RAF fighter jets have carried out a massive training drill off South Uist.
Some 53 target drones were shot down by Typhoon and Lightning jets in the skies west of the Uist rocket range.
Pilots from eight different squadrons took part over 10 days.
The missile practice exercise was the largest mass firing of the infra-
The war games training helps develops pilots and RAF personnel skills and confidence in the weapon.
It also builds up their experience in safely transporting and loading live weapons onto the attack planes.
One of the RAF Lossiemouth pilots said: “It surpassed all expectations of what my first live firing exercise on the Typhoon would be.
“Selecting the weapon and knowing a live missile would come off the rail was a unique moment; hearing the missile tone and pulling the trigger, followed by a large whoosh sound and a slight wobble of the aircraft was fantastic.
“Watching the missile disappear into the sky in front of me was a moment to remember, it really is impressive how fast the Advanced Short Range Air-
“The experience has given me a real appreciation of the capability of the missile and how it can be employed in a real combat situation.”
A squadron weapons technician said: “Seeing the preparation of the aircraft and missiles was crucial to the more junior members on the squadron.
“It gave them the opportunity to understand the challenges of a live weapon firing exercise. Operating armed aircraft requires all those involved to maintain the highest levels of concentration due to the extra risks involved.
“As a weapons technician you get massive job satisfaction when you’ve loaded the aircraft, carried out all the post-
“When the aircraft returns “clean” having successfully fired its missiles, it validates the years of training, the hard work and months of preparation.”
RAF jets in major exercise off Western Isles
23 October 2022
Banshee drone targets were used in the exercise
