Aerospace Service (UKIN)
Ensign | |
Command | |
---|---|
State | Isselmere-Nieland |
Headquarters - Building |
Daurmont |
Secretary of State | Bríogaith níb hÉamidh, MP |
Chief of Aerospace Staff | MRASF Sir Nathaniel Ketteridge, Bt |
Establishment - RINAF - RINASF - The Service |
1927 2003 2004 |
Arms | |
Aerospace Service | |
Royal Air Force
| |
Orbital Defence Force
| |
Base Police | |
Budget (USD, 2007) | |
Total - Per capita |
$10.718 trillion $431,270.57 |
Percentages - GDP - National budget - Defence budget |
2.25% 6.41% 34.18% |
References | |
1 See Dynamic and formal equivalence. |
The Aerospace Service of the United Kingdom of Isselmere-Nieland (UKIN) emerged from the Aerospace Service Act, 2003. The Service arose from concerns that the Royal Isselmere-Nieland Air Force (RINAF), which, through its Space Command, had been in charge of the UKIN's military presence in space,[1] would not give sufficient thought to exoatmospheric attack. The Aerospace Service Act split Space Command and most of Strategic Defence Command (those units responsible for intercontinental ballistic missiles and anti-ballistic missiles) from the RINAF to create Orbital Defence Command whilst the remainder of the old RINAF became Air Combat Command. Both commands formed part of the new Royal Isselmere-Nieland Aerospace Force (RINASF),[2] a shortlived rubric that by the start of 2004 was discarded for the present title. The smaller RINAF was re-established and Orbital Defence Command became the Isselmere-Nielander Orbital Defence Force (INODF). As yet, there is little interest in establishing an entirely separate Space Force.
Contents
History
The RINASF began its existence as the Royal Isselmere-Nieland Flying Corps, established in 1916 as a part of the Isselmere-Nielander Army (INA). In 1927, the Air Ministry Act established the Royal Isselmere-Nieland Air Force (RINAF) as a separate branch, with its own rank structure.
Starting with the launch of Sputnik in 1957, the RINAF became concerned about defending the United Kingdom against attack from space. Due to the limited defence budget, the Air Force gave the initiative low priority, concentrating instead on conventional air defences. With the creation of the Isselmere-Nielander Space Agency in 1963, however, the RINAF began its limited investment into defences against spaceborne attack, leading to the creation of its own Space Command in 1986 and finally the formation of the Orbital Defence Command as a separate entity from the old Air Force, as well as the establishment of an overarching Aerospace Force Command, in 2003.
Organisation
The RINASF is a massive organisation with comprising many smaller units. The smallest independent unit is a wing, comprised of two or more squadrons. Squadrons vary in size depending on the aircraft type and mission from twenty-two aircraft in a fighter squadron to four aircraft in a heavy bomber squadron. With few exceptions, both squadrons and wings all fly the same basic aircraft for the same basic mission.
Operationally, squadrons of smaller aircraft such as fighters and attack aircraft break down into smaller formations. Typically, these are flights of four aircraft, which sub-divide further into two-plane elements.
At higher levels, two or more wings coalesce into a group. Groups likewise have the same basic mission as their component wings, although additional units may be drafted in as detachments to perform essential support functions. Above the groups are air divisions that perform a variety of functions, albeit for a primary purpose; i.e., air defence, expeditionary, etc. Next come the numbered air forces that defend massive sectors of air and space. The last unit is an air fleet.
- Squadron
- Wing
- Group
- Air Division
- (Numbered) Air Force
- Air Fleet
Rank structure
Ranks according to modified RL North Atlantic Treaty Organization rank structure, with warrant officers officially considered part of "Other Ranks" rather than as a separate stratum.
Note on insignia: For enlisted personnel, chevrons are point down, with rank on upper arm, forearm on dress uniforms if warrant officer (upper arm on duty uniforms). Officer ranks in the Aerospace Service is on lower sleeves in dress or garrison uniforms, on epaulettes on duty uniforms. If body armour is worn, rank is on chest. Air Force officer bands and bars are surmounted by a stylised tern with the symbol of branch of service within its claws.
