Swedish Air Force Gripen Fighters in UK

UK RAF Tornado GR4 aircraft will join Gripen fighters from the Swedish Air Force for the air component of the largest military exercise in Europe this month.>> Exercise Crown Condor takes place at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire from 6 16 October and aims to train around 1,000 RAF personnel to conduct military operations overseas.>> RAF personnel drawn from across the UK will set up a Deployed Operating Base on a disused side of the airfield to accommodate Tornado GR4s from 12 Squadron, RAF Lossiemouth and Saab Gripen aircraft from 171 Squadron, Swedish Air Force.>> This is a particularly important exercise for the Tornado squadron as it will act as a full mission rehearsal for its forthcoming deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Herrick.>> Exercise Crown Condor is the air component of Exercise Joint Warrior, a UK-wide, two week, tri-service exercise conducted in the spring and autumn of each year which is assessed as the largest exercise in Europe.>> Exercise Crown Condor enables an Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW) to test and adjust its war-fighting procedures in order to be fully prepared for any short notice contingency operations that it may be called upon to support.>> Its also an opportunity for RAF personnel to exchange ideas and gain experience operating with another nation and to foster strong relations with Sweden, a member of the Partnership for Peace programme with NATO.>> This year 140 EAW from RAF Lossiemouth will take part prior to its 12 month standby commitment for reactionary operations, which starts on 1 January 2009.