Typhoon jets based at RAF Coningsby playing key role as Iran conflict escalates
Military aircraft based at RAF Coningsby is playing an important role as the raging Iran conflict escalates across the Middle East.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has stressed that the UK played no part in the attacks on Iran by the USA and Israel, which resulted in the death of the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
It was a wide-scale military attack, aimed at bringing down Iran’s nuclear programme and removing the country’s leadership.
However, retaliatory strikes have since been made by Iran, targeting US and UK bases and allies in countries throughout the Middle East, such as Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
And the PM confirmed over the weekend that RAF Typhoon fighter jets have been patrolling the skies around Qatar as part of a defensive operation.
RAF Coningsby is one of two main Quick Reaction Alert stations in the UK where RAF Typhoons are primarily based – the other is RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland. Coningsby is also the training centre for Typhoon pilots
Speaking from Downing Street on Saturday, Sir Keir said: “As part of our commitments to the security of our allies in the Middle East, we have a range of defensive capabilities in the region which we have recently strengthened.
“Our forces are active and British planes are in the sky today as part of co-ordinated regional defensive operations to protect our interest, and our allies, as Britain has done before, in line with international law.”
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has since confirmed that an RAF Typhoon jet shot down an Iranian drone heading towards Qatar on Sunday (March 1).
An MoD spokesperson said: “A Royal Air Force Typhoon, operating from Qatar as part of the joint UK-Qatar Typhoon Squadron, successfully took out an Iranian drone heading towards Qatari territory.
“The Typhoon jet was conducting a defensive air patrol and used an air‑to‑air missile to shoot down the drone, ensuring the security of Qatar’s airspace and British interests in the region.
"Our Armed Forces are playing a vital role to protect our people, our interests and our allies.”
The destruction of the drone represents the joint squadron's first operational interception in defence of Qatar.
Armed Forces Minister Al Carns praised the RAF for the interception. Writing on X, he said: "The professionalism of our RAF is remarkable. Good work. Keep it going."
The joint UK-Qatar Typhoon Squadron, known as No.12 Squadron, is based at Coningsby, alongside two other frontline, combat-ready Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 units. All are said to provide the RAF with “a multi-role combat capability for air policing, peace support and high-intensity conflict”.
No.12 Squadron reactivated in July, 2018 and has been integrating Qatar Emiri Air Force air and ground crews in order to provide training and support as part of the Qatari purchase of 24 Typhoons from the UK.
In recent years, RAF Typhoons have also successfully downed Iranian one-way attack drones targeting Israel. They have been highly praised as “a critical measure to prevent potential chaos and further escalation in the Middle East” and their pilots were previously described by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as “the best of the best”.
Meanwhile, the current Prime Minister is maintaining his stance not to allow the UK to join the offensive actions of the US and Israel, saying the country must “learn lessons from the mistakes of Iraq” back in 2003.
However, he has agreed to a US request to use British military bases for “defensive strikes” on Iranian missile sites and has made clear his views on Iran.
He said: “We have long been clear the regime in Iran is utterly abhorrent. They have murdered thousands of their own people, brutally crushed dissent and sought to destabilise the region.”
Sir Keir added that the Iranian regime posed a “direct threat” to dissidents and to the Jewish community in the UK and said: “Over the last year alone, they have backed more than 20 potentially lethal attacks on UK soil.
“Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. They should refrain from further strikes, give up their weapons programmes and cease the appalling violence and repression against the Iranian people, who deserve the right to determine their own future.”
The Conservative MP for Horncastle and Louth, Victoria Atkins, is monitoring developments carefully and was alarmed by a drone strike on a British RAF base in Cyprus on Sunday.
In a post on Facebook, she said: “Emerging reports of a drone strike on RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus are deeply concerning.
"There are no reports of casualties at this time, thankfully. My thoughts are with the whole RAF family, particularly constituents. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can help in any way.”