RAF Team Keeps Harriers Flying Over Afghanistan
(Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued March 12, 2009)
Despite the best efforts of the Afghanistan winter the RAF team responsible for keeping Harrier GR9s flying in support of coalition troops has achieved remarkable success. Report by Squadron Leader Dylan Eklund.
Since arriving in theatre late last year IV (Army Co-operation) Squadron, based at RAF Cottesmore, Rutland, has maintained a busy operational tempo flying close air support missions.
Speaking at Kandahar Airfield, Squadron Leader Jez Kerswill, Senior Engineering Officer on IV (AC) Squadron, said: "We have achieved 100 per cent engineering achievement against task and we have not failed to generate an aircraft to meet a planned mission."
The squadron operate the Harrier GR9 which has been deployed to Kandahar since 2007. The Harrier GR9 is a heavily updated development of the GR7, incorporating the ability to use a wide range of advanced precision weaponry, new communications, and systems and airframe upgrades:
"The overall package of the Harrier is awesome and it's probably at its pinnacle now as a close air support platform," added Sqn Ldr Kerswill.
Amongst the new weaponry that the GR9 has recently been fitted with is the Paveway IV bomb which provides a through-cloud day and night precision-bombing capability and can be guided onto a target through use of global positioning system satellite technology or through laser guidance.
Sqn Ldr Kerswill said: "This is the first time this squadron has employed the Paveway IV operationally. From an engineering perspective, the new munition requires more forward planning prior to launch but the armourers and avionics personnel have taken it in their stride. It is a phenomenal weapon."
Junior Engineering Officer Flight Lieutenant Bob Pitelen described serviceability on the Harriers as excellent: "We've been lucky out here as we are priority number one and our stores system is replenished quickly," he said.
Praising the team effort which has kept the Harriers serviceable Flt Lt Pitelen added: "The lads are keen, they know what they have to achieve and they pull together to get the job done.
"The climate can pose a challenge. At the moment it changes from day to day and we work hard to ensure that the welfare of the lads is monitored. There is also the inherent risk of rocket attacks but we have some very experienced personnel who have seen it before."
In common with the many of the ground crew, Sergeant Ian Whiteman, the Avionics Senior Non-Commissioned Officer on A Shift, has deployed to Kandahar a number of times before. He said:
"This deployment has flown by and compared to when I first came here in 2004 things are a lot more comfortable now. We've got to know what to expect in terms of the environment. That said, this has been the first winter deployment for IV (AC) Squadron and therefore there has been a learning curve. I think we've done really well this time, there's a good mix of experience and new faces."
For Senior Aircraftman Lee Dixon, the current deployment is his fourth time at Kandahar in six years and he also finds that things are easier than previously: "With all the facilities set up as we want you just slip back into it. Being on operations is why I joined the RAF and the team spirit is brilliant. We have a good group of lads out here and we have all just gelled."
The Joint Force Harrier team in Afghanistan is currently made up of three-quarters RAF personnel and the remainder from the Fleet Air Arm.
Sqn Ldr Kerswill concluded: "For me as a senior engineer to be responsible for the Harrier is, without a doubt, an absolute privilege. I pushed to come to the Harrier Force to experience the challenge of this unique platform and to do so in an operational environment has been a career highlight."
ฝูงบิน บ.โจมตี Harrier GR.9 นั้นได้วางกำลังที่สนามบินKandahar อัฟกานิสถานเป็นเวลาหลายปีแล้ว
ซึ่งปัจจุบันขีดความสามารถในการซ่อมบำรุงระบบเครื่องให้สามารถปฏิบัติการได้ในพื้นที่ทุรกันดารอย่างอัฟกานิสถานที่เต็มไปด้วยภูเขาสูงๆ เต็มไปด้วยฝุ่น อากาศแปรปรวนนั้นเจ้าหน้าก็มีขีดความสามารถมาก
ในส่วนระบบอาวุธเองก็มีการนำระบบอาวุธใหม่ๆมาใช้เช่น ระเบิด Paveway IV ซึ่งร่วมระบนำวิถี GPS กับ ระบบชี้เป้า Laser เดิมก็ถูกนำมาติดตั้งกับ Harrier GR.9 ครับ
