The RAF Force Protection Force was created in 2004 as the successor to the Tactical Survive to Operate Headquarters (Tac STO HQ). It consisted of Force Protection Wings which were tasked with protection of RAF stations in the UK and overseas. Each Wing was based around RAF Regiment and RAF Police squadrons, with supporting personnel.[1][2]
| RAF Force Protection Force | |
|---|---|
 RAF Regiment Gunner with MERT Chinook in Afghanistan. The gunner wears an FP (Force Protection) identifier. | |
| Active | 2004–2022 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Role | Force Protection |
| Garrison/HQ | RAF Honington |
The Force Protection Force was disbanded in November 2022 and replaced by the separate Combat Readiness Force and Air Security Force, both part of Global Enablement, which itself was created by combining the RAF Force Protection Force, Battlespace Management Operations and Support Forces.[3]
Structure
editIn 2018, there were seven Force Protection wings.[4]
No. 2 (C-UAS) Wing
edit- No. 2 (C-UAS) Wing Headquarters
- No. 63 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 34 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAuxAF
No. 3 Force Protection Wing RAF
editIts motto is Parare Et Protegrere ("Prepare & Protect").
- No. 3 RAF Force Protection Wing Headquarters
- No. 2620 (County of Norfolk) Squadron RAuxAF Regiment
- No. 6 RAF Police Squadron
- No. 15 Squadron RAF Regiment
No. 4 Force Protection Wing RAF
edit- No. 4 RAF Force Protection Wing Headquarters
- No. 2 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2624 (County of Oxfordshire) Squadron RAuxAF Regiment
- No. 7 RAF Police Squadron
No. 5 Force Protection Wing RAF
edit- No. 5 Force Protection Wing Headquarters
- No. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron RAuxAF
- No. 2622 (Highland) Squadron RAuxAF Regiment
- No. 4 RAF Police Squadron
No. 7 Force Protection Wing RAF
edit- No. 7 Force Protection Wing Headquarters
- Air Land Integration Cell
RAF Honington
RAF Honington
No. 8 Force Protection Wing RAF
edit- No. 8 Force Protection Wing Headquarters
- No. 2503 (County of Lincoln) Squadron RAuxAF Regiment
- No. 5 RAF Police Squadron
See also
edit- Airfield Defence Guards (Australia)
- RNZAF Force Protection (New Zealand)
References
edit- ^ "RAF Regiment & RAF Reserves". armedforces.co.uk. 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
- ^ "RAF Regiment - Force Protection". Royal Air Force. 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
- ^ "Global Enablement | Royal Air Force". raf.mod.uk. 6 July 2024.
- ^ "Force Protection". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 20 October 2018.