The British Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Typhoon fighter jets have successfully flown for eight hours and 36 minutes in the fight against ISIS, which is the longest sortie flown by the RAF aircraft to date.
The sortie was conducted on 23 September to attack and destroy a weapons cache before conducting a simultaneous strike against four truck bombs.
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RAF flight lieutenant Tom said: “Whilst this sortie was the longest flown by RAF Typhoons to date, the nature of the mission was no different to those flown day in day out over the past three years of this operation by both Typhoon and Tornado aircrew.
“These sorties would not be possible without the tireless support of our ground crew and of the air-air refuelling team who enable us to remain on station for such long periods of time.”
A pair of Typhoons refuelled on a number of occasions from RAF and Coalition air-air refuelling aircraft.
During the sortie, six Paveway IV precision-guided munitions were used to hit the targets.
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By GlobalDataThe Typhoons have also destroyed a truck bomb, a terrorist-held building, and a mortar team firing on Iraqi forces.
Tom added: “By destroying vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices and weapons caches, we not only save the lives of troops but also civilians.
“ISIS have shown no hesitation in the past in detonating these huge bombs close to civilians.”
Tornado aircraft from the RAF also destroyed five truck bombs, an armed truck, as well as an ISIS building and command post on a day that saw the RAF destroy a total of 17 terrorist targets.
Image: Flight lieutenant Tom led the mission from RAF Akrotiri. Photo: courtesy of MOD Crown Copyright.
