Latest news with #Vespina
Saudi Gazette
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Pro-Palestinian activists break into RAF airbase
LONDON — Pro-Palestinian activists in the UK have broken into RAF Brize Norton and sprayed two military planes with red paint in a major security breach. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has condemned the action as "disgraceful", saying that it was an "act of vandalism". Footage posted online by Palestine Action on Friday showed two people inside the Oxfordshire airbase in darkness, with one riding on a scooter up to an Airbus Voyager and spraying paint into its jet engine. The Ministry of Defense, which has also condemned the move, is now expected to conduct a review of security at UK military bases. It is working with Thames Valley Police, which is leading the investigation. Palestine Action said the activists evaded security and claimed they had put the air-to-air refuelling tankers "out of service". However, RAF engineers are assessing the damage and a defence source told the BBC they did not expect the incident to affect operations. In a statement, a Palestine Action spokesperson said: "Despite publicly condemning the Israeli government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel US and Israeli fighter jets." RAF Brize Norton serves as the hub for UK strategic air transport and refuelling, including flights to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. The air force has conducted reconnaissance flights over Gaza out of the Cyprus base. The base is encircled by a large perimeter fence, with security camera and sensors in the area in addition to manned security checkpoints. Patrols around the base are also carried out from time to time. But a defense source said these measures would not have been able to provide complete cover around the large airbase. Palestine Action has engaged in similar activity since the start of the current war in Gaza, predominantly targeting arms companies. In May, it claimed responsibility for the daubing of a US military plane in Ireland. The group said the activists who entered RAF Brize Norton used repurposed fire extinguishers to spray red paint into the planes' engines. It also said they caused "further damage" using crowbars — though this is not visible in the bodycam footage it provided. Video shows the activists then roaming around the airbase. The protesters did not spray paint on the Vespina aircraft - used by the prime minister for international travel - which was also on the base. An MoD spokeswoman said: "Our armed forces represent the very best of Britain. They put their lives on the line for us, and their display of duty, dedication and selfless personal sacrifice are an inspiration to us all. "It is our responsibility to support those who defend us." Thames Valley Police confirmed it had received a report about people gaining access to the base and causing criminal damage. "Inquiries are ongoing to locate and arrest those responsible," the force said. Lord West, Labour minister for UK security and former head of the Royal Navy, said earlier that while he was not aware of the full details, the break-in was "extremely worrying". "We can't allow thing like this to happen at all," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme, adding that breaches like it were "really a problem" for national security. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the security breach was "deeply concerning". "This is not lawful protest, it is politically motivated criminality," she said in a statement. "We must stop tolerating terrorist or extremist groups that seek to undermine our society." Shadow armed forces minister Mark Francois told the BBC any attempt to interfere with the engines of large aircraft was "totally reprehensible". He added there were "serious questions for the MoD to answer" about how protesters were able to "gain access to what is supposed to be a secure RAF airbase". — BBC
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The British Air Force One is also an aerial tanker
Executive transport for heads of state provides a means of safe and secure travel. It can also serve as an ambassador in its own right on state visits. To show support and national pride, countries prefer to operate domestic executive transports. The VC-25s that serve as Air Force One were made by Boeing while Russia's Il-96 presidential transport aircraft were manufactured by Voronezh. Naturally, the British Royal Air Force operates a modified Airbus A330 for executive transport. Britain provides the Rolls-Royce engines as well as the wings for the A330. The civilian airliner serves as the base aircraft for the A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport. Also operated by the air forces of Australia, France, Saudia Arabia, and Singapore, the A330 MRTT can transport passengers, patients, cargo, and fuel for aerial refueling. 14 MRTTs, owned by AirTanker Holdings Limited, are operated under lease by the British RAF; in RAF service, the aircraft has the Voyager KC2 or KC3. Voyager KC3 with registration ZZ336 serves as the primary air transport for the British royal family, prime minister, and other government ministers. In 2016, ZZ336 was converted for a VIP transport mission with 58 business class-type seats in the front cabin, 100 premium economy-type seats in the rear cabin, media facilities, missile detection capability, and a secure satellite communication system. However, the aircraft retained its low-visibility, matte-gray military paint scheme. It was not until 2020 that the aircraft received its gloss-white and Union Flag livery and was named Vespina. However, Vespina is not used by the RAF in the aircraft logbook, as a callsign, or flight number; the A330 MRTT operates as ZZ336. Based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, Vespina is flown by No. 10 Squadron RAF which operates the main fleet of Voyagers. On VIP missions, Vespina is typically flies with a crew of 13: a pilot, co-pilot, nine flight attendants, and two pursers. Interestingly, Vespina still retains its aerial refueling capability. The aircraft has a total fuel load of 244,000 pounds and can dispense 110,231 pounds to receiver aircraft through its two under-wing hoses and refueling pods or its centerline Fuselage Refueling Unit. In December 2022, Vespina deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar to support the FIFA World Cup with air-to-air refueling and aerial security sorties. Vespina sometimes flies as the lead aircraft in formation with the RAF Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows; this role was previously filled by a British Airways Concorde. During the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, Vespina conducted a flypast (flyover) of London.
