RAF Regiment

RAF Regiment
Unit name	RAF Regiment
Caption	Cap badge of the RAF Regiment
Dates	1 February 1942 – present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Type	Airfield Defence and Force Protection
Role	Force protection, Ground Combat, Airfield Security
Size	2,000+ personnel
Command structure	No. 2 Group
Garrison	RAF Honington
Nickname	The Rock Apes
Motto	Per Ardua (Through Adversity)
Battles	Second World War, Korean War, Suez Crisis, Indonesian Confrontation, Falklands War, Gulf War, War in Afghanistan, Iraq War
Current commander	Air Commodore Anthony L. D. Innes
Ceremonial chief	King Charles III
Identification symbol	150px
Identification symbol label	Ensign

RAF Regiment. The RAF Regiment is a specialist corps within the Royal Air Force that provides ground combat support and force protection. Formed during the Second World War, its primary mission is to secure RAF airfields and other assets from ground attack, enabling air operations to proceed. The corps is renowned for its expertise in infantry tactics, air defence, and CBRN defence, operating in some of the most challenging environments alongside allies like the British Army and the United States Air Force.

History

The corps was officially formed by a Royal Warrant on 1 February 1942, in direct response to the vulnerability of RAF airfields to Luftwaffe attack during the Battle of Britain and the threat from German paratroopers. Its first major deployments were in the North African Campaign, defending airfields from the Afrika Korps. Throughout the war, squadrons served in pivotal theatres including the invasion of Sicily, the Italian Campaign, and the Burma Campaign, often fighting as elite infantry. Post-war, it saw action in the Korean War, notably during the Battle of the Imjin River, and during the Suez Crisis in 1956. The Cold War era focused on defending RAF bases in Germany from potential Warsaw Pact assault, a role that evolved through later conflicts like the Falklands War and the Gulf War.

Role and responsibilities

The primary role is force protection of RAF personnel, aircraft, and installations from ground threats. This encompasses close defence of airfields, including patrolling perimeters, manning checkpoints, and conducting counter-intrusion operations. Squadrons are trained to detect and neutralize improvised explosive devices and provide specialist CBRN reconnaissance. A key responsibility is facilitating the deployment and sustainment of UK air power worldwide by securing forward operating bases, often in hostile environments. They also contribute to national resilience tasks, supporting civil authorities in the UK, and provide specialist support to other units, including the Special Air Service.

Organization and structure

Headquartered at RAF Honington in Suffolk, the corps is commanded by an Air Commodore and forms part of No. 2 Group within Air Command. The operational force is divided into field squadrons, which are infantry units, and specialist squadrons. Field squadrons are grouped under two wings: No. 1 Wing, focused on light role infantry, and No. 2 Wing, which oversees the force protection wings. Specialist elements include the Queen's Colour Squadron, which performs ceremonial duties in London, and the Tactical Provost Wing, which handles security and policing. Squadrons are regularly attached to RAF stations across the UK and overseas, including RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.

Training and recruitment

All recruits undergo the rigorous 30-week RAF Regiment Gunner course at RAF Honington, which combines standard British Army infantry skills with specialist RAF disciplines. Training modules include advanced weapons handling on the SA80 rifle, physical endurance, tactical fieldcraft, combat engineering, and ground-based air defence. A significant portion is dedicated to operating in CBRN environments and conducting airfield defence drills. Officers complete separate training at the RAF College Cranwell before specialist instruction. Personnel are selected for their resilience and often undertake pre-deployment exercises with allies like the United States Marine Corps.

Equipment and vehicles

The corps utilizes a mix of light armoured vehicles and advanced weapon systems tailored for mobile defence. The primary patrol vehicle is the Foxhound, a mine-resistant platform, supplemented by the Jackal reconnaissance vehicle for long-range desert patrols. For air defence, squadrons operate the Starstreak high-velocity missile system mounted on Land Rovers. Standard infantry weapons include the SA80 assault rifle, L110A3 light machine gun, and L129A1 sharpshooter rifle. They also employ advanced surveillance equipment, such as CBRN detection systems and hand-launched unmanned aerial vehicles for perimeter security.

Notable operations and deployments

The corps has been deployed on continuous operations globally for decades. During the Falklands War, squadrons provided vital airfield defence at Stanley Airfield after its capture. In the 1990s, they were central to securing no-fly zone bases during Operation Southern Watch in Iraq. Following the September 11 attacks, squadrons deployed extensively to Afghanistan, protecting Kandahar Airfield and conducting ground patrols in Helmand Province as part of Operation Herrick. In Iraq, they defended Ali Al Salem Air Base and Basra Air Station during Operation Telic. More recent deployments include providing force protection for Operation Shader against ISIL from bases in Cyprus and undertaking short-term training teams in Ukraine and Somalia.

Category:Royal Air Force Category:Military units and formations established in 1942 Category:Air force infantry