canberraman Posted September 10, 2022 Share Posted September 10, 2022 The RAF tactical training event -Exercise Cobra Warrior 2022 - centred at RAF Waddington, this year includes UK, Italian, German, United States of America and NATO involvement. Its aim is to develop and practice interoperability between NATO members and fine tuning of tactics, techniques and procedures. Cobra Warrior 2022 began on 5 September 2022. Wednesday September 7th saw Mission 2 of the 3-week exercise undertaken which coincided with a media day being held at RAF Waddington. RAF Waddington delivers the Cobra Warrior training package via the tenanted Air and Space Warfare Centre, and is playing host to the Italian detachment of six Eurofighter Typhoons and the German ECR Tornado of TLG-51. Cobra Warrior is routinely undertaken twice a year but due to COVID-19 restrictions, this event is the first in several years, but will hopefully pave the way for larger exercises in future. In view of recent world events, the 2022 Exercise is particularly significant with regards to integration of RAF and NATO forces, and secondly is a key means by which interoperability and collective training can be practiced. The German detachment of six ECR Tornados at Waddington, which bring Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) capability to the exercise, is from TLG-51, led by Detachment Commander Lieutenant Colonel Stefan Köllner. The Italian contingent consists of six Eurofighter Typhoons from 4, 36, 37 and 51 Stormos, supported by a rare Gulfstream 550 CAEW (Conformal Airborne Early Warning) aircraft of 14 Stormo; this detachment led by Major Marco Setini of the AMI. In addition to the German and Italian aircraft, USAF F-16s from the 31st FW at Aviano AB in Italy are operating from the US base at RAF Lakenheath. These are joined by F-15Es and F-35As of the 48th Fighter Wing permanently based at RAF Lakenheath, and the USAF 56th Rescue Squadron HH-60Gs (Combat Search and Rescue) taking part from RAF Leeming. RAF Typhoons and F-35Bs are also taking part, supported by RAF Voyager and an Italian KC-767A conducting Air-to-Air Tanking operations, flying from RAF Brize Norton. In addition, a NATO E-3A Sentry aircraft is operating from RAF Waddington to support the exercise. At its peak, up to 75 aircraft from the Exercise partner nations are taking part with aircraft divided into Red (hostile) and Blue (friendly) forces. The exercise covers large areas over the North Sea together with the RAF’s Electronic Warfare training range at Spadeadam in Cumbria. The Air and Space Warfare Centre that hosts the exercise sets the challenging missions and threat environment that the Blue and Red Forces are expected to meet and operate in. In previous years the Exercise has been widened to include non-NATO partners including Israel, and the event that had been planned for March this year, was to have included Indian participation. Exercise Cobra Warrior is the RAF’s capstone tactical training event, and it is expected that it will continue to grow, prosper and widen to include further less commonly seen nations and their aircraft in UK skies. Certainly, for the hundreds of spotters and photographers gathered along the A15 watching the Exercise unfold, it has been a fantastic opportunity to witness NATO aircraft up close and training together in a very realistic scenario. Special thanks to RAF Waddington MCO Flt Lt Swift for facilitating access. On with the show... Ex Cobra Warrior patch as worn by the personnel from GAF TLG-51 'Tigers' 46+25, one of the six Tornado ECRs deployed to Waddington. 46+50 46+32 46+50 touching down on Rwy 20 and past the many spectators in the WAVE viewing enclosure off the A15. The TLG-51 squadron badge that adorns the fin. The line up of six AMI Eurofighter Typhoons. MM7317/4-43 of 4 Stormo MM7317 departing for the afternoon Cobra Warrior package. Hopp MM7345/37-45 of 37 Stormo MM7298/51-01 of 51 Stormo returning to Waddington after the morning mission on September 7th, day two of Cobra Warrior 2022. Gulfstream E550 MM62303/14-12 from 14 Stormo landing at Waddington with the majestic Lincoln Cathedral dominating the horizon. Hope these are of interesst, c&c always welcome. Mark 12 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted September 10, 2022 Share Posted September 10, 2022 Fantastic photo essay, Mark, wonderful to see some Tornados again - I'm very envious (from a grey and cool Duxford!) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinChipmunkfan Posted September 10, 2022 Share Posted September 10, 2022 Great photos Mark- love the Gulfstream photos- especially the one with the cathedral in the background. Colin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted September 11, 2022 Author Share Posted September 11, 2022 21 hours ago, Alpha Delta 210 said: Fantastic photo essay, Mark, wonderful to see some Tornados again - I'm very envious (from a grey and cool Duxford!) Thanks Leigh! It certainly was nice to get up close and personal with a type I haven't seen since the RAF retired theirs in 2019. No doubt that despite the weather, Duxford will not disappoint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted September 11, 2022 Author Share Posted September 11, 2022 21 hours ago, ColinChipmunkfan said: Great photos Mark- love the Gulfstream photos- especially the one with the cathedral in the background. Colin Cheers Colin! It sure does make an impressive backdrop and makes you realise what a great navigational landmark it would have been for the crews in WWII returning to 'Bomber County'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evalman Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 An interesting set with excellent access. Thanks for sharing these. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted September 12, 2022 Author Share Posted September 12, 2022 28 minutes ago, Evalman said: An interesting set with excellent access. Thanks for sharing these. Thanks Evalman -glad you like them. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dot Posted September 13, 2022 Share Posted September 13, 2022 Super photos Mark. I plan to go up on Thursday and maybe next week too. Should there still be some flying? Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted September 13, 2022 Author Share Posted September 13, 2022 15 minutes ago, Red Dot said: Super photos Mark. I plan to go up on Thursday and maybe next week too. Should there still be some flying? Andy Hi Andy, Many thanks for the kind comments. Ex Cobra Warrior runs until September 23rd so all being well you should see some action. However, from what I can make out every other working day is live exercise traffic with the days between reserved for training and planning. Suggest you refer to the Fighter Control webs pages for further details of when to go at: https://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=452 Look forward to seeing your photos! Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dot Posted September 13, 2022 Share Posted September 13, 2022 Cheers Mark. I have an FC account, but can't log in. The mods never reply to mails either. Useless! Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latinbear Posted September 13, 2022 Share Posted September 13, 2022 A very nice selection of shots from inside the fence! Thanks also for the write-up too; very informative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted September 14, 2022 Author Share Posted September 14, 2022 11 hours ago, Latinbear said: A very nice selection of shots from inside the fence! Thanks also for the write-up too; very informative. Thanks Latinbear! I was indeed fortunate to gain access on base and glad that you approve of the images Its great when Waddington comes to life for periodic exercises but sadly in a couple of weeks it will return to sleepy hollow until the next event Mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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