Exercise Eastern Venture announced

Air October 1, 2016

The deployment of RAF aircraft and personnel for Exercise Eastern Venture has been announced by Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier.

The deployment of RAF aircraft and personnel for an international Exercise programme across the Asia-Pacific region has been announced by Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier.

The Typhoon fighter and the Red Arrows will undertake public displays and training events with international Defence partners. The deployment will be supported by Voyager Air-to-Air Refuelling, C-17 Globemaster and C-130J Hercules transport aircraft.

As part of Exercise Eastern Venture, the Typhoon will be deployed from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland to Malaysia and Singapore. Exercise Eastern Venture is a Five Power Defence Arrangement between UK, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, which will see training and exercises between the crews.

Before returning to the UK in November, aircraft and crews will also participate in a series of exercises in Japan and the Republic of Korea. While the Red Arrows will visit many countries for a series of displays and flypasts, including key events in India, China and the United Arab Emirates.

Commenting on the forthcoming deployment, Sir Stephen Hillier said: “This exercise is tremendously important and it demonstrates that even though the Royal Air Force is committed to operations in the Middle East and elsewhere, we still have the capability to deploy effectively to the other side of the world, with both Typhoons, supporting Voyagers and air transport, and the Red Arrows as well.

“This reinforces the message that the UK is a globally-engaged player with global power, reinforcing our relationship with partners, and also promoting UK prosperity.”