pilots has been extremely valuable."

Lt Cdr Jim Blythe, HMS DAUNTLESS, also took part. He said: “We have been able to fully exercise the Type 45 combat management system and gain a broader experience of digitally controlling fighters than has hitherto been possible. This means we are in a far better place to develop an informed Concept of Operations for working with the F-35 when it comes into service.”

World class simulation and systems integration

Tony Hall, BAE Systems F-35 programme manager for the Interoperability trials, said: “As a business we have world class simulation and systems integration capabilities which exist across a number of different locations. Working closely with Lockheed Martin and the UK customer we have created a distributed test capability linking UK Industry and Government assets across a secure network to provide a common synthetic environment.

"Not only does this help the UK customer get their heads around how the F-35 will integrate into operations, but it can also save a lot of time and money. We can identify interoperability issues early and fix things at this stage far easier than when the aircraft are built and in operation.

“It’s great that we can get the customer involved at these early stages to make sure that the aircraft and other cooperating platforms are doing the job they want them to do. It’s an added bonus that we are able to use this project to prompt improvements across a range of other military assets too."

BAE Systems are responsible for leading F-35 integration activities on behalf of the UK customer. The maritime mission scenario trial is the third out of a series of four planned scenarios which form part of the overall F-35 UK interoperability project.

14 June 2013 Ministry of Defence

An RAF Tornado Squadron is being put through its paces at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland this week as it makes final preparations for a deployment to Afghanistan.

Dubbed ‘War Week’, the exercise is the culmination of months of training for 12 (Bomber) Squadron who will soon depart for a 4-month tour at Kandahar Airfield. The RAF Tornados provide vital support to ground forces in Afghanistan including the gathering of reconnaissance imagery using sensors carried aboard the aircraft.

 

Challenges have come thick and fast for all personnel involved. Insurgent rocket attacks, unexploded bombs, road accidents and other events are carefully stage managed to test the reactions of airmen. Each event is closely monitored and participants receive a full debrief on their performance after each training serial.

 

Despite these challenges the Squadron has maintained its flying programme, launching several Tornado GR4 strike aircraft each day to fly training sorties identical to those they will conduct in Afghanistan. Once airborne the Tornado crew work closely with RAF Regiment Forward Air Controllers, deployed at various locations in Scotland, to hone their skills.

Officer Commanding 12(B) Squadron is Wing Commander Simon Strasdin who said:

What we’ve achieved has been quite remarkable in terms of our readiness and capability to go to theatre. We’re ready to go.

Leading the team providing the training is Squadron Leader Simon Reade who said:

War Week is the final confidence building exercise that provides a safe environment to practice the skills they’ve been instructed in prior to the deployment to Afghanistan.

It unifies the squadron in their preparations for Afghanistan and ensures they deploy with a sound understanding of what they might be required to do in support of ISAF [International Security Assistance Force]. War Week is very much about the team and how the team performs and the Squadron have engaged fully.

11 June 2013 Ministry of Defence

Army personnel have joined local authorities and emergency services to see how prepared they are to tackle a major environmental incident.

Exercise Triton took place in Staffordshire and was designed to see how the Army worked alongside partners from the area when it comes to emergency planning.

220 personnel from 143 (West Midlands) Brigade, drawn from its headquarters, the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry, 159 Supply Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, Birmingham University Officer Training Corps and 22 Signal Regiment, were deployed on the exercise.

The scenario centred on abnormally heavy rainfall causing severe flooding around the county, including the failure of a dam at Blithfield Reservoir.

Tasks tackled by the military included erecting flood defence bunds (embankments) around the National Grid gas compressor station at Alrewas, assisting in the rescue of civilians and evacuating people at risk, and involved the use of a search and rescue Sea King helicopter.

The brigade also provided senior staff for the strategic (gold) and tactical (silver) control groups based at Staffordshire Police headquarters and Tamworth Community Fire Station, respectively, as well as running an operations room from brigade headquarters at Copthorne Barracks in Shrewsbury.

