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 Sandtoft RAF Sandtoft RAF Sandtoft is a former Royal Air Force Station in North Lincolnshire between Doncaster, South Yorkshire and Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, England. RAF Sandtoft opened in February 1944 as a satellite airfield to RAF Lindholme which was 3 miles to the west. No. 1 Group, RAF Bomber Command based a number of aircraft here from the RAF 1667 Heavy Conversion Unit, including Handley Page Halifaxes from RAF Faldingworth and Avro Lancasters. In November 1944 the airfield transferred to No. 7 Group Bomber Command. The RAF station closed on 10 November 1945. After the Second World War, the airfield was