Typhoons arrive at Northolt for Olympic security exercise

02 May 2012

Typhoon fighter jets have been transferred to RAF Northolt in West London to take part in a major Olympic security exercise.

Exercise Olympic Guardian, which will run until 10 May, will see Typhoons and a variety of military helicopters and surveillance aircraft rehearse the air security plan for the Olympic Games this summer.

The move to will make the Typhoons the first fighters to be based at RAF Northolt since World War II.

The Ministry of Defence has advised people in London and the Home Counties to expect an increase in visible flying activity while the exercise is under way.

Throughout exercise Olympic Guardian, aircrews will rehearse procedures for intercepting and communicating with aircraft breaching restricted airspace during the games.

The jets will be joined on the exercise by RAF Puma helicopters, as well as Royal Navy and army Lynx helicopters carrying teams of RAF Regiment snipers.

Royal Air Force E-3D Sentry planes and Royal Navy Sea King ASACS (Airborne Surveillance and Control System) helicopters will also be flying over the capital, while Type 101 mobile ground radar systems, army air observers and the Starstreak and Rapier missile systems will be based on the ground for the duration of the exercise.

The government has not yet decided on whether it will deploy the surface-to-air missile systems for the games.

"Whilst there is no specific threat to the Games, we have to be ready to assist in delivering a safe and secure Olympics for all to enjoy," said Defence Secretary Philip Hammond.

"The fact that our state-of-the-art Typhoons will be stationed at RAF Northolt underlines the commitment of the Ministry of Defence and our armed forces to keeping the public safe at a time when the world will be watching us."