The Army drew in soldiers and sailors from as far away as Plymouth and Aldershot to ensure a realistic mobilisation procedure.

The second exercise of its kind for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, it featured ‘players’ at all response levels, including live search and rescue play, with helicopters from the Royal Air Force, police and air ambulance operating from a combined co-ordination cell.

Lieutenant Colonel Guy Chambers, Joint Resilience Liaison Officer for the Army in the West Midlands, said:

Triton was the culmination of a series of exercises that we have been involved in with Staffordshire.

There is no doubt that the long history of integration with the Staffordshire responders and the military has fostered close relationships and detailed understanding. There is no question that the Staffordshire plans have been thoroughly tested and all parties have great confidence in the plans, the response and each other.

Project Manager Sarah Moore, from the Staffordshire Civil Contingencies Unit, said:

Exercises like this are really important to test our capabilities and find any flaws in our plans so that we are in a better position to respond should real events occur. All organisations taking part have put in a great deal of effort to ensure a realistic scenario and response.

Staffordshire Police Deputy Chief Constable Jane Sawyers added:

I would like to say a very big thank you to everyone who took part in Exercise Triton. The exercise provided a unique opportunity for all Staffordshire Resilience Forum (SRF) partners to practise their internal and multi-agency response plans in a realistic and challenging scenario.

Above all, we have had the confidence to commit to doing this through a 24-hour period of constant exercise play that simultaneously tested multi-agency gold, silver and bronze levels for the first time.

This was something that was endorsed by the SRF when the exercise concept was approved almost 2 years ago and it is perhaps the closest that we can come to simulating the pressure of a complex multi-agency response for real.

In order for us to build on the significant learning that will no doubt come from Exercise Triton, there will now be a range of follow-on activities aimed at capturing lessons from all participants.

Participating players included Staffordshire County Council, Staffordshire Police, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, West Midlands Ambulance Service, the NHS, utility companies, Highways and Transport, Staffordshire Civil Contingencies Unit, and various government departments and voluntary sector organisations. In all 37 different response agencies took part in the exercise.

June 6, 2013 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Eurocopter UK; issued June 06, 2013)

Eurocopter UK Receives Contract to Support the 24 Royal Air Force Puma Mk2 Helicopters It Is Upgrading for the UK Ministry of Defence

OXFORD, England --- Eurocopter UK’s role in maintaining the United Kingdom’s military helicopter capabilities has been further expanded with the award of a three-year support contract for the fleet of 24 Royal Air Force Puma Mk2 helicopters being upgraded by the company to extend their life, enhance performance, mission capability and operational safety.

The contract – valued at approximately 60 million euros – further reinforces Eurocopter UK’s footprint as on-shore service provider to the UK armed forces. Eurocopter UK’s support activity for the Puma Mk2 will be coordinated through its headquarters at Oxford, England, which is close to the RAF’s Puma main operating base.

"As a major onshore supplier to the UK government and its agencies, we are proud to further expand our services in the military environment with this latest contract,” explained Markus Steinke, the Managing Director of Eurocopter UK. “We intend to leverage our significant support expertise from Britain’s civil helicopter hub at Oxford, which is proven to be highly reactive and cost effective, and introduce this into the Puma fleet – setting new standards in military helicopter support.”

Group Captain Malcolm French, the Puma Project Team Leader said “We are looking forward to working closely with Eurocopter UK during this new era in the operational life of the RAF’s Puma Force. In particular, we have high expectations for the support capabilities delivered by and through Eurocopter UK’s team at Kidlington, as we move to field this significant component of the UK’s battlefield support helicopter capability during 2013.”

The 24 Puma Mk2 rotorcraft covered by this support contract are being upgraded under the Puma Life Extension Programme contract awarded to Eurocopter UK in 2009 by the UK Ministry of Defence. All 24 helicopters have been inducted into the programme, with the first aircraft deliveries from Eurocopter UK made in 2012. To date, eight have completed the process. The upgrades will significantly enhance the Puma’s operational capabilities for the Royal Air Force in combat, troop transport, load movement and humanitarian operations, and extend these helicopters’ operational lifetime to at least 2025.

