The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has expanded its contribution
to a national effort to counter illegal immigration across the
English Channel from France, with two of its surveillance
types having been involved within recent days.
On 13 August, the Ministry of Defence announced the use
of a Boeing P-8A Poseidon MRA1 maritime patrol aircraft in
support of UK Border Force operations.
P-8A












Source: Crown Copyright
UK has committed 737NG-based P-8A to support Border
Force operation
The 737NG-derived platform was deployed to the south
coast of England from its current operating base at RAF
Kinloss in Scotland.
“This is part of a package of assistance from the Ministry
of Defence to the Home Office as they tackle small boats
crossing in the Channel,” it says.
The MoD had four days earlier announced the involvement
of an Airbus Defence & Space A400M tactical
transport, which assisted during visual searches for migrant
boats. Its 13 August statement also confirms the contribution
 being made by RAF Beechcraft King Air 350-based
Shadow R1 surveillance aircraft. Flight tracking websites
show the type as having been active around Dover in Kent
since 10 August, operating from RAF Waddington in
Lincolnshire.
Shadow R1













Source: Peter Foster/Shutterstock
King Air 350-based Shadow R1 joined operation on 10 August
“Both the P-8 Poseidon and Shadow R1 will provide further
essential support over the coming weeks, subject to weather
conditions and the Border Force’s requirements,” the MoD
says. “The aircraft will track vessels and pass information to
the Border Force, who will then take any appropriate further
action,” it adds.
Each platform carries surveillance equipment including an
electro-optical/infrared sensor, along with onboard mission
system operators.
RAF P-8A crew














Source: Crown Copyright
Mission system operators aboard Royal Air Force
Poseidon MRA1
Group Captain Chris Layden, station commander of the RAF’s
Lossiemouth base – which will from later this year house the
service’s eventually nine-strong P-8A fleet – says: “The
aircraft has significant range and endurance, as well as the
ability to support command and control and search and rescue
operations, should the Border Force or UK Coastguard require
it.”
The twinjet made its operational debut in UK service on 3
August, when one of 120 Sqn’s current two examples was
used to track a Russian navy vessel in the North Sea.