
The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) Leeming Hawk Squadron has participated in a two-week exercise, Ex Slovak Hawk III, in Slovakia.
During the exercise, RAF pilots based at RAF Leeming trained Nato partners in UK air combat tactics and techniques.
The exercise involved air combat instructors from Number 100 Squadron, who operated out of Sliac Air Base, central Slovakia, and an experienced instructor pilot from the Slovak Air Force.
Using three Hawk TMK1 aircraft of 100 Squadron, the training scenarios involved two pilots fighting against a single enemy pilot using UK tactics and techniques.
100 Squadron air combat instructor, squadron leader Phil Stewart said: “The Hawk is a basic aircraft, but it is manoeuvrable just like a frontline fast jet.
“The two seats that it has enables us to train other pilots, give them the experience in the back of the aircraft and take away some new tactics and procedures for their own air force.”
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By GlobalDataAdditionally, one of the Hawk jet pilots carried out a one on one air combat scenario against the MIG-29.
Since 2007, the exercise has been conducted for the third time and builds on training from previous years.
100 Squadron Wing commanding officer, commander Andy Wright said: “The idea of the exercise is that we train the trainers.
"We teach their top level instructors, who will hopefully then take on their experiences here and develop their own air combat training.
“They have done an excellent job of preparing themselves for the exercise so we have got as much as we can out of each sortie. It’s been very rewarding and challenging for us all and overall has been a great experience.”
Image: Pilots from 100 Sqn training in Slovakia as part in Ex Slovak Hawk III. Photo: © MOD Crown Copyright 2016.