RAF hopeful of Sentinel role beyond 2014
The future of the RAF’s Sentinel R1 reconnaissance aircraft remains unclear according to service chiefs, despite positive feedback from recent operations in Mali earlier this year.
Speaking at a launch event on 4 July ahead of this weekend’s International Air Show at RAF Waddington, senior service officers said options remained open for the aircraft.
In October 2010, the government’s SDSR announced the Sentinel would be ‘withdrawn once it is no longer required to support operations in Afghanistan’. The main bulk of British forces are due to leave by the close of 2014. However, RAF commanders said any support to Afghan
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