Code | Ministerial Ranks | Sleeve Insignia and Epaulettes[3] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
(n/a) | Minister of Defence | (n/a) | |||
(n/a) | Minister of State for the Armed Forces | ||||
(n/a) | Secretary of State for the Aerospace Service | ||||
Code | Chiefs of Staff | Sleeve Insignia and Epaulettes | |||
Air Force | Orbital Defence | ||||
(n/a) | Chief of the Defence Staff[4] (CDS) |
Rank insignia of serving officer | |||
(n/a) | Chief of the Aerospace Staff[5] (CASS) | ||||
(n/a) | Chief of the Air Staff[5] (CAS) |
Chief of Orbital Defence Staff[5] (CODS) | |||
Code | Mark of Distinction[6] | Sleeve Insignia | Epaulettes | ||
OF-11 | Aerospace Grand Marshal of Isselmere-Nieland (ASGMIN) |
Three bands[7] surmounted by crown[8] | Cowled erne bearing batons[9] crossed within laurel wreath surmounted by crown over the coat of arms circled by four five-pointed stars[10] | ||
Code | General Ranks | Sleeve Insignia | Epaulettes | ||
OF-10b | Marshal-General of the Aerospace Service[11][12] (MGAS) |
Stripe within two bands surmounted by crown | Erne bearing batons crossed within laurel wreath surmounted by crown over the coat of arms | ||
OF-10a | Marshal of the RAF[12][13] (MRAF) |
Marshal of the ODF[12] (MODF) |
Two bands surmounted by crown | Cowled erne bearing batons (AF) or stylised rockets crossed (OD) within laurel wreath surmounted by crown | |
OF-9b | Air Chief Marshal (ACM) |
Orbital Chief Marshal (OCM) |
Band surmounted by four bars and crown | Crown over three stylised roses surmounting sabre crossing baton | |
OF-9a | Air Marshal (AM) |
Orbital Marshal (OrbMar) |
Band surmounted by three bars and crown | Crown over two stylised roses surmounting sabre crossing baton | |
OF-8 | Air Lieutenant-Marshal (ALM) |
Orbital Lieutenant-Marshal (OLM) |
Band surmounted by two bars and crown | Crown over stylised rose surmounting sabre crossing baton | |
OF-7 | Air Vice-Marshal (AVM) |
Orbital Vice-Marshal (OVM) |
Band surmounted by crown | Crown surmounting sabre crossing baton | |
OF-6 | Air Commodore (ACdre) |
Orbital Commodore (OCdre) |
Four bars surmounted by crown | Crown surmounting three pips | |
Code | Senior Officers | Sleeve Insignia and Epaulettes | |||
OF-5 | Group Captain (G/C or GCapt) |
Captain (Capt [OD]) |
Four bars | ||
OF-4 | Wing Commander (WgCdr) |
Commander (Cdr [OD]) |
Three bars | ||
OF-3 | Squadron Leader (S/L or SLdr) |
Lieutenant-Commander (LCdr [OD]) |
Thin bar within two bars | ||
Code | Junior Officers/Subalterns | Sleeve and Insignia and Epaulettes | |||
OF-2 | Flight Lieutenant (FLt) |
Two bars | |||
OF-1b | Flying Officer (FO) |
Thin bar surmounting bar | |||
OF-1a | Pilot Officer (PO) |
Bar | |||
Code | Officer Cadets | Sleeve Insignia and Epaulettes | |||
OF-D | Pilot Cadet (PCdt) |
Thin bar | |||
SO | Officer Cadet (OCdt) |
Stylised cowled erne (AF) or stylised rocket circled by planet (ODF) | |||
Code | Warrant Officers | Sleeve Insignia and Epaulettes | |||
OR-10b | His Majesty's Warrant Officer of the Defence Forces[12][14] (HMWODF) |
Coat of arms within laurel wreath surmounted by crown | |||
OR-10a | Chief Warrant Officer of the Aerospace Service[12][15] (CWOAS) |
Coat of arms within laurel wreath surmounted by stylised rose | |||
OR-9d | Chief Warrant Officer of the Air Force[12][15] (CWOAF) |
Chief Warrant Officer of Orbital Defence[12][15] (CWOOD) |
Coat of arms within laurel wreath | ||
OR-9c | Chief Warrant Officer of Higher Formation[12] (CWOHF) |
Coat of arms over Air Force (AF) or Orbital Defence (ODF) symbol | |||
OR-9b | Base Chief Warrant Officer[12] (BCWO) |
Coat of arms over crossed stylised missiles (AF) or over crossed stylised rockets (ODF) | |||
OR-9a | Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) |
Coat of arms | |||
OR-8 | Master Warrant Officer (MWO) |
Crown within laurel wreath | |||
OR-7 | Warrant Officer (WO) |
Crown | |||