Improvements for the Puma Mk2 include the use of new Makila 1A1 turboshaft engines that considerably increase performance; the integration of a full glass cockpit incorporating modern avionics and a flight management system; the implementation of a digital automatic flight control system; as well as the incorporation of a secure communications suite, defensive aids and ballistic protection for crew and passengers.

Additionally, greater onboard fuel capacity and lower fuel consumption improve the Puma Mk2’s operating range. These upgraded aircraft are able to carry twice the payload over three times the range compared to its predecessor in the most demanding operational and environmental conditions.

Eurocopter UK Ltd, Britain’s civil helicopter hub, and its predecessors have been present and highly active in the United Kingdom for over 30 years, dominating the civil rotary wing(rw) sector. Its contribution to the aerospace sector of the national economy includes the development of police aviation leading to a 75% market share, air ambulances (70% share), and well over 50% of the offshore oil and gas market.

Eurocopter UK Ltd is headquartered in Oxford, with additional bases in Dublin (Ireland), Belfast (Northern Ireland), Hawarden (Wales) and Aberdeen (Scotland) and provides the full range of products and services for the rw sector, including prime contractor of the RAF Puma Mk2 programme. Some 450 Eurocopter helicopters form the biggest part of the UK's helicopter fleet and the backbone of vital national infrastructure such as 100 helicopters serving the UK Ministry of Defence for transport, training and high end operational missions. Eurocopter enjoys a reputation for innovation, high quality and a strong customer service ethos. To date, Eurocopter UK Ltd has exported helicopter High-Tech solutions to 23 nations on all continents. The Eurocopter group employs more than 1600 people across the British Isles.http://June 6, 2013 defense-aerospace.com (Source: Eurocopter UK; issued June 06, 2013) Eurocopter UK Receives Contract to Support the 24 Royal Air Force Puma Mk2 Helicopters It Is Upgrading for the UK Ministry of Defence OXFORD, England --- Eurocopter UK’s role in maintaining the United Kingdom’s military helicopter capabilities has been further expanded with the award of a three-year support contract for the fleet of 24 Royal Air Force Puma Mk2 helicopters being upgraded by the company to extend their life, enhance performance, mission capability and operational safety. The contract – valued at approximately 60 million euros – further reinforces Eurocopter UK’s footprint as on-shore service provider to the UK armed forces. Eurocopter UK’s support activity for the Puma Mk2 will be coordinated through its headquarters at Oxford, England, which is close to the RAF’s Puma main operating base. "As a major onshore supplier to the UK government and its agencies, we are proud to further expand our services in the military environment with this latest contract,” explained Markus Steinke, the Managing Director of Eurocopter UK. “We intend to leverage our significant support expertise from Britain’s civil helicopter hub at Oxford, which is proven to be highly reactive and cost effective, and introduce this into the Puma fleet – setting new standards in military helicopter support.” Group Captain Malcolm French, the Puma Project Team Leader said “We are looking forward to working closely with Eurocopter UK during this new era in the operational life of the RAF’s Puma Force. In particular, we have high expectations for the support capabilities delivered by and through Eurocopter UK’s team at Kidlington, as we move to field this significant component of the UK’s battlefield support helicopter capability during 2013.” The 24 Puma Mk2 rotorcraft covered by this support contract are being upgraded under the Puma Life Extension Programme contract awarded to Eurocopter UK in 2009 by the UK Ministry of Defence. All 24 helicopters have been inducted into the programme, with the first aircraft deliveries from Eurocopter UK made in 2012. To date, eight have completed the process. The upgrades will significantly enhance the Puma’s operational capabilities for the Royal Air Force in combat, troop transport, load movement and humanitarian operations, and extend these helicopters’ operational lifetime to at least 2025. Improvements for the Puma Mk2 include the use of new Makila 1A1 turboshaft engines that considerably increase performance; the integration of a full glass cockpit incorporating modern avionics and a flight management system; the implementation of a digital automatic flight control system; as well as the incorporation of a secure communications suite, defensive aids and ballistic protection for crew and passengers. Additionally, greater onboard fuel capacity and lower fuel consumption improve the Puma Mk2’s operating range. These upgraded aircraft are able to carry twice the payload over three times the range compared to its predecessor in the most demanding operational and environmental conditions. Eurocopter UK Ltd, Britain’s civil helicopter hub, and its predecessors have been present and highly active in the United Kingdom for over 30 years, dominating the civil rotary wing(rw) sector. Its contribution to the aerospace sector of the national economy includes the development of police aviation leading to a 75% market share, air ambulances (70% share), and well over 50% of the offshore oil and gas market. Eurocopter UK Ltd is headquartered in Oxford, with additional bases in Dublin (Ireland), Belfast (Northern Ireland), Hawarden (Wales) and Aberdeen (Scotland) and provides the full range of products and services for the rw sector, including prime contractor of the RAF Puma Mk2 programme. Some 450 Eurocopter helicopters form the biggest part of the UK's helicopter fleet and the backbone of vital national infrastructure such as 100 helicopters serving the UK Ministry of Defence for transport, training and high end operational missions. Eurocopter enjoys a reputation for innovation, high quality and a strong customer service ethos. To date, Eurocopter UK Ltd has exported helicopter High-Tech solutions to 23 nations on all continents. The Eurocopter group employs more than 1600 people across the British Isles.

