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http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/clos ... n-26062013
Royal Air Force personnel, deployed to 904 Expeditionary Air Wing’s (EAW) Tornado Detachment (TorDet), provide Ground Alert Close-Air Support (GCAS) to coalition troops across Afghanistan.
GCAS is a permanent, 24-hour duty shared between the Belgian Air Force F-16 detachment and the Tornado GR4s of the RAF, both based at Kandahar Airfield. Each nation covers a 12-hour shift per day, providing round-the-clock coverage.
The purpose of GCAS is to provide two aircraft and two crews at a high state of readiness for tasking anywhere within the Afghan Area of Operations. This will primarily be to support a Troops-in-Contact (TiC) situation whenever ground forces require air support expeditiously.
The aircraft is armed with a mix of Paveway IV bombs, DMS Brimstone missiles and the 27mm Mauser gun, as well as the Litening III targeting pod and numerous defensive aids systems. This provides the crews with great flexibility to deal with the wide range of situations they may be faced with if launched. Once the aircraft are ready, the crews will declare themselves ‘On State’, prior to adopting an alert posture in the GCAS ready-room, awaiting the ‘scramble’ call.
When asked about GCAS, RAF Navigator Flight Lieutenant ‘Kingy’ stated: “GCAS is the modern day equivalent of the alert posture held by the RAF’s fighter crews in WWII.
The location, aircraft, weapons and targets may have changed dramatically, yet the basic principle remains unchanged; air and ground crews at a heightened state of readiness waiting for the call to ‘Scramble’.
When it comes, it all happens very quickly, the adrenaline really kicking in because you know you are launching to provide vital air support to the troops on the ground.
As you run to the aircraft, you probably have no idea where you are going,
what nationality troops you will be supporting or
what situation you may be faced with until you receive the Scramble message over the radio.
It gives a great sense of achievement and satisfaction to everyone involved to get the jets ready to launch in such a short space of time,
knowing that every minute saved could make all the difference in a potential life-or-death situation out on the ground.
It really is the ultimate demonstration of Squadron teamwork.”
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Photographs: Cpl Robinson
904 EAW, TorDet GCAS