RAF to form two new Eurofighter squadrons using Tranche 1 aircraft

The Royal Air Force has elected to pull all 24 Eurofighter Tranche 1 aircraft from existing squadrons and assign them to two new squadrons that will be tasked with homeland air defense duties.

Royal Air Force Typhoon Jet Fighter MOD 45152009
Photo: SAC Andrew Seaward/MOD [OGL], via Wikimedia Commons

“The Tranche 1s will be used purely for air defence, as an upgrade [for swing-role] will be prohibitively expensive. The two squadrons of Tranche 1 Typhoons will own the air defence role, and we are also looking at using them for ‘red air’ along with the Hawk,” Air Marshal Greg Bagwell told reporters.