29/05/2013 Armée de l'air

Du 21 au 24 mai 2013, les cadres de l’école de formation des sous-officiers de l’armée de l’air (EFSOAA) de Rochefort ont reçu leurs homologues de la Royal Air Force (RAF).

Composée de quatre officiers et de cinq sous-officiers, la délégation britannique provenait de l’Airmen’s Command Squadron, situé sur la base aérienne d’Halton (ouest de l’Angleterre).

Lors de cette visite, les formateurs britanniques ont visité les infrastructures rochefortaises. Ils ont également assisté à diverses présentations sur les processus de formation et sur certains outils pédagogiques innovants mis en place, tels que la plateforme d’enseignement à distance «ILLIAS».

Vers une coopération fructueuse

Cette visite s’inscrivait dans le cadre de la mise en œuvre de la Directive of objectives 2013 (déclaration annuelle d’objectifs), fixant les axes de coopération entre la RAF et l’armée de l’air française. Ce premier échange avait pour objectif d’identifier les opportunités de coopération entre les deux écoles. Il ouvre la voie d’une coopération fructueuse.

WIMBORNE, England, May 24 (UPI)

Britain's Ministry of Defense has extended Cobham PLC's contract for providing essential operational readiness training for the Royal Air Force and Navy.

The extension is for a five-year base period of performance and is worth about $248.5 million. Cobham, however, said the anticipated value if worth were to carry through to 2019 would be about $301.2 million.

"We have successfully adapted our operational readiness training to meet the needs of the Armed Forces through to the end of 2019, using the extensive technology and know-how we have developed since the service was first introduced in the mid-1980s," said Cobham Chief Executive Officer Bob Murphy.

"We look forward to further developing this highly effective partnership with the MoD."

The operational readiness training services are provided to personnel operating Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft and Type 45 destroyers.

Cobham said most of the training for fighter personnel is conducted in Britain. Its services will also support overseas detachments.

03/05/2013 Ltt Alexandra Lesur-Tambuté - Armée de l'air

Le Flight Lieutenant Matt Johnstone, pilote de Typhoon, est devenu le premier pilote étranger sur Rafale. Le 1eravril 2013, il a rejoint officiellement son escadron d’appartenance, le 2/30« Normandie-Niemen », sur la base aérienne 118 de Mont-de-Marsan. L’occasion de revenir sur son parcours et sur ses prochaines années au sein de l’armée de l’air française.

