PHOTO: Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon air-to-air over Malaysia

Typhoon FGR.4 ZK314/EO of 6 Sqn RAF over Malaysia's turquoise green waters. Click on thumbnail to view high-resolution image. (BAe photo)

BAe Systems has released on their Flickr stream a series of photos of the Royal Air Force's 6 Sqn Eurofighter Typhoons taking part in the Five Power Defence Arrangement's Exercise Bersama Lima in Malaysia, including some air-to-air photographs.

Updates: RAF Typhoons at Exercise Bersama Lima

The Royal Air Force has been following 6 Sqn's activities in Malaysia for Bersama Lima. Late last month they covered the deployment of the squadron's Tranche 2 Typhoons (Typhoon FGR.4 in RAF parlance) to Butterworth, Malaysia, with the 7000-mile flight marking the Typhoon's longest ever deployment so far, as well as being the Tranche 2's inaugural overseas exercise.

And yesterday, the RAF has posted an update of the squadron's activities at Bersama Lima, and the tropical conditions they face, during the exercise. 6 Squadron has so far flown sorties alongside F/A-18, Mig-29, F-5 and F-16 aircraft from the other 4 FPDA nations, and are now preparing for the final stage of the exercise where all participating air forces will fly missions within a complex scenario.

RAF Typhoons Malaysia-bound for Five Power exercise and airshow

RAF Leuchars-based 6 Sqn Typhoon. Photo by Bob Franklin via Key Aero

According to Scottish newspaper The Courier, the Royal Air Force (RAF) will be sending its Eurofighter Typhoons to Malaysia to participate in Exercise Bersama Lima, scheduled to be held in and around Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore from 21st October to 2nd November 2011. The aircraft and crew will come from the RAF's 6 Sqn, normally based at RAF Leuchars on Scotland's east coast.

Bersama Lima is an air and naval exercise held under the auspices of the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA). 2011's exercise will mark the FPDA's 40th Anniversary of the pact between the armed forces of the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore.

In addition, the Typhoons will showcase its capabilities to Malaysia during the exercise and the subsequent Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA), to be held from the 6th to the 10th of December at the Malaysian resort island of Langkawi. According to Jane's Defence Weekly's Malaysia correspondent Dzirhan Mahadzir, two Typhoons will stay on after the exercise and will be on display at LIMA.

Malaysia had earlier confirmed that the Typhoon is being considered by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) as its next fighter, alongside Sukhoi’s Su-35, Boeing’s F/A-18E Super Hornet and Saab’s JAS-39 Gripen. The winner of the competition will replace the RMAF's fleet of MiG-29 Fulcrums, due to be retired in 2015.

Additional Resources:
Bersama Lima AIP Supplement issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore [pdf document]

PHOTO and VIDEO: Libyan Navy frigate burns after NATO airstrike

(Click on thumbnail to view high resolution image)

Smoke and flames pour from the Libyan Navy frigate Al Ghardabia, after it was hit during an airstrike by Tornado bombers of Britain's Royal Air Force on the port area of Tripoli, in the early hours of Friday May 20, 2011. NATO confirmed that its warplanes targeted the vessels and accused Libya of using its ships in the escalating conflict, including attempts to mine the harbor in Misrata. Rebels trying to end the nearly 40-year rule of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi have been struggling to hold the Western city of Misrata against repeated attacks by forces loyal to Gadhafi. (AP Photo)

Meanwhile, Russia Today has video footage of the strike on the Al Ghardabia, as well as cockpit video of the strikes on Libyan warships, released by the RAF.



Base Leg Note: The Al Ghardabia (213) is a Russian/Soviet-built Project 1159 (Koni-class) frigate. Libya operated two such frigates, but the Al Hani (212) was captured by rebels in Benghazi earlier in the Libyan civil war.

Non slip paint on HMS Illustrious = reprieve for UK Harriers?

Scottish newspaper The Scotsman is reporting that non-slip paint that allow jet operations is being applied to the flight deck of the HMS Illustrious, currently undergoing refit to operate as a helicopter carrier. This has further fueled speculation that the RAF's Harrier fleet might be pulled out from retirement.

Allies impressed by Brimstone even as RAF stocks run low

French and U.S. air forces are both looking at acquiring the dual-mode Brimstone missile used by the RAF, according to Britain's Assistant Chief of the Air Staff. Using a millimetric wave radar and laser seeker the Brimstones are extremely accurate but with a small warhead they reduce the risk of collateral damage.

However, with 110 of the RAF's stock of 300 expended in Afghanistan and Libya, stocks of the missile risk being depleted and manufacturer MBDA has been asked to build more.

