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List of equipment of the RAF Regiment

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This is a list of equipment currently used by the Royal Air Force Regiment. The RAF Regiment is the ground fighting force of the Royal Air Force and contributes to the defence of RAF airfields in the UK and overseas, and provides Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) to the British Army and Royal Marines, and a contingent to the Special Forces Support Group from No. II (Parachute) Squadron.[1]

The equipment of the RAF Regiment has a high degree of commonality with the rest of the British Armed Forces, particularly the British Army.[2]

Specialist equipment

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The ORCUS CUAS system.

Counter Uncrewed Air Systems

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No. 63 Squadron (King's Colour Squadron) and No. 34 Squadron RAF Regiment also operate the ORCUS Counter-Unmanned Aerial System. It relies on an electronic-attack countermeasure to intercept and jam radio signals from hostile drones, rather than a kinetic interceptor.[3][4]

The system consists of the Leonardo Guardian, which provides the long range jamming effect, the US Air Force-developed NINJA technology, which takes control of a hostile drones protocols at short range and maneouvres it to a safe location, and SKYPERION which is a passive RF detection sensor which is used to detect, track and identify multiple drones at the same time.[5][6]

FireStorm System

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RAF Regiment Forward Air Controllers (FACs), also known as JTACs, guiding a Eurofighter Typhoon onto their target.

The Royal Air Force Regiment Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) support the British Armed Forces. A JTAC’s job is to coordinate close air support (CAS), an attack by fighter jets, helicopter gunships, and armed drones in close proximity to friendly soldiers. JTACs are selected through aptitude screening before undertaking the 8-week JTAC-Certification Course at the Joint Forward Air Controller Training and Standardisation Unit (JFACTSU) based at RAF Leeming.[7]

To do this, they utilise the Collins FireStorm, which is a lightweight and modular integrated targeting system that is designed to enable JTACs to accurately locate the enemy and generate coordinates to enable a precision strike.[8] The system is interoperable with the F-35 Lightning II, the multi-role stealth fighter in service with the Royal Air Force.[9] It provides digital connectivity with virtually all coalition aircraft, field artillery systems, and command-and-control centres. A laser range finder, tactical PC, handheld azimuth augmentation unit and the StrikeHawk video downlink receiver is included in the system.[10]

Weapons

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Name Origin Type Calibre Image Details
L85A3  United Kingdom Germany Assault rifle 5.56×45mm
The SA80 is the standard-issue assault rifle with an effective range of 600 m and a 30-round magazine. Primarily fitted with the Elcan SpecterOS 4X Lightweight Day Sights.

The ARILLS (Assault Rifle In-Line Low Light Sight) and Laser Light Module (LLM Mk3) can also be attached in low-light conditions.[11][12][13]

L131A1  Austria Semi-automatic pistol 9×19 mm The Glock 17 General Service Pistol (GSP) is the current secondary side arm used for close combat with a magazine capacity of 17 rounds. It is carried as a backup weapon by frontline personnel.[14][15]
L129A1, L129A2  United States Sharpshooter rifle 7.62×51mm The primary designated marksman rifle, 'Sharpshooter' is equipped with an ACOG optical sight for long-range engagements. There is also a Sniper Support Weapon version fitted with a L17A2 Schmidt & Bender 3–12 x 50 Sniper Scope and Surefire Suppressor for use by the second man in each sniper team.[16][17]
L7A2  United Kingdom Germany General-purpose machine gun 7.62×51mm The designated general purpose machine gun (GPMG) for sustained fire out to 1,800m.

The GPMG can be used in the sustained fire (SF) role, which requires a two-person team to operate, the light support role, with a single soldier wearing a carrying shoulder strap, or mounted (on a vehicle or sangar).[18][19]

L115A3  United Kingdom Long range rifle 8.6x70 mm (.338 Lapua Magnum)
The Accuracy International L115A3 is the primary precision rifle for RAF Regiment snipers. It is equipped with a 25x scope, suppressor, folding stock, five-round .338 Lapua Magnum magazine and has an effective range of over 1,100m.[20][21]

The L115A3 was developed as part of the Sniper System Improvement Programme to replace the L96 and L115A1 sniper rifles.[22]

Heckler & Koch AG36 (L123A3)  Germany Underslung grenade launcher 40×46 mm The Underslung Grenade Launcher (UGL) is a modified variant of the H&K AG36 and fires a range of 40 mm rounds including high explosive, smoke, CS gas and red phosphorus out to distances of 350m. It is usually carried by the section 2IC.[23][24][25]
NLAW  United Kingdom  Sweden Anti-tank guided missile 150 mm
Man-portable, short range fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile system designed for non-expert use. It is designed to "rapidly knock out any main battle tank in just one shot by striking it from above".[26][27]
Javelin  United States Anti-tank guided missile 127 mm Man-portable medium range anti-tank missile system. It fires a high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead and can penetrate explosive reactive armour.

