RAF Authorized To Purchase Three RC-135V/Ws
An agreement has been reached between U.S. Department of Defense
and U.K. Ministry of Defense officials that allows the RAF to
purchase three RC-135V/W Rivet Joint aircraft during the next seven
years. And as part of this new agreement, Airmen at Offut Air Force
Base in Nebraska were tasked to train the initial RAF aircrews. The
Airmen at Offut have the Air Force's only operational RC-135 wing,
the sole provider of Rivet Joint initial qualification
training.
RC-135 Air Force Photo
The first group of RAF aircrew members are scheduled to arrive
Jan. 11, and once trained, they will be allowed to fly on U.S.
Rivet Joint aircraft, called co-manning, until the U.K.'s RC-135
fleet reaches full operational capability.
"We are truly excited about this unique opportunity to have
members of the RAF training with us here," said Brig. Gen. John
N.T. Shanahan, the 55th Wing commander. "The U.K.-U.S. special
relationship has been the cornerstone of relations between the two
countries and we look forward to strengthening our intelligence
ties through this cooperative arrangement."
Pilots, navigators, electronic warfare officers and a host of
intelligence operators and airborne maintenance technicians from 51
Squadron at RAF Waddington are all scheduled to attend the
training. "The RAF is delighted to be joining the (Rivet Joint)
component in a new era of joint training and operations," said RAF
Wing Commander Garry Crosby, who is in the initial training group
and will assume command of 51 Squadron in June. "We look forward to
sharing some peculiar British customs with our U.S. colleagues and
competing with the (Airmen) of Offutt AFB in a variety of
sporting challenges," he continued. "Most of all, we are looking
forward to our first training missions on a Rivet Joint and then
setting our sights on future operational success together."
The visiting RAF personnel will be assigned to the 338th Combat
Training Squadron while at Offutt. They'll participate in course
work that is standard curriculum for anyone in the Air Force
assigned to the RC-135V/W Rivet Joint. "The first group of 51
Squadron personnel in course number one are the pioneers," Wing
Commander Crosby said, "and they face a demanding period of
training."
RC-135 Cockpit Air Force Photo
Airmen taking part in this cooperative program are RAF aircrew
members who are mostly from the retiring RAF Nimrod R1 aircraft.
Like the Rivet Joint, the Nimrod includes a sophisticated and
sensitive suite of systems used for reconnaissance and intelligence
gathering. "Almost everyone who joins the co-manning program will
have Nimrod R1 experience," Wing Commander Crosby said, who has two
tours on the Nimrod R1 himself and almost 5,000 flying hours. "Some
have been with the fleet only a year or so, but have operational
experience from tours of duty in the Middle East."
The remaining RAF crew members participating in the program have
backgrounds with either the E-3 Sentry or the Nimrod MR2
reconnaissance and maritime patrol aircraft. Training will take
between three and five months depending on specific crew positions.
Once complete, the RAF aircrew members will be attached to the 55th
Wing's 343rd Reconnaissance Squadron and return to the U.K. The
fully mission capable RAF personnel will have the ability to deploy
from their home station alongside crews from the here starting as
early as mid-2011. "Our aircrews have flown alongside the United
States Air Force for many years in a variety of conflicts," Wing
Commander Crosby said. "Now, to fly in the same aircraft brings the
best of both fleets together to support operations."
Although training of maintenance and other support personnel is
covered under this agreement, it is not currently part of the
co-manning memorandum of understanding. However, DOD and MOD
officials are working on an additional training plan that will be
synchronized with planned RC-135 deliveries to the U.K. in late
2013. "The U.K. will be able to fly their own global ISR missions,
as well as offer relief to 55th Wing aircrews by shouldering some
portion of 55th WG-tasked ISR missions," General Shanahan said. "As
part of this agreement, 55th Wing aircrews will also be permitted
to fly on RAF RC-135 aircraft."
Nearly 100 RAF airmen are scheduled to train at Offutt AFB
throughout 2011.