RAF Brize Norton based Voyager aircraft have been supporting Exercise Cobra Warrior for the second time this year. Exercise Cobra Warrior is the RAF’s largest air combat exercise, involving several partner nations who take part to build relations and share working practices with RAF counterparts. The exercise is designed to train exercise participants in high intensity, large force, tactical air war fighting operations.
Voyager’s role as the RAF’s main air-to-air refuelling platform is crucial to the success of the exercise, enabling the fast jet fighters from both the RAF and other nations to stay airborne for longer. As the fighters engage in combat simulations, they are able to return to the Voyager tanker to refuel before heading back to continue the exercise.
For Voyager crews the exercise means they can train skills needed for tanking at pace in a simulated combat environment.
Flight Lieutenant Sam Jones, Voyager Pilot said: “Working with other nations on this exercise is brilliant. We get to learn about each other’s standards which makes working together on Operations much easier. Voyager is key to the exercise to enable the fast jets to stay in the air and in the exercise itself. We can hear on the radio’s what’s happening in the exercise and know exactly when we are needed to refuel a group of fighters. We make sure we are ready to receive the jets when they need to fuel to sustain what they are doing.”
The role Voyager plays in Exercise Cobra Warrior and similar exercises is vital to enabling them to run by supporting the fast jet forces and other aircraft capable of air-to-air refuelling over long periods.
Alongside Voyager other RAF Air Mobility Force aircraft have been taking part, deploying elements of 16 Air Assault Brigade during an associated ground mission that forms part of the overall exercise scenario.
Image Credit – © MOD Crown