The Javelin has several modes of flight including direct and an overfly-top-attack mode in which the missile arcs high then flies down onto the top of the target, thus getting around the heavy front armour of modern tanks.[28][29]

L16A2  United Kingdom Mortar 81 mm
The 81mm Mortar provides indirect fire support that enables RAF Regiment Gunners to engage targets outside of their line-of-sight, up to a range of 5.5 km (3.4 mi) at a rate of 15 rounds-per-minute. The modernised L16A2 features GPS and laser-range finding systems, dramatically increasing the weapon's accuracy. It fires high explosive, red phosphorus smoke, illuminating, and infared illuminating.[26][30]
L1A2, L111A1  United States Heavy machine gun 12.7×99mm
The L1A2 / L111A1 is the RAF Regiment's version of the M2 Browning. It can be attached to both armoured and soft-skin vehicles, or a ground-mount tripod. The weapon fires .50 calibre rounds at a rate of 485–635 rounds-per-minute out to an effective range of 2,000 metres.[31][32]
Heckler & Koch GMG (L134A1)  Germany Grenade machine gun 40×53 mm
The L134A1 is used for the suppression of enemy infantry and can be mounted on both armoured vehicles and tripods. It combines the advantages of a heavy machine gun and a mortar in one; delivering a high rate of fire with fragmentation effect. The weapon has a 320 rpm rate of fire and an effective range of 1,500 m (4,900 ft)-2,000 m (6,600 ft).[33][34]

Vehicles

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Name Origin Type Image Details
Jackal 2  United Kingdom Protected mobility vehicle Armament includes a 7.62mm GPMG and either a .50-calibre HMG or 40mm GMG as the main weapon system.[35][36][37]
Foxhound  United Kingdom Protected mobility vehicle
Foxhound
 Foxhound is lighter and smaller than other protected vehicles, carries a crew of six and a 7.62mm GPMG armament, and has a top speed of 82 mph, but can still protect against improvised explosive devices, thanks to its v-shaped hull.[37][36][38]
Land Rover Wolf  United Kingdom Utility vehicle
The Land Rover Wolf is the military version of the Land Rover Defender. In RAF Regiment service it comes in 2 main varieties: the more common Truck Utility Medium (TUM), based on the Defender 110; and the Truck Utility Light (TUL), based on the shorter-wheelbase Defender 90.[39][40]
Grizzly 450  Japan All-terrain vehicle Quad bikes are used as light transport, including evacuation of casualties or movement of supplies.[41][42][43]

Uniforms

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Main article: Multi-Terrain Pattern

The Multi-Terrain Pattern (MTP) Personal Clothing System (PCS) is used by all branches of the British Armed Forces and consists of windproof smocks, combat shirts, under-body-armour combat shirts (UBACS), trousers and a variety of sweat-wicking T-shirts, antimicrobial socks and underpants, and thermal fleeces, T-shirts and long johns, as well as waterproof Gore-Tex jackets, over-trousers and gaiters. Multi-Terrain Pattern is designed to blend with a large variety of environments including woodland, jungle, compounds, crops, grassland and arid stone. On the MTP outer layers, buttons have been replaced with Velcro for greater comfort under body armour. PCS is treated with insect repellant and is flame-resistant.[44][45]

Multi-Terrain Pattern.

RAF Regiment soldiers are issued 5 types of brown-coloured combat boots; High Liability Combat Boots, Patrol Boots, High Liability Desert Combat Boots, Cold Wet Weather Boots and Jungle Combat Boots, typically of the Altberg (via Iturri S.A.), AKU, HAIX and YDS brands which currently hold contracts with Ministry of Defence.[46][47]

Future equipment

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Gunners from No. 15 Squadron RAF Regiment have been experimenting with a new type of drone, called the Ghost Drone, which will be used for intelligence gathering and reconnaissance. It can fly for up to 55 minutes, has a range of around 12km, or 25 km with Long-Range Tracking Antenna, and can operate in all weather conditions, in temperatures as low as −40°Celsius, at an altitude of 12,000ft.[48][49]

See also

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Other lists:

