The UK's RAF Typhoon aircraft of 6 Squadron have been exercising with a multinational contingent at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates.
This has been the first time that aircraft, engineers and pilots from the squadron, normally based at RAF Leuchars, have deployed together on the Advanced Tactical Leadership Course (ATLC), which runs each year at Al Dhafra Air Base.
Wing Commander Mike Baulkwill, Officer Commanding 6 Squadron, said" "We have been sent out here to conduct this multinational exercise that looks at large scale air operations involving many aircraft.
"We have been operating huge missions with other nations, sometimes operating an air picture involving 60 aircraft with simulated high threat missions. It has been incredibly hard work for all of the pilots and the ground crew to support this," he added.
The exercise runs over a number of weeks, giving the pilots, ground crew and support staff an opportunity to work alongside technicians and pilots from other nations. It has been conducted in two parts - one wave of flying per day in support of the ATLC missions and one following wave each day where the pilots can fly alongside multinational aircraft to conduct further training, according to the UK government website.
"We have found ourselves pushed hard, and the Typhoon aircraft has performed exceptionally well," said Wing Commander Baulkwill.
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