Exercise Cobra Warrior is a bi-annual exercise hosted by the Royal Air Force, operating out of several locations around the UK the main contingent of international visitors are usually hosted at RAF Waddington (although it has varied over the years). This year’s opening Exercise sees the arrival of six Royal Saudi Air Force F-15SAs of 6 Squadron, three F16C Block 40s from 152 Filo Turkish Air Force and three Rafale Cs from the French Air Force.
The idea of the Exercise fundamentally is to ‘train participants in high intensity, large force, tactical air warfighting operations’ (RAF). In previous years we have seen participation from the Belgian Air Force, Finnish Air Force, Luftwaffe, Norwegian Air Force, Canadian Air Force and many more. It usually causes a stir for the local community of Lincolnshire and is a huge draw for press and spotters alike. The Exercise is incredibly important for those nations involved in respect of being able to operate efficiently in the eventuality of operating together in a conflict zone thus being of national importance to our country’s security.
Let’s look at this year’s participants, first up we have the Rafale Cs of the French Air Force Escadron De Chasse 2/4 La Fayette stationed at Saint-Dizier. They provide the role of Nuclear Strike and the squadron forms part of the Strategic Air Forces Command 4e making it a crucial element in France’s defence structure.
Then we have six F15SAs from the Royal Saudi Air Force of 6 Squadron based at King Khalid Air Base which is located in the South-West region of the country. In fact in 1991 our very own Tornado GR1s were operating out of their home base during the First Gulf War. Our association with the Royal Saudi Air Force goes all the way back to its formation in June 1920 where the Royal Air Force assisted in their formation.
Finally we have the Turkish Air Force operating the F16C Block 40s of 152 Filo a.k.a ‘Raiders’ join us from Incirlik in the south-west of the country. They form part of the 10th Main Jet Base Command charged with Quick Reaction Alert (QRA).
The personal story
RAF Waddington hold a special spot for me as I trained at Lincoln University many moons ago and every year I was there I had the great opportunity to gain experience creating press work during the days of Waddington International Air Show. That opportunity kick started the professional work I’ve created within the aviation community so here’s a thank-you to RAF Waddington for that!
However long before even that I had been to RAF Waddington as an Air Cadet for a Wing Camp in 2004. It’s mad to think our first exercise on that camp was to do a FamEx on base, essentially allowing a group of cadets to walk around base unescorted is something that would never happen these days. How times have changed!
I have spent a great deal of time at RAF Waddington over the years and it will never get old for me, having spent 3 years of my life living in Lincoln, whilst I no longer live there I will always return for ‘Waddo’!
Back to CW
Back to Exercise talk and Day 1 for me was on Monday 24th with the weather starting out favourable we had a departure of a Shadow R1, a Red Arrows practice, Rafale departure of two jets (callsign Rooster) and four F15SAs (callsign Tiger), a Grob Prefect and a surprise visitor of the HHAs Hunter T.72 (XE688). With impeccable timing as the Hunter was on the glide path the rain started and quite literally a wall of water crossed the airfield hence the quality of the following photograph!
Day 2 for me was on 4th March, weather much improved with clear blue skies in the morning. First departure of the day was a Rivet Joint from 51 Squadron (RAF), little bit of a sychro practice from the Reds, initial 4 ship of Saudi F15SAs, 2 ship of Turkish F16Cs and a further 2 ship of Saudi F15SAs. This was by the far the busier day with some of the finest opportunities i've ever had, lighting wise, for the Red Arrows.
There is always an extra air of satisfaction when not only your skills come together but also the lighting happens to be on your side. When this happens the edit becomes more enjoyable, the results ever more aesthetically pleasing.
For me Ex Cobra Warrior is done however the exercise is still on-going as the crews continue their training, it's been a pleasure and I very much hope to photograph the Saudi, the Turkish and the French Air Forces once more in years to come!
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