References

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  1. ^ "No. 2 Squadron | RAF Regiment". www.eliteukforces.info. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  2. ^ "RAF Regiment | Force Protection | Royal Air Force". 2023.
  3. ^ Lye, Harry (2020-09-04). "RAF counter-UAS system achieves initial operating capability". Airforce Technology. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  4. ^ Royal Air Force (13 Sep 2021). "Queen's Colour Squadron – Swapping Drill for Drones | Royal Air Force".
  5. ^ Paul, Jacob (2021-09-17). "RAF unveils cutting-edge tech to hijack enemy drones". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  6. ^ "METIS secure multi-million-pound contract with RAF". Metis Aerospace. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  7. ^ "RAF Regiment - To become a JTAC personnel must first pass a Unit... | Facebook". www.facebook.com. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  8. ^ Allison, George (2019-05-28). "British Joint Terminal Attack Controllers in Finland". Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  9. ^ Abott, Rich (2015-04-24). "FireStorm Targeting System Certified For Use With F-35". Defense Daily. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  10. ^ admin (2015-04-23). "Rockwell Collins' FireStorm system demonstrates interoperability with F-35 fighter". Airforce Technology. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  11. ^ "In pictures: RAF Regiment gunners take part in Cyprus recovery exercise". Forces Network. 2022-07-08. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  12. ^ "British Army's rifle set for multi-million-pound upgrade". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  13. ^ "New Army kit helps soldiers see more clearly". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  14. ^ "New pistols for UK Armed Forces". Government of the United Kingdom and the Ministry of Defence. 11 January 2013.
  15. ^ RAF Regiment Recruitment (8 August 2019). "The Glock 17 is the standard side arm in use with the RAF Regiment. Accurate, light and with a large magazine capacity the Glock 17 is ideal for close quarter battle". Facebook.
  16. ^ "L129A1 sharpshooter rifle". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 20 June 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  17. ^ "L129A1 (SSW) Rifle". RAF. Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  18. ^ "General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG)". RAF Regiment Heritage. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  19. ^ Perreira, Julian (2023-02-28). "GPMG: The world's deadliest machine gun". Forces Network. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  20. ^ McAngus, Sean (2022-09-01). "Inside look at No 51 Squadron RAF Regiment at RAF Lossiemouth ahead of Cyprus deployment". Press and Journal. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  21. ^ Imagery, Defence (2015-10-29), Pictured is a sniper from 34 Squadron, The Royal Air Force Regiment, retrieved 2023-07-09
  22. ^ "L115A3: The UK's Sniper System Improvement Program". defenseindustrydaily.com.
  23. ^ "Heckler & Koch HK AG36". www.militaryfactory.com. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  24. ^ "RAF Regiment on Instagram: "A gunner from 15 Squadron RAF Regiment firing the 40mm Underslung Grenade Launcher (UGL) attached to his L85A3 rifle. Usually carried by…"". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  25. ^ "The Heckler and Koch Underslung Grenade Launcher (UGL) provides a RAF Regiment section the capability to deliver a fragmentation effect out to distances of 350m". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  26. ^ a b "51 Squadron RAF Regiment | Royal Air Force". 2023.
  27. ^ "NLAW – Anti-tank weapon". Start. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  28. ^ "51 Squadron RAF Regiment | Royal Air Force". 2023.
  29. ^ Lockheed Martin (2023). "Javelin Weapon System | Lockheed Martin".
  30. ^ "81mm mortar bomb | BAE Systems". www.baesystems.com. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  31. ^ Fiorenza, Nicholas (7 November 2019). "UK Boxer contract signed". Janes. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  32. ^ "RAF Regiment Photos – WMIK Land Rover". www.eliteukforces.info. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  33. ^ "RAF Regiment – WMIK Land Rover \ GMG". www.eliteukforces.info. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  34. ^ "RAF Regiment Recruitment – RAF Regiment Gunners using the 40mm Grenade Machine Gun (GMG). The GMG provides fragmentation effect at a rapid rate of fire providing flexibility and fire power. It can be mounted on vehicles or used from a ground based tripod. One of the many weapon systems employed by the RAF Regiment in protecting the RAF wherever it deploys. | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  35. ^ "Coyote / Jackal 2 TSV".
  36. ^ a b Royal Air Force (2023). "1 Squadron RAF Regiment | Royal Air Force".
  37. ^ a b RAF Regiment (2023). "34 Squadron RAF Regiment | Royal Air Force".
  38. ^ "Foxhound: Protected Patrol Vehicle". www.keymilitary.com. 2020-07-16. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  39. ^ "RAF Regiment Land Rovers – Photo". www.eliteukforces.info. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  40. ^ "Military Land Rovers Pt.6 ~ In RAF Service". Joint Forces News. 2018-07-10. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  41. ^ "Quad Bike – British Army Website". Archived from the original on 2014-05-06. Retrieved 2023-07-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  42. ^ Royal Air Force (2023). "RAF Regiment Support Ex TARTAN SPIRIT | Royal Air Force".
  43. ^ "The RAF Regiment using quads to deliver combat supplies to troops on the ground. Quad bikes and trailers provide a vital service to operations. | Twitter". Twitter. Feb 2, 2022. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  44. ^ "Personal Clothing - Personal Equipment | The British Army".
  45. ^ "New camouflage for British Army". 2009-12-20. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
  46. ^ "Information regarding manufacturers of service boots from 10 February 2004 to 16 July 2022 - 07154.pdf" (PDF).
  47. ^ "Future Supply of UK MoD Combat Boots". Joint Forces News. 2022-08-07. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
  48. ^ "A closer look at new Ghost Drone being trialled at RAF Akrotiri". Forces Network. 2022-12-01. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  49. ^ "Anduril – Ghost". www.anduril.com. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
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