LIVE EXERCISE COBRA WARRIOR 25-2 RCAF F-18 HORNETS & GAF EF2000 • RAF WADDINGTON 24.09.25

Description

Exercise Cobra Warrior is run twice a year and is the largest air exercise run by the Royal Air Force. The exercise is designed to train participants in high intensity, large force, tactical air warfighting operations. Taking part in the second half of Cobra Warrior this year include contingents from the Canadian, Italian and German Forces. The Royal Canadian Air Force operate their legacy Hornets, the CF-18 (CF-188). The Italian and German Air Force will operate their version of the Eurofighter. The Italian Typhoons will be operating from RAF Coningsby. The fast jets will be supported by RAF Voyager aircraft conducting air-to-air refuelling operations, flying from RAF Brize Norton. In addition, UK Joint Helicopter Command aircraft will be participating, basing at RAF Leeming. The RAF’s Air Mobility Force will be taking part in the exercise, with sorties including deploying elements of 16 Air Assault Brigade during an associated ground mission, that forms part of the overall exercise scenario. Squadron Leader Mcfadden, the Officer Commanding 92 Squadron, runs the exercise with the RAF’s Air & Space Warfare Centre. Over three weeks, Cobra Warrior will bring the capabilities and deliver the full spectrum of Air Operations, including Defensive and Offensive Counter-Air as well as Strike Operations. These will include RAF Regiment Precision Strike Teams, Air Manoeuvre operations to support ground forces, and also developing our Joint Personnel Recovery Capability. RAF Waddington has been almost continuously active since opening as a Royal Flying Corps training base in 1916 teaching hundreds of pilots to fly a wide variety of aircraft. With the run-down of squadrons after the War, the Station was put on a care and maintenance basis in 1920. Waddington was the first base of the RAF to operate the Avro Lancaster with 44 Squadron. Post-war Waddington hosted a variety of Lancaster, and Avro Lincoln squadrons, and a squadron of lend lease Washingtons, before preparations began for the arrival of the Vulcan bomber. In June 1955 two Canberra squadrons arrived and the first Vulcans arrived in May 1957. By August 1961, three squadrons of Vulcans formed the Waddington Wing which remained here until March 1984 with the type’s planned retirement being postponed because of the Falklands conflict. RAF Waddington provided the three Vulcans for the Black Buck raids that bombed Argentine positions at Port Stanley airport. With many RAF tankers supporting the airbridge to the Falklands, six Vulcans were hastily modified for air-to-air refuelling duties to support training back in the UK. Today, Waddington is one of the RAF’s busiest operational airfields and its squadrons and personnel are involved in supporting operations all around the world. Despite the demanding operational tempo, the Station continues to maintain a high profile and has delivered record-breaking Air Shows until 2014. #cobrawarrior #tedconingsby #f18 #eurofighter #militaryaircraft Official Ted Coningsby Merchandise https://tedconingsby.co.uk/shop/ noTEDS https://tedconingsby.co.uk/noteds/ Ted Social stuff Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ted_coningsby/ Facebook https://m.facebook.com/tedconingsbyuk Twitter https://x.com/tedconingsby www.tedconingsby.co.uk Ted Coningsby Membership: Join our channel to get access to members only perks. In reality, we rely on your subscriptions to keep our channel growing, so this is a MASSIVE help and thank you to ALL of you who have subscribed. We go all over the country to get the footage we need for you to enjoy but this comes at a cost. Your membership will help fund us with the fuel and the equipment we need... https://www.youtube.com/c/tedconingsby/join TED'S SWEET AND NEAT GUIDELINES - Please: • Keep the chat and vibe family friendly (clean) • Make new members feel welcome • DO NOT POST ANY operational details or departure details • No politics or religious views • Do not ask personal questions or give out personal details • Respect our host, commentator, members of the public, aircraft AND armed forces (pilots, groundcrew and all serving members of the forces) • Keep the comments/chat positive. No negativity • Do not speculate on non factual or non-officially released aviation news • Keep it fun and on topic