British Aircraft Corporation VC10

The RAF operates three variants of the aircraft: the C1Ks are military transport aircraft, carrying 120 passengers or freight, and can be adapted for tanking with the addition of wing-mounted refuelling pods; the K3s and K4s are the ex-civil Super VC10s (the K2 variants were ex-civil VC10s but are no longer in service). The K3s and K4s both have wing refuelling points for fighters and a centreline refuelling capacity to provide additional support for large aircraft. Read More >>

Lockheed C130 Hercules

The C130K has served as the RAF's workhorse since its introduction in April 1967. The C130K has deployed troops and materiel worldwide from places such as Singapore, the USA, Africa and much of Europe and has participated in almost every humanitarian relief operation undertaken by the RAF. The C130K is roughly similar to the USAF C130, apart from some UK avionics, a stronger main floor in the cargo compartment and a British roller conveyor system for palletized cargo. Read More >>

Panavia Tornado GR4

The Panavia Tornado GR4/GR4A evolved from the GR1, GR1A and GR1B as the RAF's primary strike attack and reconnaissance aircraft. The Tornado GR1 replaced the Vulcan and Buccaneer aircraft and its latest evolution (GR4/A) is considered to be one of the most capable bombers in the world, especially at low levels. The GR4 is designed to carry a complete range of weaponry and is also equipped with a Laser Ranger and Marked Target Seeker System that can be used for ground designation or can provide accurate range information on ground targets. It can carry Paveway II, Paveway III or Enhanced Paveway Laser Guided Bombs (LGB) and by using a Thermal Imaging Airborne Laser Designator (TIALD) pod it can self-designate targets for the LGBs. It can also carry the Air Launched Anti-radiation Missile (ALARM) for suppression of enemy radar. For self-defence, the GR4 can carry sidewinder, chaff and flares, electronic countermeasures (ECM) and a 27mm canon. Read More >>

Panavia Tornado F3

The Panavia Tornado F3 was developed from an operational requirement to defend the UK's air defence region, or UKADR. A fighter aircraft was required that could fight in all weathers, at high or low altitudes, countering hostile electronic countermeasure threats and deploying new air-to-air missiles. The aircraft was called the Tornado ADV (Air Defence Variant). The prototype Tornado F2 (ZA254), was first flown on 27 October 1979 and the first production aircraft on 5 March 1984. The F2 was, primarily, a stop-gap whilst the F3 was prepared for operational service. Read More >>

Sepecat Jaguar

The Sepecat Jaguar first came into RAF service in 1974 and it looks set to remain a very important low level fighter bomber. The Jaguar replaced the Phantom as the RAF's primary low-level fighter-bomber, close-suport and tactical reconnaissance aircraft and it saw extensive service in Germany supporting NATO's ground forces. With the arrival of the Tornado GR1, the Jaguars returned from Germany to RAF Coltishall in Norfolk. The Jaguar underwent an extensive upgrade programme with improvements to the Ardour Mk104 engines, a Ferranti inertial navigation system, jamming pods and flare dispensers. Read More >>

Boeing C17 Globemaster III

Four Boeing C17 Globemaster IIIs were leased from the manufacturer (with the possibility to lease/buy more in the future) to fill a requirement identified in the Strategic Defence Review for strategic airlift. Already in use with USAF, the RAF lease marked the first permanent use of C17 by another country. The C17 first flew in 1991 and the first deliveries to the USAF were in 1993. The aircraft has many advanced features such as a glass cokpit, fly-by-wire controls, and winglets and high performance engines which enable it to lift almost 170 000 pounds in payload. It can carry 18 aircraft pallets, 108 passengers (54 seats are permanently fitted), a variety of vehicles and outsize cargo, or a combination of all of these. Read More >>