Royal Air Force and replacement by the F-35, the RAF Lossiemouth-based 15 (Reserve) Squadron (the Tornado Operational Conversion Unit) was disbanded in March 2017. Lightning: On 23 November 2015 it was announced that a total of 138 F-35Bs will be ordered. 617 (The Dambusters) Squadron officially reformed on 18 April 2018 as an RAF Lightning Squadron. The first four aircraft arrived at RAF Marham on 7 June 2018. The Sentry AEW1, based at RAF Waddington, provides airborne early warning to detect incoming enemy aircraft and to co-ordinate the aerial battlefield. The Sentinel R1 (formally known as ASTOR – Airborne STand-Off Radar) provides a
RAF Falcons RAF Falcons The RAF Falcons are a British military parachute display team. The Falcons are based at RAF Brize Norton as part of the No. 1 Parachute Training School. Members do a 3-year tour with the team. The display season is from May to September and during the off season the team spend 3 months in Southern California training for both the Display Season and gaining qualifications appointments after the Falcons. The RAF Falcons jump from a variety of aircraft depending on aircraft availability and the nature of the display. A team of six men, nicknamed the Big Six, from