The first iteration of the 02 Cobra Warrior exercise begins in England next Thursday (2023). There will be 70 military aircraft from United States, Saudi Arabia, Finland, Belgium and India, operating in several bases in the country, in what is considered the largest air combat training carried out by the British.
The first Royal Saudi Air Force aircraft arrived at Coningsby and Waddington bases yesterday. The RSAF will participate with six Eurofighter Typhoon fighters and an A330 MRTT tanker, both models already operated by the British Royal Air Force (RAF). This is the first time the Saudis have participated in Cobra Warrior.
Yesterday RAF Waddington welcomed the Royal Saudi Air Force!🇸🇦 They were arriving for Exercise Cobra Warrior this March- They arrived in an A330 MRTT. This is the first time we have ever welcomed this aircraft to Waddo so it was a very special event!#wearewaddo #A330 #retankers pic.twitter.com/vLfSAs6jwk
— RAF Waddington (@RAFWaddington) February 27, 2023
India and Finland are also debuting in the RAF exercise. The Indian Air Force will fly five Mirage 2000 fighters, two C-17 Globemaster III freighters and an Il-78 Midas tanker.
The Finnish contingent will participate with six F/A-18C/D Hornet. According to the RAF, the Finnish participation is part of a wider training activity in of the UK-led t Expeditionary Force, known as JEF Warrior.
“It is wonderful to once again welcome our RAF colleagues and international colleagues to RAF Waddington to take part in the world-class aerial exercise that is Cobra Warrior”, said Waddington base commander, Group Captain Lorriman-Hughes. “This biannual event provides an invaluable opportunity for international allies to train together in developing operational tactics in the air.”
The training will also have F-16 fighters of the Belgian Air Component and US Air Force aircraft based at RAF Lakenheath. In addition to hosting the training, the RAF participates with its Typhoon fighters, A330 MRTT Voyager tankers, helicopters and the Air Mobility Force.
Held twice a year, the Cobra Warrior exercise is designed to train participants in high-intensity, high-force tactical aerial combat operations. The event will take place from the 2nd to the 24th of March, will have the participation of 70 aircraft and is being conducted by servicemen from RAF Waddington.
With information from Royal Air Force
