Saturday, August 7, 2010

New RAF units to provide force protection in Afghanistan

Two new RAF units have been recently formed to provide specialist force protection capabilities at Bastion and Kandahar Airfields, giving other RAF Regiment squadrons more time to recuperate between tours.

The two newly-formed units are 58 Squadron RAF Regiment, based at RAF Leuchars in Fife, and No 8 RAF Force Protection (FP) Wing Headquarters, based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire.

Members of II Squadron RAF Regiment fire mortar rounds while protecting the perimeter fence around Kandahar Airfield (stock image)
Picture: Senior Aircraftman Andrew Morris
Crown Copyright/MOD 2007


RAF FP Wing HQs and RAF Regiment field squadrons patrol areas around air stations to ensure that air assets and personnel can operate freely.

They are currently delivering in this role on operations at a number of air, joint Service and international operating bases in Afghanistan and, until recently, in Iraq.

Air Commodore Russell La Forte, the Commandant General of the RAF Regiment, said:

“The formation of No 8 RAF FP Wing Headquarters and 58 Squadron RAF Regiment is an important and very welcome development.

“Force protection is of vital importance to allowing the RAF to play its part in bringing stability to Afghanistan, and also to allow all those at the bases we protect to get on with their work unhindered by insurgents.

Read the full story here

No comments:

Post a Comment