Mon capitaine, pouvez-vous nous rappeler votre parcours au sein de la Royal Air Force ?

Le capitaine Matt Johnstone – Je me suis engagé en 2002. Dès lors, je suis allé à Cranwel pendant 6 mois, l’équivalent de l’École de l’air à Salon-de-Provence. Puis, j’ai entamé ma formation de pilote à Linton-on-Ouse sur Tucano pendant un an, et à l’issue, six mois à Valley, sur Hawk. Ces deux étapes correspondent aux formations que les pilotes français réalisent à Cognac et à Tours. Pendant les trois années qui ont suivies, j’ai été moniteur sur Tucano, à Linton-on-Ouse, avant d’intégrer, en mai 2009, un escadron Typhoon, le 11th Squadron. J’ai finalement répondu à une prospection pour être le premier pilote étranger en échange sur Rafale. Lorsque j’ai été sélectionné, j’ai étudié six mois la langue française.

Comment s’est passée votre intégration ainsi que votre formation au sein de l’armée de l’air française ?

En arrivant en France, j’ai dans un premier temps passé une semaine à Mont-de-Marsan dans mon futur escadron d’appartenance, le 2/30 « Normandie-Niemen ». Puis, j’ai commencé la phase de transformation. Tout d’abord à Dijon, pendant trois semaines, j’ai réalisé des vols de familiarisation en place arrière sur Alphajet, avec l’escadron d’entraînement 2/2 « Côte d’Or ». J’ai suivi le 2/2 lors d’un entraînement à Solenzara, pour une campagne de tir. Un premier moment qui m’a donné l’opportunité de me mélanger avec les pilotes du 2/30 « Normandie-Niemen » qui participaient aussi à cet exercice. Ensuite, je suis retourné un mois à Mont-de-Marsan, à l’ETIS (escadron technique d’instruction au sol) où j’ai suivi des cours théoriques. Pendant trois mois, j’ai continué ma formation à Saint-Dizier, plus précisément à l’escadron de transformation Rafale (ETR), le temps d’être opérationnel. J’ai alors réalisé mon « lâcher», c’est-à-dire mon premier vol en solo à bord d’un Rafale, le 17 janvier 2013, le jour même de mon anniversaire. Depuis le 1eravril, je suis parfaitement intégré au 2/30 « Normandie-Niemen » à Mont-de-Marsan.

Justement, cette phase de transformation à Saint-Dizier, pouvez-vous nous en dire davantage ?

À l’ETR, tout le monde a été très accueillant. C’était la première fois qu’un étranger réalisait cette phase de transformation. Personne ne pouvait prédire comment cela allait se passer, notamment avec la barrière de la langue qui parfois aurait pu poser quelques difficultés. Finalement, ma période de formation a été semblable à celle d’un pilote français. J’ai effectué trois vols « Fam Day » (de familiarisation) avant d’être « lâcher » seul.  Le personnel m’a offert les meilleures conditions qui soient pour ce premier vol solo.

Quelles sont vos impressions par rapport à cette expérience unique concernant l’échange de deux pilotes sur ce type d’aéronef ?

Tout d’abord, je m’estime chanceux et privilégié d’avoir été choisi parmi les nombreux volontaires britanniques qui auraient souhaité piloter un Rafale. C’est une expérience enrichissante qui me donne en plus l’opportunité de parler français. Mon intégration au sein de l’armée de l’air française est excellente, j’espère pouvoir jouer un rôle important dans les échanges franco-britanniques. 

Que vous inspire votre affectation au sein de l’escadron de chasse 2/30 « Normandie-Niemen » ?

