Page 32 - Air Forces Monthly - September 2017

INTEL REPORT

RED AIR, BLUE AIR

T he Royal International wing trainers – which form part 1, 2020, and is said to be worth at RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire.
All three of the MOD’s new fixed-
Air Tattoo (RIAT) in
First, however, the MOD will
around £1.2bn. ASDOT comprises
of the Military Flying Training
Gloucestershire is no
listening to the bidders, coming
longer just about aircraft or family System (MFTS) – were on display. a complex set of aggressor- define its requirements by
type training requirements
entertainment over the mid-July The Grob 120TP Prefect, Embraer for all three of the UK’s armed up with a flexible solution that
weekend. This year 28 aerospace Phenom 100 and Beechcraft services and has attracted can be fine-tuned if required.
companies – the largest T-6 Texan II were parked much attention from industry. Cobham Aviation, which is based
number ever at RIAT – took up together in the static display The Royal Navy (RN) will use at Bournemouth Airport and
chalets over a half-mile stretch for the first time. The MOD has ASDOT to support Flag Officer flies Dassault Falcon 20s with
overlooking the runway. This is worked with training design and Sea Training (FOST) for the fleet, podded EW systems, fulfils much
the place where, once a year, the delivery organisation Ascent to covering electronic warfare (EW) of current aggressor training
Royal Air Force talks business manage the MFTS programme. and the simulation of missile requirements under a contract
in a relaxed environment. Meanwhile, Affinity Flying attacks. Much of this already known as ‘020’. The company
High-ranking officers at RIAT Training Services (a consortium happens during the RN’s weekly works alongside the RN’s 736
included the RAF Chief of the comprising KBR and Elbit ‘Thursday War’ exercises on Naval Air Squadron at RNAS
Air Staff (CAS), Air Chief Marshal Systems) takes care of the fleets. the south coast. For the British Culdrose, Cornwall, and the RAF’s
Sir Stephen Hillier. And there Army, ASDOT will be used to train No 100 Squadron, which both fly
was no shortage of senior A new era of Joint Terminal Attack Controllers Hawk T1s. Cobham and the
executives from the corporate training support (JTACs). Ultimately, it will take Hawks fly constantly
world at a time when the UK The MOD’s 15-year Air Support over the RAF’s aggressor training, throughout the
Ministry of Defence (MOD) is to Defence Operational Training currently provided by No 100 year on various
outsourcing so much of its work. (ASDOT) deal will start on January Squadron exercises. While

32 // SEPTEMBER 2017 #354 www.airforcesmonthly.com