Typhoon fighter jets arriving at RAF Northolt Source: MoD
Vigilance can report that Typhoon fighter jets arrived at RAF Northolt last week to take part in a major military exercise to test security for the forthcoming Olympic Games.
According to an MoD source the arrival of the jets – which heralds the first time fighter planes have been stationed at RAF Northolt since World War 2 – marks the start of specialist training which will result in increased flying activity over London and the Home Counties.
Codenamed Exercise Olympic Guardian, Vigilance learnt that the eight-day exercise will put airmen, soldiers and sailors through their paces in the skies over the south east. The exercise runs from 2-10 May and it is likely that people will notice an increase in highly visible air activity at peak times (particularly on 5 and 6 May).
The Air Security Plan for the Olympic Games builds on the Royal Air Force’s existing defence of UK airspace, which includes round-the-clock radar surveillance and Typhoon fighters held at high readiness every day of the year.
The exercise integrates the additional forces being used to ensure the safety of the Olympics, as part of the Ministry of Defence’s role to ensure a safe and secure Games this summer. These include Typhoon fighters who will deploy to RAF Northolt on 2 May, RAF Puma aircraft - together with Royal Navy and Army Lynx helicopters - carrying teams of RAF Regiment snipers to intercept aircraft in restricted airspace, and airborne surveillance aircraft including RAF E-3D Sentry and Royal Navy Sea King ASACS (Airborne Surveillance and Control System).
On the ground, the RAF is providing additional mobile ground radar systems (Type 101 radar), while the Army is deploying air observers, High Velocity Missile (HVM) and Rapier missile systems, which also provide radar detection capability, to provide additional layers of radar coverage. A final decision on the deployment of these capabilities has yet to be taken by the Government.
Secretary of State for Defence, Phillip Hammond, said: “Whilst there is no specific threat to the Games, we have to be ready to assist in delivering a safe and secure Olympics for all to enjoy. The fact that our state-of-the-art Typhoon’s will be stationed at RAF Northolt underlines the commitment of the Ministry of Defence and our Armed Forces to keeping the public safe at a time when the world will be watching us.”
Whilst Air Vice-Marshal Stuart Atha, Air Component Commander for Olympics Air Security revealed: “As we undertake this essential training, there will be a visible and audible presence of RAF Typhoon and military helicopters operating above Greater London and the Home Counties. There will also be flights occurring throughout the exercise period, to allow pilots and other forces to become familiar with operating in the London and Home Counties airspace.”
AVM Atha added: “We have sought to limit the amount of flying to the minimum required to ensure that our Forces are ready for their important role delivering air security for the Olympics, balancing this against the need for us to reduce disturbance to a minimum. But we hope that people will understand the need for this very important training, and we thank them for their continued strong support.”
A spokesperson for the RAF said the exercise would test the procedures military aircrews would use to intercept and communicate with aircraft breaching the restricted airspace during the Olympic Games, and the actions pilots must take in response, adding pilots entering the restricted airspace could expect to be intercepted by Typhoon fighters, or military helicopters.
In a related development Air defence missile systems which could play a key role in a comprehensive and layered air security plan during the Olympics are arriving at six sites in and around London as part of an exercise aimed at testing the military contribution to the overall security effort.
The testing with practice dummy missiles – as part of ‘Exercise Olympic Guardian’ - takes place following several months of engagement in the areas in question. This has included extensive talks with local authorities and landowners alongside briefings to local MPs, discussion with community representatives and, most recently, delivering leaflets to residents’ homes.
Secretary Hammond MP said: “Whilst there is no reported threat to the London Olympics, the public expects that we have in place a range of measures aimed at ensuring the safety of this once-in-a-generation event. As part of the comprehensive security plan being tested this week, Ground Based Air Defence systems are temporarily at locations across London. We believe they will reassure the public and those attending the Games, while providing a powerful deterrent. Although a process of engagement has been underway for four months; involving community leaders, local authorities, local MPs and landowners, final decisions have yet to be taken.”
At a media facility last week at Blackheath, both the Rapier system and the smaller High Velocity Missile (HVM) system were on show with military personnel on hand to answer technical questions in the same way as they have at meeting with residents held this week.
While a formal Government decision on whether the equipment will be sited during the Games themselves is yet to be made, the proposed deployment would see the two different types of missile systems in use as part of a broad array of other capabilities.
The primary form of air defence is provided by RAF Typhoon aircraft which will form the outer ring of defence outside London. They will be assisted by Royal Navy Lynx and RAF Puma helicopters armed with snipers with GBAD forming the final line of defence.