J’ai pleinement conscience d’avoir intégré un escadron de chasse prestigieux. Son histoire, ses traditions sont aussi riches qu’importantes. Depuis que je suis en France, je porte sur ma combinaison de vol le patch du « Normandie-Niemen ». Très bientôt, je serai fier de recevoir le patch Rafale du « Neu-Neu ».

Un référent pour le capitaine Matt Johnstone

Le lieutenant-colonel François Tricot commande l’escadron de chasse 2/30 « Normandie-Niemen » sur la base aérienne 118 de Mont-de-Marsan. Il vient récemment d’accueillir, au sein de son unité, le capitaine Matt Johstone.  Entretien.

Mon colonel, quelles sont les prochaines étapes de l’intégration du capitaine Matt Johnstone au sein du 2/30 « Normandie-Niemen » ?

Le lieutenant-colonel François Tricot – Dans un premier temps, le capitaine Matt Johnstone va devoir récupérer sa qualification de sous-chef de patrouille l’équivalent de celle qu’il avait au sein de la Royal Air Force, au 11th Squadron, complétée d’une partie air-sol. Il est performant, brillant et travailleur, il devrait donc la récupérer rapidement. Dès l’année 2014, il suivra l’escadron et participera à de futurs exercices. Nous devons cependant veiller à nous adapter en fonction des opérations en cours, notamment avec Serval, au Mali.

Est-ce que vous avez suivi le capitaine Johnstone tout au long de sa formation ?

Nous l’avons suivi dès son arrivée en France, le temps de la mise en route. Nous voulions nous assurer que se passait correctement. Nous avons ensuite fait régulièrement des points de situation avec nos homologues de Saint-Dizier, une étape que nous réalisons avec l’ensemble de nos pilotes dès qu’ils intègrent l’escadron de transformation Rafale. Dorénavant, le capitaine Johnstone a intégré le 2/30 « Normandie-Niemen ». Nous allons suivre attentivement la phase de récupération de sa qualification. Tout laisse à croire que cela va très bien se passer. Je ne suis pas vraiment inquiet à ce sujet. Il va réaliser les vols nécessaires pour être à l’aise. 

Qu’est ce vous attendez de la part de votre nouvel arrivant ?

Je n’attends pas plus de lui que des pilotes français. Nous avons constaté pendant sa formation qu’il était sérieux, volontaire et travailleur. C’est également un bon pilote. En tant que militaire, aviateur et officier, il a de nombreux points communs avec ses homologues français malgré les différences de culture. Rapidement le côté « pilote en échange » va s’estomper et il va trouver sa place de façon naturelle dans l'escadron.

25/04/2013 Armée de l'air - CDAOA

Afin de préparer l’exercice franco-britannique Titanium Falcon 13 qui se déroulera du 14 au 24 mai 2013, les phases préparatoires Titanium Hawk et Titanium Eagle ont été organisées, respectivement du 8 au 12 avril 2013 et du 11 au 25 avril 2013, à High Wycombe au Royaume-Uni, à 50 km à l’ouest de Londres.

Cette série d'exercices de type CPX/CAX (poste de commandement assisté par ordinateur) a pour objectif d’entraîner les deux nations, dans le cadre de la préparation à la force franco-britannique interarmées projetable (Combined Joint Expeditionary Force - CJEF) et à la montée en puissance de la composante «air» (Joint Forces Air Component Command - JFACC).

Titanium Hawk, premier exercice préparatoire, avait pour but de mettre en place une documentation permettant la compréhension globale de l’environnement opérationnel de la mission. Cinq aviateurs français, chargés de la validation de la documentation, y ont pris part. Suite à cela, dix spécialistes français ont participé à Titanium Eagle, exercice d‘Air Operational Planning Group (AOPG) réunissant un large panel d’experts dans des domaines allant de la stratégie à la logistique, en passant par les télécommunications et les questions juridiques.

Simultanément à l’opération Serval, le commandement de la défense aérienne et des opérations aériennes (CDAOA) a donc apporté une large contribution à la préparation de Titanium Falcon 13, exercice franco-britannique majeur.