19 Dec 23. Global Dexterity Exercise Strengthens Partnerships in Indo-Pacific. Air forces from the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom recently teamed up for an exercise in Queensland, Australia.
During Exercise Global Dexterity, the U.S. Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force and Royal Air Force integrated personnel with the goal of developing multilateral tactical airlift and airdrop capabilities between the three nations.
Maintainers from each nation worked together to ensure all aircraft were safe to train and fly daily.
This was the first time the Royal Air Force participated in this exercise working together with American and British members to strengthen military partnerships and demonstrate mission capabilities in wartime, peacetime and humanitarian operations throughout the Indo-Pacific region. (Source: U.S. DoD)
18 Dec 23. New warship virtual reality simulator revolutionising Royal Navy training. Officers at Britannia Royal Naval College have been training with a cutting-edge simulator that takes them virtually onto the bridge of a ship.
Personnel on the initial Warfare Officer’s Foundation Course are learning how to operate and navigate a vessel, and the Virtual Reality technology is transforming the way naval training is carried out.
Lieutenant Commander Mark Raeburn, the head of navigation training at BRNC, told Forces News: “Before, we had a very much older simulator, some 20 years old.
“It didn’t have the same fidelity, didn’t have the same navigation systems, didn’t have the same radar systems.
“We had the old picket boats – didn’t have any radars on them – so this now, it will help condense the training and produce officers that’ll be more successful.”
There are two rooms with simulators, called HMS Beagle and HMS Adventure, that can be transformed to replicate a variety of vessels.
What is shown on the screens and in the headsets is controlled by a computer operator.
Sub Lieutenant Lucy Sylvester said of her VR training: “[It’s] a bit weird, actually, because it’s a bit like a video game in a way, but like a really cool high-tech video game.
“Just like a real warship, obviously you can’t zoom in like in a game and see what vessel is there, you have to use the binos on the QM’s chair and see what vessel it is and I think I struggle with identifying vessels.
“I think if we didn’t have a sim [simulator] as good as this, I think I’d definitely have doubts going onto a real bridge.
“I think having this background knowledge and having the foundation, learning here is really important, so when I go onto my next phase of training, I’ll have that confidence to do anything.”
The Royal Navy has more than doubled the number of simulators it has across numerous establishments.
For those at the beginning of their career at Britannia Royal Naval College, the VR training is a vital step towards understanding the maritime environment while using sophisticated technology. (Source: forces.net)
18 Dec 23. Adaptable Typhoons Shine In Icy Norway.
- In a display of adaptability and agility, Eurofighter Typhoons and crews from the Royal Air Force coped with sub-zero temperatures during their deployment in Norway for Exercise Arctic Phoenix.
Teaming up with the Royal Norwegian Air Force, Typhoons from IX (Bomber) Squadron showcased their capabilities in some of Europe’s harshest conditions.
They faced temperatures below -10 °C during the deployment at Orland Air Station, Norway. Exercise Arctic Phoenix involved intensive fighter integration training with the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF), including missions alongside their F35As.
Conducting two sorties daily throughout the exercise, the Typhoons were supported by IX(B) Sqn ground crew that included engineers and mechanics, who played a crucial role, swiftly adapting to the rigorous demands of the environment.
The Typhoons also extended their operations 200 miles into the Arctic Circle, coordinating with the Northern detachment at Bardufoss Air Station. Supported by a tanker, these missions underlined the aircraft’s versatility and the crew’s know-how in extreme weather conditions.
The initial phase of Exercise Arctic Phoenix was not just about flying missions. RAF Regiment gunners, tactical communicators, medics, chefs, drivers, and engineers underwent survival training at Bardufoss Air Station. Here temperatures plunged to an even more challenging -20 °C.
This training, delivered by the Royal Norwegian Air Force, was vital for equipping the RAF teams with the skills needed to operate effectively in such harsh climates.
This joint exercise highlighted the RAF’s readiness to operate in diverse environments and strengthened the military collaboration between the United Kingdom and Norway.
“We are very grateful for the exceptional support received from our Norwegian partners in facilitating 4th and 5th generation fighter integration training, flying our UK Typhoons with the Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35A, as well as integrating the Cold Weather Survival Course,” said the RAF Detachment Commander, Wing Commander Leask.
“Understanding the challenges that come with operating in the High North is crucial to being able to successfully support our personnel and assets within this environment. Working alongside our Norwegian counterparts will allow us to strengthen our interoperability as committed members of the Joint Expeditionary Force,” he added.
One aim of the exercise was for the RAF units to test their Agile Combat Employment capabilities – to survive an attack, disperse to different locations, and continue to operate – in extremely challenging conditions.
During the exercise, an A400M Atlas transport aircraft from 30 Squadron supported training serials that were designed to assess aeromedical evacuation procedures, test force protection capabilities and establish a forward air refuelling point, as well as conducting training sorties alongside the Typhoons. (Source: ASD Network)
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