MontImageMedia - In Memoriam
2 Royal Navy Sea King ASACS (Airborne Surveillance and Control System)
The exercise, which will test the Ministry of Defence’s response to a airborne terrorist threat during the Olympics, will last for eight days and involve aircraft based at RAF Northolt.
An MoD spokesman said: “In preparation for their important role, a series of exercises has been taking place, bringing together all of the military assets such as helicopters, fighters, ground-based radar systems and air defence missile systems. During early May this training will culminate with a large military exercise in London and the Home Counties.”
Ex Olympic Guardian will test the response to an unknown aircraft entering the restricted airspace over London, which no aircraft can enter without approval from a specialist flight planning centre set up to handle London air traffic during the Olympics.
RAF Typhoon, RAF Puma, Royal Navy and Army Lynx helicopters and other target aircraft, will fly between 4,000ft and 2,000ft above ground level for the majority of the exercise. Although only the Typhoons and Sea Kings are based at RAF Northolt, the other aircraft will be based at a number of locations around London.
E-3D Sentry AWACS aircraft and VC-10 tankers will also operate around London during the exercise, although these will be flying in each day from their home stations in Lincolnshire and Oxfordshire.
On three occasions aircraft will descend as low as 500 feet. At least one of these occasions will involve a Typhoon interceptor operating as late as 10.30pm, on 5th May.
The MoD spokesman added: “It is recognised that military aircraft operating at this level could cause concern to the general public; therefore, time spent at the lowest levels will be minimised. However, members of the public should be reassured that safety remains are utmost priority, and our pilots and aircrew are well-trained and experienced in these sorts of operations.”
“We regret any disturbance caused, but we hope that the public will understand why this important training has to take place.”
2 Royal Navy Sea King ASACS (Airborne Surveillance and Control System)
The exercise, which will test the Ministry of Defence’s response to a airborne terrorist threat during the Olympics, will last for eight days and involve aircraft based at RAF Northolt.
An MoD spokesman said: “In preparation for their important role, a series of exercises has been taking place, bringing together all of the military assets such as helicopters, fighters, ground-based radar systems and air defence missile systems. During early May this training will culminate with a large military exercise in London and the Home Counties.”
Ex Olympic Guardian will test the response to an unknown aircraft entering the restricted airspace over London, which no aircraft can enter without approval from a specialist flight planning centre set up to handle London air traffic during the Olympics.
RAF Typhoon, RAF Puma, Royal Navy and Army Lynx helicopters and other target aircraft, will fly between 4,000ft and 2,000ft above ground level for the majority of the exercise. Although only the Typhoons and Sea Kings are based at RAF Northolt, the other aircraft will be based at a number of locations around London.
E-3D Sentry AWACS aircraft and VC-10 tankers will also operate around London during the exercise, although these will be flying in each day from their home stations in Lincolnshire and Oxfordshire.
On three occasions aircraft will descend as low as 500 feet. At least one of these occasions will involve a Typhoon interceptor operating as late as 10.30pm, on 5th May.
The MoD spokesman added: “It is recognised that military aircraft operating at this level could cause concern to the general public; therefore, time spent at the lowest levels will be minimised. However, members of the public should be reassured that safety remains are utmost priority, and our pilots and aircrew are well-trained and experienced in these sorts of operations.”
“We regret any disturbance caused, but we hope that the public will understand why this important training has to take place.”