Home TOP GLOUCESTERSHIRE PHOTOGRAPHER KIM HIBBERD
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ROYAL AIR FORCE STRIKE COMMAND		  
     
  On 14 June 2008 top Gloucestershire photographer Kim Hibberd (Mobile 07786395368 ) was able to capture these dramatic shots of the flypast of aircraft of Royal Air Force Strike Command from a a vantage point in Ealing, West London.  
     
  On 14 June 2008 top Gloucestershire photographer Kim Hibberd (Mobile 07786395368 ) was able to capture these dramatic shots of the flypast of aircraft of Royal Air Force Strike Command from a a vantage point in Ealing, West London.

The occasion for the flypast was the Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, which also coincided with the 90th anniversary year of the Royal Air Force and the 40th anniversary year of RAF Strike Command.

  
     
  The occasion for the flypast was the Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, which also coincided with the 90th anniversary year of the Royal Air Force and the 40th anniversary year of RAF Strike Command.  
     
  With its headquarters at High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, Strike Command was formed in 1968 by merging the Fighter and Bomber Commands that had served since before the start of the Second World War. Transport and Coastal Commands later joined this multi-role organisation, dedicated to providing a fully operational combat air force by controlling nearly 700 RAF front line aircraft worldwide.

These aircraft - including the variable geometry Panavia Tornado seen above and immediately below - are shared among 200 individual squadrons and other units while the day to day peacetime operation of RAF Strike Command is the responsibility of the Air Officer Commanding-In-Chief, who also holds the title of Commander AIRNORTWEST, one of three Principal Subordinate Commands of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Most of Strike Command's resources have been for many years committed to Allied Forces Northwestern Europe but other - notably maritime - elements have been similarly allocated to the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT)

The day to day handling of most operations is delegated to three Groups. Number 1 Group, located at High Wycombe, is responsible for strike/attack operations, support of NATO armies in the field and all RAF forces based in Germany. Number 11/18 Group has its staff split between RAF Bentley Priory and RN Fleet Headquarters, Northwood, and is responsible for air defence, maritime and electronic warfare as well as search and rescue.

Number 38 Group, also based at High Wycombe, manages the RAF's transport and air-to-air refuelling activities.

The UK's air defence system is co-ordinated by a network of command and control centres known as Air Surveillance and Control System (ASACS) and comprising bunkers, radio, radar, telecommunications, data link and computer processing systems. ASACS is responsible for compiling and disseminating the air picture over the United Kingdom and surrounding waters and directing the readiness and deployment of the weapon systems allocated to its air defence. ASACS also has tactical radars and a mobile air control centre for operations beyond Britain as well as managing the UK's ballistic missile warning system.

  
     
  The Panavia Tornado forms the mainstay of the RAF's strike / attack force. Designed and built as a collaborative project between Britain, Germany and Italy, the supersonic twin engined, twin seat variable geometry Tornado serves with the air forces of all three building nation as well as the German Navy and the Royal Saudi Air Force. As well as conventional stores and munitions, the initial ground attack (GR1) Tornado variants could carry ALARM anti-radar missiles and laser guided bombs while defending themselves with Sidewinder air to air missiles and twin internal 27mm canon. The later GR4 variants could carry Sea Eagle anti-shipping missiles while the updated GR4A of the early 21st Century can also be armed with Brimstone anti-armour munitions and the Storm Shadow stand off attack missile.  
     
  The Panavia Tornado forms the mainstay of the RAF's strike / attack force. Designed and built as a collaborative project between Britain, Germany and Italy, the supersonic twin engined, twin seat variable geometry Tornado serves with the air forces of all three building nation as well as the German Navy and the Royal Saudi Air Force. As well as conventional stores and munitions, the initial ground attack (GR1) Tornado variants could carry ALARM anti-radar missiles and laser guided bombs while defending themselves with Sidewinder air to air missiles and twin internal 27mm canon. The later GR4 variants could carry Sea Eagle anti-shipping missiles while the updated GR4A of the early 21st Century can also be armed with Brimstone anti-armour munitions and the Storm Shadow stand off attack missile.

Sharing 80% airframe commonality with the GR4 is the F3 air defence variant of the Panavia Tornado, initially armed with four Sky Flash radar guided missiles as well as four Sidewinder heat seeking missiles and twin internal 27mm canon. By the start of the 21st Century however, the long range F3 airframe has been upgraded to accept advanced medium range air to air (AMRAAM) and advanced short range (ASRAAM) air to air missiles. Combined with new Joint Tactical Information Distribution Systems (JTIDS), these improvements allow the Tornado F3 to engage multiple modern adversaries well beyond visual range.

  
     
  The BAe Systems Nimrod, seen here flanked by two Tornados, is a four engined martime surface surveillance, anti submarine and search and rescue aircraft developed from the De Havilland Comet, with some airframes specialised for electronic reconnaissance duties. In recent years the existing Nimrod MR2 fleet based at RAF Kinloss in Scotland has begun an upgrade to MR4 standard which will see existing fuselages being attached to new wings and undercarriages, fuel efficient BMW/ Rolls Royce engines, modern control systems, "glass cockpit" instrumentation and a comprehensive suite of the latest sensor, computer and communications equipment.  
     
  The BAe Systems Nimrod, seen here flanked by two Tornados, is a four engined martime surface surveillance, anti submarine and search and rescue aircraft developed from the De Havilland Comet, with some airframes specialised for electronic reconnaissance duties. Carrying a crew of 13, the Nimrod is fitted with air to surface radar and equipment to detect acoustic, radar and magnetic signals.

In recent years the existing Nimrod MR2 fleet based at RAF Kinloss in Scotland has begun an upgrade to MR4 standard which will see existing fuselages being attached to new wings and undercarriages, fuel efficient BMW/ Rolls Royce engines, modern control systems, "glass cockpit" instrumentation and a comprehensive suite of the latest sensor, computer and communications equipment.

  
     
  Also flanked by two Tornados is one of the Boeing ( formerly McDonnell Douglas ) C-17 Globemaster III four-engined transport aircraft initially loaned to the RAF by the US Air Force. First operational in 1994, the C-17 combines the tactical rough airfield STOL capability of the familiar Lockheed C-130 Hercules with the size of the same company's C-141 Starlifter and the fuselage diameter of the C-5A Galaxy - both strategic transporters. As such, the C-17 can deliver a pair of AH-64 Apache helicopters or similar loads very close to the front line of any battle.  
     
  Also flanked by two Tornados is one of the Boeing ( formerly McDonnell Douglas ) C-17 Globemaster III four-engined transport aircraft initially loaned to the RAF by the US Air Force. First operational in 1994, the C-17 combines the tactical rough airfield STOL capability of the familiar Lockheed C-130 Hercules with the size of the same company's C-141 Starlifter and the fuselage diameter of the C-5A Galaxy - both strategic transporters. As such, the C-17 can deliver a pair of AH-64 Apache helicopters or similar loads very close to the front line of any battle.  
     
  Kim Hibberd meets 771 Naval Air Squadron