RAF Typhoon hits targets in Libya with help from Tornado

In concert with the RAF's Panavia Tornado GR4 fleet, an RAF Typhoon has again been in action against Libyan ground forces. Enhanced Paveway II and Paveway IV bombs were used, with designation provided the Tornado's Rafael Litening III targeting pod.

RAF Typhoon pilots grounded temporarily due to spares shortages

A UK Parliamentary report has stated that a lack of spares for the RAF's Typhoon fleet has caused five pilots to be temporarily grounded due to insufficient flying hours. Furthermore, the report has also revealed only eight of the RAF's 48 Typhoon pilots are qualified for ground attack operations

RAF mulls ISR role for A330 tankers

The RAF's Chief of Air Staff has indicated that it's Airbus A330 tankers could serve various roles, including being an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform. 14 tankers will enter the RAF inventory from late 2011 through to 2016.

RAF Typhoons drop first bombs in combat

Attacking ground vehicles operated by pro-Gaddafi forces near Misrata, Libya, two RAF Typhoons have become the first of their type to drop bombs in combat. Both aircraft dropped a 1000-lb (454kg) Paveway II laser guided bomb each, with reportedly successful ourcomes.

RAF Tornadoes to get Helmet-Mounted Cueing System

BAE Systems is responding to an urgent operational requirement to equip the RAF's Tornado fleet with a Helmet Mounted Cueing System. The helmet mounted cueing system had already been developed and deployed on the RAF's now-defunct Harrier fleet.

VIDEO: RAF Tornado hits pro-Gaddafi forces' tank with Brimstone

NATO released aerial footage on Friday showing operation Unified Protector forces using a missile to strike a pro-Gadhafi tank operating in Misrata. The images, filmed by a British Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 surveying the area before the strike, show the tank being used to spearhead an attack in the city, according to NATO. The RAF jet filmed the tank firing it's gun as it circled overhead. The moment of impact of the Brimstone missile appears clearly on the footage, creating a huge cloud of smoke which clears to show the burning debris of the tank. Ground forces can then been seen fleeing from the area near where the missile struck.

RAF commits Typhoons for ground-attack duties in Libya

In addition to four more Tornadoes as reported here earlier, the RAF has also committed four RAF Eurofighter Typhoons to conduct strikes against land-based targets in Libya. The RAF's Typhoons have until now been limited to supporting the enforcement of the UN-mandated no-fly zone over Libya

RAF beefs up Libya strike force with four more Tornadoes

It has been announced that the RAF will deploy four more Tornadoes to Operation Unified Protector over Libya. The Marham-based Tornados will help fill gaps left by US forces, which have ceased most combat operations over Libya.

French, British jets hit Gaddafi command centre, ammo dump

The French military says its aircraft have hit a Gaddafi loyalist command center near the Libyan capital Tripoli even as anti-regime rebels advanced under the umbrella of coalition airstrikes. Meanwhile Marham-based RAF Tornadoes hit ammunition dumps deep in the Libyan desert using Storm Shadow missiles.

RAF Tornados attack Libyan armoured vehicles with Brimstones

UK Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox has announced the first reported use of the Brimstone precision guided missile over Libya when RAF Tornadoes attacked armoured vehicles belonging to pro-Gaddafi forces during a armed reconnaissance mission mission near Ajdabiya.

RAF details Typhoon, Tornado operations in Operation Ellamy

With its aircraft playing a leading part in the effort against Libya so far, the RAF has released more details on its Typhoon and Tornado operations in Operation Ellamy. These include mission types, weapon loads and bases of operations.

RAF retires its last Tornado F3 fighters

After a service life spanning 25 years, the Royal Air Force has stood down its last Panavia Tornado F.3 with the disbandment of 111 Sqn, which has flown F3s from RAF Leuchars in Scotland since 1990.

RAF prepares to mark first decade of C-17 use

The Royal Air Force will soon complete its first 10 years of flying Boeing's C-17 transport, with its use of the type continuing to run well above planned rates. Based at Brize Norton with 99 Sqn, the RAF C-17 fleet has now logged more than 65,600 flight hours.

RAF strikes Libya from Marham, longest mission since Falklands

In the RAF's longest mission since the Black Buck missions flown by its Avro Vulcans during the 1982 Falklands conflict, Tornadoes from RAF Marham have struck a target, said to be part of Libya's Integrated Air Defence System near Tripoli by flying a 3000-mile mission. The operation was supported by VC10 and Tristar tankers as well as E-3D Sentry and Sentinel surveillance aircraft.