Expeditionary Air Wing

This article is about the RAF unit. For the similarly named USAF concept, see Air Expeditionary Wing.

On 1 April 2006 Expeditionary Air Wings (EAWs) were formed at nine of the RAF's Main Operating Bases. Each EAW has its own identity and is led by the Station Commander, supported by his Station management team. The deployable elements of the station structures form the core of each EAW, reinforced by assigned Capability-based Module Readiness System (CMRS) personnel and elements of the Air Combat Support Units (ACSUs). EAWs enable the RAF to train as cohesive units of Air Power which are prepared and capable of transitioning quickly from peacetime structures and deploying swiftly on operations.

Royal Air Force Expeditionary Air Wings

• RAF Waddington - No 34 EAW (ISTAR)
• RAF Lyneham - No 38 EAW (Air Transport)
• RAF Coningsby - No 121 EAW (Multi Role)
• RAF Cottesmore - No 122 EAW (Fighter / Ground Attack)
• RAF Leuchars - No 125 EAW (Fighter)
• RAF Leeming - No 135 EAW (Fighter)
• RAF Marham - No 138 EAW (Fighter / Ground Attack)
• RAF Lossiemouth - No 140 EAW (Fighter / Ground Attack)
• RAF Kinloss - No 325 EAW (Maritime Patrol & Surveillance)

Deployed EAWs

• Al-Udeid, Qatar - No 901 EAW
• Seeb, Oman - No 902 EAW
• Basra, Iraq - No 903 EAW (Stood down May 2009^[1])
• Kandahar, Afghanistan - No 903 EAW (Previously No. 904 EAW until December 2009 ^[2])
• RAF Mount Pleasant, Falklands Islands - No. 905 Expeditionary Air Wing; 1 Apr 2006 - Current,
• Headquarters 906 Expeditionary Air Wing at Gioia del Colle Air Base for Operation Ellamy^[3]
  • 10 × Typhoon multirole fighters from RAF Coningsby and RAF Leuchars,^[4]
  • 16 × Tornado GR4 interdictor/strike aircraft from RAF Marham^[5][6]
• Headquarters 907 Expeditionary Air Wing at RAF Akrotiri^[3]
  • 3 × Sentry AEW.1 AWACS aircraft from RAF Waddington^[7]
  • 1 x Nimrod R1 signals intelligence aircraft^[8] - operational requirements forced the Royal Air Force to deploy one of its two remaining Nimrod R1s two weeks before they were due to be withdrawn.^[9]
  • 1 x Sentinel R1 airborne standoff radar aircraft from RAF Waddington^[3]
  • 2 × VC10 air-to-air refuelling tankers from RAF Brize Norton^[10]

References

1. ^ http://www.raf.mod.uk/currentoperations/903eaw.cfm
2. ^ http://www.raf.mod.uk/currentoperations/903eaw.cfm
3. ^ ^{a b c} "Coalition operations in Libya to continue". Ministry of Defence. 21 March 2010. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/CoalitionOperationsInLibyaToContinue.htm. 
4. ^ Judd, Terri (19 March 2011). "Operation Ellamy: Designed to strike from air and sea". The Independent (London). http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/operation-ellamy-designed-to-strike-from-air-and-sea-2246411.html. Retrieved 20 March 2011. 
5. ^ "Libya update". Ministry of Defence. 20 March 2011. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/LibyaUpdate.htm. 
6. ^ "Operational Update on Libya – 25 March". Ministry of Defence. 25 March 2011. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/OperationalUpdateOnLibya25March.htm. Retrieved 25 March 2011. 
7. ^ "Coalition Against Gadhafi Growing". Defense News. 20 March 2011. Archived from the original on 21 March 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5xMRSaUtK. Retrieved 21 March 2011. 
8. ^ "UK military to be stretched by long Libya campaign". Reuters. March 19, 2011. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/03/19/uk-libya-britain-military-idUKTRE72H7KY20110319. 
9. ^ Jane's Defence Weekly, 16 March 2011
10. ^ "VC10 and TriStar Support Operations". Royal Air Force. 20 March 2011. Archived from the original on 21 March 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5xMR4ozTh. Retrieved 21 March 2011. 

• A list of all RAF Expeditionary Air Wings on the RAF Marham website