UKSF AviationAir support for UKSF operations is provided by some highly trained pilots from all branches of the UK military. RAF Special Forces FlightsRAF Special Forces are the cream of the RAF, tasked with flying UKSF forces to and from battle. Trained to penetrate deep behind enemy lines, RAF Special Forces flights operate both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. 7 Squadron (chinook helicopters) » Army Air Corps (AAC)Army pilots fly battlefield insertion/extraction and surveillance operations for UKSF. They also provide a covert transport facility for the Special Air Service. 8 Flight (SAS helicopter support) » 
Jumping from a perfectly good RAF Hercules cargo plane is something UKSF practice regularly.
7 Squadron RAF, 657 & 651 Squadron AAC are combined into the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing (JSFAW) Commando Helicopter ForceTop pilots from the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm support Royal Marines, SBS and other UKSF operations. Other Aviation SupportUKSF, as well as the Paras and Royal Marines may also be supported by any of the many squadrons in the RAF, AAC or Fleet Air Arm. For instance, it is believed that RAF Puma HC1s are supporting the SAS in Iraq. It has also been reported that No 78 Squadron RAF have been operating Merlin HC3A helicopters in support of UKSF in Afghanistan. It is also believed that UK Special Forces are sometimes supported by British-operated MI-17 helicopters. These Russian-built helicopters are fitted with western radio gear and countermeasure systems, additional armour and GPMGs mounted in the cabin doors. UKSF use the MI-17s for several reasons: there's a shortage of helicopters capable of operating across the mountains of Afghanistan, the ubiquitous MI-17 airframe is less obviously Western in appearance than say, a Chinook, and spare parts are easy to find in the region. UKSF may also work closely with the air forces of friendly nations. For example, during the 1991 Gulf War, several SAS patrols were airlifted behind Iraqi lines by Special Operations MH-53j Pavelow Helicopters of the US Air Force.     |
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