Cobra Warrior 25-1

[AlexanderClover]

Date has been put down as Monday 24th February to Friday 14th March for Cobra Warrior 25-1.

Loads of rumours flying around at the moment on participants.

[iain s]

What's the rumours? Can't wait to hear.

[AlexanderClover]

Found some info. (take with a pinch of salt)

Squadrons taking part:

Royal Air Force: 1 Sqn, 3 Sqn, 12 Sqn, 207 Sqn, 617 Sqn, 10/101 Sqn, 99 Sqn, 70 Sqn, 19/20 Sqn, 27 Sqn
Royal Navy: 845 Sqn
United States: 100th AWR, 493rd FS, 495th FS
Turkish Air Force: 152 Sqn
Royal Saudi Air Force: 6 Sqn
French Air and Space Force/Navy: 31 Sqn, 11 Flt
NATO: NAEWC

Rumoured aircraft:

F-16, F-35A, F-35B, Rafale M, F-15SA, L-159, Typhoon + usual transport and tanker jets.

[MFoster]

Found some info. (take with a pinch of salt)

Squadrons taking part:

Royal Air Force: 1 Sqn, 3 Sqn, 12 Sqn, 207 Sqn, 617 Sqn, 10/101 Sqn, 99 Sqn, 70 Sqn, 19/20 Sqn, 27 Sqn
Royal Navy: 845 Sqn
United States: 100th AWR, 493rd FS, 495th FS
Turkish Air Force: 152 Sqn
Royal Saudi Air Force: 6 Sqn
French Air and Space Force/Navy: 31 Sqn, 11 Flt
NATO: NAEWC

Rumoured aircraft:

F-16, F-35A, F-35B, Rafale M, F-15SA, L-159, Typhoon + usual transport and tanker jets.

Looks to have been taken from the CAA Airspace notice so pretty legit

https://www.caa.co.uk/publication/download/23474

[reaper493]

The Saudis, Turks and French should all be at Waddo if local rumours are correct - can't see them going anywhere else really?

[reaper493]

Post I've put on my group -


Cobra Warrior 25-1.

25th February - 14th March 2025.

Info taken from published CAA document.

Please respect private property including farmers fields and private access. The fields at the 02 end are out of bounds - multiple signage remains up at the entrances to each field.

There is no night flying element in this exercise, with all exercise sorties being between 1000 and 1400, it's likely that some jets will fly in the afternoon after the main CW sorties are completed however that may be different for the Fridays of the exercise. They may also fly on the non exercise days on week 1.

Exercise Days and Times.

Week 1 - Tue and Thurs ONLY - Airspace booking 10:00 - 14:00, Planned flight times 11:00 - 13:00

Week 2/3 Mon - Fri - Airspace booking 10:00 - 14:00, Planned flight times 11:00 - 13:00

Parking Restrictions.(This is copied from last year but will probably remain the same).

No parking/waiting cones are out along Tower/White lane to the south of the base (02 end) and along the A15 from the roundabout down to the junction with Tower lane. The northern layby on white lane (S bend) is closed as normal, the southern one is open. Cones are blocking the two crash gates on the A15 as well as the small pull in just north of the wave. 30mph speed limit in place on the A15.

Participants

Believed to be at Waddington -

Royal Saudi Air Force - 6 Squadron, F-15SA.
Turkish Air Force - 152 Squadron, F-16
French Navy - Flottille 11, Rafale M

Other Participants - there is the possibility of the NATO E-3 being based at Waddington, the French Tanker is likely to be at Brize.

Royal Air Force: 1 Sqn, 3 Sqn, 12 Sqn, 207 Sqn, 617 Sqn, 10/101 Sqn, 99 Sqn, 70 Sqn, 19/20 Sqn, 27 Sqn

Royal Navy: 845 Sqn

United States: 100th AWR, 493rd FS, 495th FS

French Air and Space Force: 31 Sqn

NATO: NAEWC

[nashwa]

Would the NATO E-3s deploy to somewhere like Mildenhall or just come from Geilenkirchen? Also no F-15E involvement? And I can't see any mention of LFA7 which would be a shame.

[luke28]

LFA7 is never used as part of Cobra Warrior missions. They have used it regularly on the non mission flights though, so fingers crossed.

[reaper493]

The departure bases are all listed in the document, at a guess the E3 will be at Waddo and the French Phenix will be at Brize.

[AlexanderClover]

Latest info I’ve heard is:

6x F-15SAs
3x Rafale Ms (only here for week 1)
3x Turkish F-16s.

All to Waddo.

[Arran J]

Would the NATO E-3s deploy to somewhere like Mildenhall or just come from Geilenkirchen? Also no F-15E involvement? And I can't see any mention of LFA7 which would be a shame.

The last one the Finnish F18s used LFA7 on an exercise day. So its all pot luck as far as im aware

[reaper493]

It could have been an exercise day but it wouldn't have been an exercise sortie - but it is pot luck.

The Saudis have said they plan to do the loop.

Mike

[Dave934]

Hope they do the lakes too for the guys up north...
Dave.

[Punkrunner62]

Any idea of arrival dates for the Turkish and Saudis, planning a wee trip down from Aberdeen, thank you.
Cheers.

[reaper493]

Probably middle to end of the week prior to the exercise starting.

I'm sure more firm info will appear closer to the time

[Punkrunner62]

reaper493, thanks for that.
Cheers.

[Sentry30]

Would the NATO E-3s deploy to somewhere like Mildenhall or just come from Geilenkirchen? Also no F-15E involvement? And I can't see any mention of LFA7 which would be a shame.

E-3A's will do local missions out of Geilenkirchen if at all

[roughcutter]

reaper493, thanks for that.
Cheers.

I second that, great work bud

[Harkins]

3x Rafale Ms (only here for week 1)
3x Turkish F-16s

I hope they don't have any serviceability issues or it'll hardly be worth them coming.

Hasn't six aircraft per air arm been typical in recent years? Although maybe India brought less Mirage 2000s?

[reaper493]

6 is the norm yes, but India brought 5 Mirages in 23, Italy brought 4 F-2000 in 19, Germany bought 8? EF-2000 in 19, Canada brought 8 Hornets in 24.

When the Turks planned to come originally in 23 they were only bringing three jets then.

It's both nations first time at the exercise, so maybe they are testing the waters?