Trusty Tornado Watches Over Afghan Exit 15.05.13
19The campaign in Afghanistan is considered very much a ground based effort by ISAF forces -- but it couldn't be done without its air support which underpins almost all operations in theatre.
Forces News has been to Kandahar to see how the job of the tornado has changed under Herrick 18 and to find out just how long they will remain there.
The RAF may have a very small footprint in Afghanistan but its air support covers the whole of the country, providing an unchallenged advantage against the Taliban.
Wing Commander Rich Yates, OC of 31 Squadron, said:.
"The tornado has two main roles in theatre," said 31 Squadron's OC Wing Commander Rich Yates.
"One is to provide close air support for coalition and UK forces. Our second role is reconnaissance, and we use our various camera pods to take images of activity on the ground, which is fed into support the UK and coalition ground forces."
Intelligence and surveillance gathered from the air enable forces on the ground to manoeuvre more safely, with the close air support giving protection if they run into trouble.
While British Tornados remain crucial to the campaign in Afghanistan, their future there post 2014 is still to be decided. When their time does come to an end they can withdraw within a matter of weeks.