Green Flag gets Royal Air Force Typhoons combat-ready Published June 18, 2008 By 2nd Lt. Jennifer Richard Nellis AFB Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Troops on the ground may soon receive close air support from Typhoons, the Royal Air Force's newest fighter aircraft, thanks to the 549th Combat Training Squadron here. The 549th CTS conducted its most recent exercise, Green Flag 08-07, from May 23 to June 6, providing close air support training in realistic, simulated combat scenarios to U.S. and allied forces. This exercise was the last major step before the RAF Typhoons, also known as Eurofighters, are declared fully combat-ready on the target date, July 1. The seven participating Typhoons from XI Squadron, based at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, proved the aircraft's ability to put bombs on target. "We knew it was a world-beater in the air-to-air environment, but we weren't sure about the air-to-surface capability. Nevertheless you just have to look at the world today to see the relevance of an air-to-surface role, and why it is really important that this aircraft should have the air-to-surface capability," said Group Capt. Stuart Atha, Station Commander of RAF Coningsby. "Well, we have done it, we have achieved it. The guys have demonstrated the capability, which is great news," added Group Captain Atha. The U.S. participants in this Green Flag, which included 6,500 U.S. Army troops and the 14th Fighter Squadron from Misawa Air Base, Japan, learned valuable lessons working with the RAF. "The Royal Air Force participants learned a lot here, and we also learned a lot from them," said Lt. Col. Ron Hanselman, 549th CTS commander. British and U.S. air forces and ground troops learned to communicate better, even when it came down to what to call a truck. When RAF personnel called one target a "lorry," some Airmen were initially confused. Those types of communication challenges are worked out in Green Flag, said Colonel Hanselman. In the future, whether the target is called a "lorry" or a "truck," British Typhoons and U.S. Air Force aircraft will both be able to perform close air support to ground troops around the world.