Code | Non-commissioned Officers | Sleeve Insignia and Epaulettes | |||
OR-6b | Flight Sergeant (FSgt) |
Three chevrons surmounted by crown | |||
OR-6a | Technical Sergeant[16] (TSgt) |
Three chevrons surmounted by four-bladed propeller (AF) or by stylised crossed rockets (ODF) | |||
OR-5b | Sergeant (Sgt) |
Three chevrons | |||
OR-5a | Master Technician or Master Corporal (MT or MCpl) |
Three chevrons, topmost dark or royal blue | |||
OR-4 | Senior Technician or Corporal (ST or Cpl) |
Two chevrons | |||
Code | Aircraftmen/-women | Crewmen/-women | Sleeve Insignia and Epaulettes | ||
OR-3 | Junior Technician or Lance-Corporal (JT or LCpl) |
Four-bladed propeller (AF JT) or chevron (LCpl or ODF JT) | |||
OR-2c | Senior Aircraftman (SAC) |
Senior Crewman (SCM) |
Three-bladed propeller or stylised crossed rockets | ||
OR-2b | Leading Aircraftman (LAC) |
Leading Crewman (LCM) |
Two-bladed propeller or Stylised rocket | ||
OR-2a | Aircraftman (AC) |
Crewman (CM) |
(n/a) | ||
OR-1 | Aircraftman Recruit (ACR) |
Crewman Recruit (CMR) |
Rank equivalencies and explanations
Several ranks within the UKINDF have different names dependent upon the branch of service or duties performed. There are a plethora of titles based on the generic rank structure for the junior ratings (e.g., Junior Engineman) in the Royal Isselmere-Nieland Air Force. Indeed, there are so many titles that they, in sum, exceed the scope of the present document.
Qualification insignia
Pilot’s Wings
Navigator/Weapon Systems Officer Wings
Paratrooper’s Wings
Types of aircraft
An attack aircraft is one that performs light to medium surface attack missions with precision or unguided weapons. Generally much lighter than bombers, attack aircraft are typically used against precise targets from the frontline to rear echelon areas deep in enemy territory.
Bomber aircraft are the RINAF's heavy hitters, carrying the largest payloads over intercontinental distances. Along with the land-based intercontinental ballistic missile silos, these aircraft form the basis of the RINAF's Strategic Defence Force contingent.
A fighter is an aircraft that operates against other aircraft and may also engage in tactical bombing of surface targets. Most RINAF aircraft, particularly the numerous DAS-2 Spectre and variants, perform both fighter and light bomber or attack roles. Certain aircraft like the DAS-3 Sea Fury are listed as fighters, but are optimised for attack missions.
Interdiction strike aircraft perform attack missions deep within enemy territory. Such aircraft are designed to use tactical nuclear weapons in combat situations should the need arise, and like the bombers are heavily shielded against electromagnetic pulses caused by the detonation of such devices.
Aircraft and ICBMs of the RINAF
- Angrboda B.1 strategic bombers
- Atlantis KC.1 multirole tanker transport aircraft
- Scimitar F.1 air superiority fighters
- Sea Fury FA.1 and T.2 STOVL fighters
- Sirius C.1 transport aircraft
- Spectre FG.3 and FGR.4 multirole fighters (being upgraded to FG.15 and FG.16 standard in 2006
- Spectre EF.12 electronic combat reconnaissance aircraft
- Swordfish S.2 interdiction strike aircraft
- Tiger F.1 interceptors
- Garuda F.1 multirole fighters
- GWS.82 Triton intercontinental ballistic missiles
- GWS.102 Vidofnir ballistic/quasi-ballistic missiles
Historic aircraft
- De Havilland Vampire
- Dassault Mirage III
- Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
- Blackburn Buccaneer
- Dassault Rafale
- Zoogie Aerospace ZaS-27 Firebird
See also
- Rank structure for the RINAF
- Rank structure for the INODF
Notes
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UKIN Security Forces |
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Defence Forces Naval Service |
Paramilitary Forces Coast Guard |
Topics on Isselmere-Nieland | ||
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