Page 34 - Air Forces Monthly - September 2017

INTEL REPORT

‘Check six!’ In the cockpit of a No Support Centre (MSC), at RAF
100 Squadron Hawk T1. These Coningsby, Lincolnshire.
aggressor jets will continue their
work until 2027 when their role The Inzpire team operates
will be taken on by the ASDOT alongside RAF MSC counterparts,
provider. Crown Copyright developing, testing and
evaluating, and delivering the
Typhoon’s EW threat reactions
and mission data set to assure
the safety and effective operation
of Typhoon pilots and their
platforms. Inzpire announced
on July 19 that it had also been
awarded the contract to support
the development of training on
the new Protector Remotely
Piloted Air System (RPAS).
Inzpire has a tradition of taking
on highly skilled UK military
personnel who would otherwise
be lost to the civilian world.
“In addition to the Blue Air trying to combat sensors, too. US is pioneering the methods Inzpire will bring the brains,
requirements, there is a need As one expert told AFM: “We in which adversary training while DADS will bring the brawn.
for a range of third- and fourth- have sat still for so long that can be carried out in the The company already operates
generation capabilities, including the Chinese and Russians have future. In the US and in the 16 Alpha Jets, seven A-4N
air-to-air, air-to-surface and taken their EW technologies to UK, the result is going to be big Skyhawks (based in Germany),
close air support, asymmetric the next level, which means we business for the contractors. two TA-4Js and two IAI 1123
threat simulation, provision of have a lot of catching up to do.” Westwinds for special missions.
airborne targets for air-to-air Austerity is another reason. Inzpire and DADS Three years ago DADS
and surface-to-air gunnery, and With the Typhoon FGR4 and Every ASDOT bid will be led by attempted to acquire F-16s too,
the capability to electronically the F-35B Lightning II imposing a UK company, because the but the company has chosen
simulate threat systems.” a hefty cost per flying hour, a operational requirements call not to divulge how far this deal
fresh look at training is clearly for secret ‘UK eyes only’ access. has gone. In January 2015, the
Why ASDOT? required. The RAF does not That includes UK aircrews that Canadian-based company began
The need to reorganise want to waste the airframe understand national tactics. a five-year fast-jet airborne
aggressor-type training has hours of these valuable and It means that some of the training services contract with the
come about for several reasons. expensive assets, when it could information will be firewalled German Armed Forces utilising
As the UK edges back into instead use more synthetics from the international companies. a fleet of seven A-4Ns out of
confronting adversaries using and cheaper alternatives. Several contractors have already Wittmund, northern Germany.
more sophisticated sensors The US is already exploring shown their hand, with teaming The company is already running
and technologies, it is clear the these options, led by the US Air agreements. Lincolnshire- similar Red Air contracts with
MOD is increasingly aware of Force’s Adversary Air (AdAir) based Inzpire announced it the Canadian Armed Forces.
the need to take the high-end programme. The USAF, was entering into a deal with Earlier this year, it linked with Air
threat seriously. It’s not just US Navy and US Marines Canada’s Discovery Air Defence Affairs Australia, which provides
about fighter-versus-fighter are all looking to Services (DADS) in February. specialised air training support
in the air-to-air domain, but contract out around Some of Inzpire’s methods to the Australian Defence Force,
Right: Discovery was planning 45,000 flying hours are groundbreaking. It works using Learjets and King Airs.
to bring an A-4N to RIAT but due per year. This will at the heart of the RAF’s EW
to operational commitments in be nearly four capability for the Typhoon in the Textron, Thales
Germany on the Friday and Monday times more Typhoon Mission and QinetiQ
it did not come. This Wittmund- than ASDOT Textron AirLand brought its
based example was providing
gunnery services to Austrian Air and the one-of-a kind Scorpion
Force Eurofighters this spring. intelligence, surveillance
Oliver Jonischkeit

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