Typhoon Growth Continues With Reformation Of No1(F) Squadron

The Royal Air Force has announced that the fourth front line Typhoon squadron will stand up at RAF Leuchars in September. Number 1 (Fighter) Squadron will reform officially at the RAF Leuchars Jubilee Airshow on 15 September becoming the fourth front line squadron to operate the multi-role FGR4 Typhoon. It will be the second Typhoon Squadron based in Scotland, following the stand up of 6 Squadron at Leuchars in 2010. 

1(F) Squadron has a distinguished history becoming a founder squadron in the Royal Flying Corps, the RAF’s predecessor, in 1912. Typhoon will join iconic aircraft like the Hurricane and Harrier that the Squadron has flown. The reformed Squadron will look to build on the recent success of the multi-role Typhoon now ‘battle-proven’ after its deployment over Libya in 2011.

Air Officer Scotland and Station Commander RAF Leuchars, Air Commodore Gavin Parker said:  “2012 is the 100th anniversary of the creation of 1(F) Squadron. I can think of no better way to celebrate in this Diamond Jubilee year, than to return the Squadron to front line status, equipped with Typhoon, an aircraft that is central to the RAF’s current and future combat air capabilities. 

“The stand up of the fourth front line squadron is the next major milestone in the growth of Typhoon as we build towards Future Force 20. The success of the programme to date is testament to the MOD’s continued investment in future battle-winning capabilities for the UK’s Armed Forces, the excellent work done by Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) in continuing to develop and deliver on the aircraft’s huge potential, and the hard work and professionalism of all RAF personnel, both Service and civilian, here at RAF Leuchars and at RAF Coningsby. 

“As we prepare to transition the Typhoon Force in Scotland to RAF Lossiemouth over the next few years, having two squadrons will improve our resilience and increase our flying capacity, allowing us to maximise our training opportunities, whilst meeting our operational commitments.

“1(F) Squadron will be the second Typhoon squadron to stand-up at RAF Leuchars. Since standing up 6 Squadron in 2010, we have seen Typhoon come of age as a multi-role aircraft maintaining the defence of UK sovereign airspace through the Quick Reaction Alert role, both here and in the Falkland Islands, as well as conducting air-to-air and air-to-surface sorties to protect the civilian population of Libya during Operation Ellamy.”