For many years, Lincolnshire has resonated to fast jet activity and so it was again with Exercise Cobra Warrior 25-1 planned and coordinated from RAF Waddington from February 24 to March 14, 2025. AeroResource’s Ian Harding provides a brief overview of this major international UK led exercise which since from 2022 has become a two-part spring and autumnal exercise. 

RAF Waddington again hosted the main International fast jet component which for this series comprised six Royal Saudi Air Force Force F-15SA’s from 6 Squadron based at King Khalid Air Base, three Turkish Air Force F-16C/D from 152 Filo Akincilar based at Incirlik, and three French Air Force Rafale B’s drawn from EC.01/02/03.004 based at St.Dizier. Other participating nations, bases, and aircraft included:

RAF Brize Norton- Boeing C-17A Globemaster III, Airbus A400M Atlas C1, Airbus Voyager KC2/3 plus deployed French Air Force Airbus A330-243MRTT

RAF Coningsby – Typhoon FGR4

RAF Leeming- UK Joint Aviation Command helicopters including Army Air Corps Apache AH-64E Guardian and Royal Navy Wildcat AH1

RAF Lossiemouth- Typhoon FGR4

RAF Marham- F-35B Lightning II.  

In addition, French Air Force E-3A AWACS and French Navy Rafale M aircraft participated flying from their home bases (Istres and Landivisiau) during the first two Exercise weeks.

The RAF’s Air Mobility Force participated with sorties including deploying elements of 16 Air Assault Brigade during associated ground missions that formed part of the overall exercise scenario.

Arrivals

With the Israel Defence Force and Indian Air Force adding international spice to the event in recent years, it was the RSAF latest generational fighter; the F-15SA, which did so for this years spring issue. They arrived on February 17 (TIGER 01 Flight) having been supported with in-flight refuelling from 24 Squadron RSAF Airbus A330-243MRTT aircraft which landed at East Midlands Airport on both legs. Additional support was provided by a significant number of C-130H/KC-130J from 4/16/32 Squadrons.

The Turkish Air Force were very welcome first time attendees. Arriving on February 19, their inward/outward legs were supported by A400M’s from 221 Filo based at Kayseri/Erkilet Air Base. French Air Force Rafale B’s also arrived on February 19 with their support provided by an Airbus A400M. Navy support saw visits by  Embraer EMB-121 Xingu and Falcon 10MER aircraft.

Missions

Exercise Cobra Warrior provides the participants with an invaluable opportunity for international allies to train together in developing operational tactics in the air which advance throughout the exercise duration. With over 50 aircraft participating, the Exercise is designed to train participants in high intensity, large force, tactical air war fighting operations. Operational missions contained air-to-air refuelling which was conducted by RAF Voyager KC2/3 tanker aircraft operating from RAF Brize Norton using MADRAS/TARTAN call signs plus a French Air Force Airbus A330-243 Phenix MRTT from 31 EARTS based at Istres Air Base (WALNUT 15). F-UJCO/049 deployed initially but it returned home at the start of week 1 following damage to an engine cowling and was quickly replaced by F-UJCL/046 which returned home at the end of week 2. Both RAF and French tankers joined forces for the morning missions during the first two weeks. RAF tankers in the main supported the afternoon missions. 

Co-ordination of the Exercise was the responsibility of the RAF Air and Space Warfare Centre based at RAF Waddington, who throughout the three week exercise duration, brought together their capabilities to deliver the full spectrum of Air Operations, including Defensive and Offensive Counter-Air as well as Strike Operations. These included RAF Regiment Precision Strike Teams, Air Manoeuvre operations to support ground forces, and also developing Joint Personnel Recovery Capabilities.

Cobra Warrior operational missions were scheduled for three days during week 1, and each day thereafter.  French Air Force Rafale’s returned home at the end of week 1 followed by French Navy Rafales who concluded their participation during week 2. The RSAF and TUAF fighter elements flew both morning and afternoon missions/sorties during week 1 using SMASH/TIGER (RSAF) and FATIH (TUAF) call signs. All three nations completed some afternoon out of area flying including low level especially the French Air Force Rafales who were captured at low level in Scotland.  With Ramadan commencing on Friday evening February 28, it was understandable that the RSAF flew only morning missions in the main during the last two weeks of the exercise. 

Cobra Warrior always provides a ‘surprise’ tactical element and perhaps this series ‘award’ should go to Carlisle Airport which on March 6-7 hosted a RAF Airbus A400M Atlas C1, a French Air Force A400M and Hercules C-130J aircraft, Army Aviation Corps AH-64E Guardian Apache (3 Regiment) and Commando Helicopter Force Wildcat AH1 (847 NAS) from RNAS Yeovilton. This event was part of a Joint Personal Recovery training mission which saw the helicopters provide overwatch whilst the Navy Wildcats patrolled the skies securing the pick up area in Cumbria. RAF Typhoon FGR4’s and a NATO E-3D AWACS helped secure the area from above. This again reflected the increasing coordination and cooperation needed during the turbulent and uncertain times we now face.

There is no doubting the importance and relevance of the Cobra Warrior series as NATO; in particular the European forces, comes under increased pressure to build their defence forces and spending as a proportion of GDP. Further evidence of these multinational exercises outside the US include the likes of Anatolian Eagle (Turkey), Iniochos (Greece), and Ramstein Flag (Northern Europe in 2025) both of which are underway at the current time. With no real end in sight in the horrendous Russian invasion of Ukraine, it has never been more important that ‘genuine’ partners continue to develop relationships to counter the increasing global threats our increasingly uncertain world faces.

There seems little doubt that other interesting nations will take every opportunity to participate in Cobra Warrior when the opportunity arises and world circumstances dictate. We shall look forward to Cobra Warrior 25-2 and beyond but hopefully with smaller crowds!!

You can find out more about the exercise on the RAF’s website: https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/air-forces-unite-in-multinational-air-exercise/

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