Exercise Cobra Warrior 23/1
RAF Waddington
March 2, 2023
A brief photo-report to preview the first iteration of the bi-annual Exercise Cobra Warrior 23/1 during a dull day at RAF Waddington. For three weeks pilots from India, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Belgium, Finland and the UK are working together to develop air and ground tactics from March 6, to March 24. It is the largest air exercise run by the Royal Air Force, designed to train participants in high intensity, large force, tactical air warfighting operations.

The Finnish, Indian and Royal Saudi Air Forces are taking part in Cobra Warrior for the first time. The Saudis will be flying six Typhoons from RAF Coningsby. The Indian Air Force are flying five Mirage 2000. Also based at RAF Waddington are six F-16s of the Belgian Air Force and six F-18s from the Finnish Air Force.
RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior
RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior
Left to right: General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon (FA-116) of the Belgian Air Force, inscribed; '80 years 349 Squadron. Proud of the past, Ready for the future, 349 Sqn.'
F-16AM Fighting Falcon (FA-136) of the Belgian Air Component, inscribed 'The X Tiger' and on the intake; 'XTM - 70 years 31 Squadron. 60 years NATO Tiger Association'.
RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior
Left to right: F-16AM Fighting Falcon (FA-102) of the Belgian Air Force.
RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior
RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior
Left to right: Airbus A400M-180 Atlas (CT-07) with the Belgian Air Force.
RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior
Left to right: Ilyushin IL-78MKI Midas (KJ-3453 it was RK-3453) with Indian Air Force.
RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior
RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior
Left to right: Lockheed Martin KC-130J Hercules (3209) with 32 Squadron of the Royal Saudi Air Force based at Prince Sultan Airbase.
RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior
RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior
Left to right: Boeing F/A-18C Hornets (HN-406 and HN-411) with the Finnish Air Force.
RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior
Left to right: Boeing F/A-18C Hornets (HN-448 and HN-411) with the Finnish Air Force.
RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior
RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior
Left to right: Hawker Beechcraft 350CER Shadow R.1 (ZZ416) with 14 Squadron based at RAF Waddington. 14 Squadron was reformed in 2016.
Embraer EMB-121AN Xingu (81) with the Flottille 21F Marine Nationale (French Navy) based at BAN Lann-Bihoué.
RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior
Left to right: Behind the fence!
RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior
RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior
Left to right: F/A-18C Hornets (HN-406, HN-411, HN-438 and HN-448) with the Finnish Air Force.
RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior
Left to right: F-16AM Fighting Falcons (FA-116, FA-136, FA-134 and FA-102) of the Belgian Air Force.
RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior
Left to right: Lockheed Martin C-130H-30 Hercules (1622) with 6 Squadron of the Royal Saudi Air Force.
RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior
Airbus A400M-180 Atlas (CT-07) with the Belgian Air Force.
RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior
RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington, Cobra Warrior
Left to right: RAF Waddington is home to the Red Arrows. Returning Hawks T.1s (XX202, XX177, XX323).