Page 8 - AirForces Monthly - Issue 381 (December 2019)

NEWS United Kingdom

First Poseidon delivered to RAF Latest

THE RAF has taken delivery day. The aircraft had team leader, signed the The RAF Poseidon fleet contract for
of its first Poseidon MRA1 completed its maiden flight paperwork to formally will be flown initially by Protector UAV
maritime patrol aircraft. at Renton, Washington on transfer the aircraft, named No 120 Squadron, which AN ADDITIONAL Foreign
After an official ceremony July 12 after which mission Pride of Moray, to UK was re-established Military Sales (FMS)
at Boeing’s facilities in systems were integrated ownership. The Poseidon in April last year. contract has been received
Seattle, Washington at Boeing’s Installation will undergo additional A second unit, No 201 by General Atomics
on October 30, the and Checkout facility in preparation and UK Squadron, will be stood Aeronautical Systems
initial aircraft, ZP801 Tukwila, Washington. personnel will continue up in due course. All nine Inc (GA ASI) for the UK’s
(c/n 64175, line number On arrival at ‘Jax’, training at the Florida Poseidons are scheduled to MQ-9B Protector RG1
7532), arrived at Naval Michelle Sanders, base before it flies home be delivered by November unmanned aerial vehicle
Air Station Jacksonville, Defence Equipment to RAF Lossiemouth in 2021 with full operational programme. The US$21.7m
Florida the following and Support delivery Scotland early next year. capability planned for 2024. contract was awarded on
October 23 by the Medium
Right: Poseidon MRA1 Altitude Unmanned Aircraft
ZP801, the first example Systems Division of the
for the RAF, lands at NAS US Air Force Life Cycle
Jacksonville on October Management Center.
31. The aircraft flew there The deal is a modification
from Boeing Field using the
callsign ‘POSIDN1’. UK MOD/ to the original contract
Crown Copyright awarded to GA ASI
on March 30, 2018, for
development of the UK
Protector – see MQ-9B
Protector development
contract, June 2018, p9. The
new award covers design,
development, integration
and component-level
testing for unspecified
additional capabilities
being added to the baseline
programme. Work is
expected to be completed
by August 31, 2021.
The Protector, a UK variant
of the Certifiable Predator
B, is replacing the RAF’s
MQ-9A Reapers, which are
scheduled to be withdrawn
from operational use
around 2024. Two MQ-9B
SkyGuardians, N190TC (c/n
YBC01) and N191FP (c/n
YBC02), have already been
extensively tested in the US
as prototypes for the RAF
Protector. Dave Allport
RAF ceases Tucano flying operations

Above: A water-cannon salute for Tucano T1 ZF135 after its final flight at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorkshire. Derek Bower
THE RAF officially marked of being the last crews to Capt Keith Taylor and the RAF – which made its first Chief of the Air Staff ACM
the retirement of the Tucano learn on the Tucano. A final commanding officer of No 72 flight on December 30, 1986. Mike Wigston said: “It is
T1 trainer on October 25 ‘diamond nine’ formation Squadron, Wg Cdr Robbie The Tucano fleet will be sad to say goodbye to the
with a graduation ceremony was then performed by Lee, completed the type’s disposed of while the No 72 Tucano, but it has been
for the students of Basic students and instructors. final landing and taxi back Squadron number plate was a fantastic workhorse…
Fast Jet Training (BFJT) Specially choreographed to the dispersal at the base. transferred to the Texan T1 The transition to the Texan
course 274 at RAF Linton- for the last act of the RAF They were flying Tucano T1 squadron under No 4 Flying represents a really important
on-Ouse, North Yorkshire. Tucano’s flying career, ZF135 – the first Tucano to Training School (FTS) at RAF step towards being a next-
Four pilots had the honour station commander Gp have been completed for the Valley, Wales from October 31. generation air force.”

8 // December 2019 #381 www.Key.Aero

08-09 UKNews AFM Dec2019.indd 8 11/11/2019 12:43:54