On March 6, the latest iteration of the biannual Exercise Cobra Warrior (CW23-1) commenced over the skies of the United Kingdom. Ben Stanley Hall looks at the various assets involved, support equipment and mission sets as well as a chat with some of its participants
Fighter pilots from all over the world flew into Lincolnshire in early March, to participate in the RAF’s Cobra Warrior exercise. Indian Air Force Mirages, Finnish F/A-18C Hornets, Belgian F-16s congregated at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, while a mere 20 miles down the road, RAF Coningsby was hosting Typhoons from Saudi Arabia. All the nations’ flying personnel would have a chance to hone their skills in 'high intensity, large force, tactical air warfighting operations’ that included the RAF and locally based USAFE assets. The latter comprised F-15E Strike Eagles and F-35A Lightning IIs from the 48th Fighter Wing based at RAF Lakenheath and 100th Air Refueling Wing KC-135Rs from RAF Mildenhall.
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