2 Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s loaded with bombs and missiles prowl the skies in Iraq and Syria over the Halloween weekend menacing ISIL terrorists.
The following is a report on the British Air Force’s role in fighting the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, as updated on November 3, 2014 by the Ministry of Defense in the United Kingdom. Needless to say they were very busy doing what they do best “blow stuff up”:
“Two Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s were tasked to investigate ISIL activity near the scene of an earlier successful coalition air strike at Al Qaim, north-west of Baghdad.
The aircraft, as part of the international coalition supporting the Iraqi government, identified and destroyed an ISIL armed vehicle using “a single Brimstone missile.”
The British-made Brimstone is the most sophisticated missile of its kind. Brimstone is an air-launched ground attack missile developed by MBDA for Britain’s Royal Air Force. It was originally intended for “fire and forget” use against mass formations of enemy armor, using a millimeter wave (mmW) seeker to ensure accuracy even against moving targets.
The Brimstone missile when launched travels at supersonic speeds in excess of (~450m/s).
RAF Tornados were involved in further attacks this morning as a Brimstone missile was again used to attack a heavily armed ISIL pick up truck.
See video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7cwBnA_Gt8
24 October – two Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s participated in a coordinated coalition air strike overnight (Thursday) at Jar Silah, west of Kirkuk. The aircraft, at the request of the Iraqi Government, used Paveway IV precision guided bombs to successfully attack a former Iraqi military base which ISIL were using as a logistics hub for operations in the area. Other RAF aircraft, including Voyager refuelling tankers, and Rivet Joint and Reaper surveillance platforms, also continue to support coalition air operations.
20 October – Early last week, 2 Tornado GR4s, while on an armed reconnaissance patrol, were tasked to attack an ISIL main battle tank which coalition forces had been tracking near Ramadi. Following extensive surveillance to ensure that there were no civilians nearby the tank was destroyed in a precision attack using a Brimstone missile.
19 October – RAF Tornados were involved in further successful airstrikes on ISIL terrorists who had attacked an Iraqi military convoy south of Fallujah. Brimstone missiles were used to hit the ISIL forces, including 2 trucks, ahead of additional attacks by other coalition forces in the area which were supported by UK Tornados. Video footage of the Ramadi mission is available on the Defence Imagery website
8 October 2014 – Tornado GR4 aircraft completed another round of air strikes in Iraq overnight. The Royal Air Force aircraft flew further missions to assist the Iraqi government in its fight against ISIL.
7 October 2014 – two Tornado GR4s were tasked to support the Iraqi Army. Brimstone missiles and Paveway IV guided bombs were used to conduct a successful precision attack on ISIL terrorists who were firing on Iraqi troops from a stronghold near Ramadi.
6 October 2014 – Tornado GR4s, flying from RAF Akrotiri, have continued their patrols over Iraq as part of the international coalition against ISIL.
5 October 2014 – two of our aircraft, flying in support of Iraqi security forces, successfully used Paveway IV precision-guided bombs to attack ISIL terrorists, fortified in a building near Ramadi, who were firing on Iraqi soldiers.”
For more information see ISIL: UK government response page on GOV.UK