First RAF Shadow R2 emerges

摘要

THE FIRST RAF Shadow intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft to be outfitted to R2 standard is apparently ZZ507 (ex G-LBSB), seen at Hawarden Airport, Wales, on June 6, using the callsign 'ZZ507'. This is one of three King Air 350Cs acquired under a recommendation of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, to join the five Shadows previously in use. The other two new King Airs, G-DAYP and G-GMAD, began operating with No 14 Squadron at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire as standard commercial variants. However, G-LBSB remained with Raytheon at Broughton for conversion to the next operational Shadow.