RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, UK 17 February – 14 March 2025
Report by Peter Davison & Colin Coulthard
Following the success of Cobra Warrior 24 last year and changes in the balance of air power over the last few months it is clear that cooperation is key. Hence this exercise based out of RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire but involving a wide spectrum of UK forces this major training event brings together more than 50 aircraft from a range of nations operating out of multiple additional UK bases, including RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Coningsby, RAF Brize Norton, and RAF Leeming.
Cobra Warrior is notable for involving NATO allies—such as France and Türkiye—and a non-NATO partner, Saudi Arabia. The participating fast jets include the F-15SA, F-16, Rafale, and the RAF’s own Eurofighter Typhoon, among others. Support comes from air-to-air refuelling assets, transport aircraft, and helicopters. The exercise offers a unique opportunity for these varied platforms and crews to conduct large-force, high-intensity missions utilising various weapons ranges, the North Sea, Northern England and Scotland to include different landscapes and communication variations.
A variety of digital conditions are simulated rather than an assumption that all systems must be running perfectly to allow mission success. A further benefit is the interpersonal benefit so that, as the RAF put it , it’s being able to say, ‘How are you?’ rather than ‘Who are you?’ So it’s building those relationships and understanding that we can operate and integrate together and we are better for it.”
The daily routine on flying days was a late morning launch returning in the afternoon following joint activities. This often included four F15s and two each from France and Turkey. The French Air Force stayed for the first week with Aeronavale Rafales participating from Brittany. Tanker support was provided from RAF Brize Norton.
Fortunately the exercise dates have coincided with a brighter period of weather in the UK following months of winter overcast offering improved photographic opportunities for hundreds of enthusiasts. RAF Waddington is to be congratulated for accepting that the public want to see how their money is spent to secure their safety so excellent facilities exist to keep everyone safe beside a busy road along the base perimeter.
The considerable public interest was partly due to the Saudi F15s making their first operational visit to UK skies. No doubt the Saudi crews also found sharing airspace with French Rafales, Turkish F-16s and RAF Typhoons an interesting experience. Waddington is also home to modern Predator UAVs that were also active during the exercise.
There now follows a selection of images from the Exercise:
