Missile-bearing jets
The British government has been steadily building up the number of RAF aircraft flying bombing missions over Iraq and surveillance operations over Syria. Eight Tornado aircraft based in Cyrpus will be reinforced by two more if, as expected, the Commons agrees to extend the bombing campaign to Syria. The Tornados are supported by Voyager refuelling tanker aircraft.
The ageing Tornados are equipped with laser-guided Paveway IV bombs. They can also fire more accurate Brimstone missiles, originally developed as an anti-tank weapon. The government describes the Brimstone as the most accurate weapon available that can be fired by aircraft and it has been praised by the French government. Brimstone missiles are conservatively estimated to cost £100,000 each; heavier Paveway IV bombs are estimated to cost £30,000 each, and Hellfire missiles £71,300 each.
They will be joined by six Typhoons, which are being flown to Cyprus from their base at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland. Typhoons are the RAF’s most modern fighter aircraft. They can drop Paveway bombs but are not capable of firing Brimstone missiles.
Surveillance aircraft
The RAF has also deployed two Sentinel surveillance aircraft, a Sentry airborne control system aircraft, and an Airseeker intelligence-gathering plane to take part in the mission against Isis, which is called Operation Shader.
Drones
RAF Reaper drones, along with the Sentry and Sentinel, and two Airseekers, are already conducting surveillance operations over Syria. They are equipped with Hellfire missiles. Reapers can fly over targets for several hours and are also equipped with sophisticated cameras and listening devices.
Bases
British operations are conducted from the Al Udeid air force base in Qatar where an RAF commodore is the senior British officer.
The Tornados are based at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, which is where the Typhoons will also be based.
The Sentinel and Voyager aircraft are based at Akrotiri, the Airseekers at Qatar.
The RAF’s entire fleet of 10 Reaper unmanned drones are based in Kuwait, but controlled by personnel at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire and at the US base in Creek, Nevada.
Special Forces
A number of UK special forces are operating in northern Iraq. Military trainers also number around 200 in Iraq and in Kurdish areas.
