August 2, 2017 4.46 pm This story is over 90 months old

Sentinel aircraft returns to RAF Waddington from Middle East mission

Sentinel R1 aircraft based at RAF Waddington welcomed back after mission in the fight against Daesh in the Middle East.

By Daniel Ionescu Founder & Editor

One of Sentinel R1 aircraft based at RAF Waddington was welcomed back on Wednesday after the latest mission supporting the coalition in the fight against Daesh in the Middle East.

The 5 (Army Cooperation) Squadron aircraft landed after eight weeks away where the crew have been supporting coalition operations by supplying information that ensures the strikes carried out by the RAF and other coalition aircraft are accurate.

Wing Commander Chris Melville the officer commanding 5 Sqn said: “This has been a highly successful deployment by the squadron and we continue to contribute to the success of the mission.

“It is always difficult to recognise the work of my squadron due to the sensitive nature of it, but today is an opportunity to publically congratulate them on a job well done.”

During this tour, the Iraqi security forces together with their coalition allies in the air and on the ground, have successfully recaptured the Iraqi city of Mosul with the 5 Sqn Sentinel playing an important part in the gathering of information to support the ground campaign.

: The RAF Waddington Station Commander, Group Captain Al Marshall, greeting the crew of the returning aircraft. Photo: Cpl Simon Armstrong/RAF

: . Photo: Cpl Simon Armstrong/RAF

: A Sentinel R1 from 5(AC) Squadron Royal Air Force operating from RAF Station Akrotiri in Cyprus on Operation Shader, the Counter-Daesh mission. Photo: Cpl Graham Taylor/RAF

: An engineer provides external observation as a Sentinel R1 from 5 (AC) Squadron normally based at RAF Waddington starts its engines at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. The squadron are carrying out missions in support of Operation Shader, the Counter-Daesh mission. Photo: Cpl Graham Taylor/RAF

: A Sentinel R1 aircraft of the Royal Air Force operating from RAF Station Akrotiri in Cyprus on Operation Shader, the Counter-Daesh mission. Photo: Cpl Graham Taylor RAF

The Sentinel crew used the aircraft’s radar to identify and track numerous targets over great distances, passing the information in near real time to friendly forces.

The information gathered was also used by intelligence specialists to conduct in-depth forensic analysis of the data to generate intelligence products that are passed to commanders and decision makers enabling them to plan future operations.

The returning Sentinel aircraft has been deployed in support of operations for two months and during that time was airborne for 235 hours, or the equivalent of nearly 10 days, with the typical sortie lasting for ten hours. During this time the aircraft flew approximately 4200 miles.

Squadron Leader Tom, a member of the crew, said: “We are very proud of the work that we collectively do as a squadron here. It gives the crews immense satisfaction to see the end product of their efforts and the effect of this on current operations.”