Joint Warrior 13-01 RAF Leuchars April 2013 - Part 4 6 Squadron Typhoons

[Des]

The Leuchars based Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 and T.3 from No.6 Squadron supported the exercise and operated from the main ramp as usual as well as manning the Quick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) North facility in the south-east of the airfield.     As with the other types involved in the exercise the following images were taken on the ramp and by the runway for departures and recoveries along with some close-ups of the undercarriage doors and Litening Designator Pod carried by the T.3    All involved were FGR.4 except for a single T.3 (EY) and all carried full squadron markings and ‘E’ series tailcodes as was the practice at that time.

 

No.6 Squadron re-formed at RAF Leuchars with the Typhoon in September 2010 and following the disbandment of 111 (F) Squadron and retirement of the Tornado F.3 had been solely responsible for QRA(I) North since March 2011.     Unconnected with the exercise scenario that day although possibly in response to the interest that Russia has historically shown in exercises of this type two fully armed aircraft (EE and EI) had been launched on live QRA missions earlier and returned.     During the course of the visit an unarmed aircraft (EH) was seen being towed across to the QRA facility possibly to be prepared as a replacement as part of the routine rotation of assigned airframes.

 

The Typhoon can carry four pylons under each wing along with one on the centre-line but only the T.3 was so equipped that day.     The FGR.4 were all in a three pylon fit although there was some variety there with aircraft carrying the inner pylon only carrying one outer wing pylon and aircraft with two outer wing pylons not carrying the inner wing pylon , there was also some variety in the fitting of missile launch rails to the outer pylons where carried.          

 

All of the aircraft seen during the visit were carrying a pair of wing pylon mounted droptanks , the QRA aircraft carried 4 each of live ASRAAM and AMRAAM but the only wing store carried by some of the exercise aircraft was a RAIDS Pod (with weights) on the outermost starboard wing pylon , the T.3 carried a Litening Designator Pod on the centre-line.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Smudge]

Great set of photographs, thanks for sharing.

 

I will save this for my Typhoon builds. Some really useful details.

 

Cheers.