NATO’s Operation Unified Protector has given the Eurofighter Typhoon the opportunity to finally make its combat debut, with both the British Royal Air Force (RAF) and Italian air force aircraft involved in the operation. RAF operations over Libya have been mounted by a six-aircraft detachment at Gioia del Colle in southern Italy, from where they are operating alongside 12 Panavia Tornado GR.Mk 4s.
The RAF Typhoons have been flying both air-supremacy and air-interdiction sorties. The latter missions are flown in mixed pairs with Italian air force Tornados, the combined formation offering flexibility in weapon options through the carriage of 1,000-pound Enhanced Paveway IIs (EPWIIs) by the Typhoons, and 500-pound Paveway IVs and Brimstone by the Tornados. The Typhoons generally operate with pairs of advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAMs), advanced short-range air-to-air missiles (ASRAAMs) and EPWIIs, plus two tanks and a Litening III laser designator pod.
