No. 1312 Flight RAF

While the UK officially does not foresee any threat to the Falkland Islands, it maintains significant military forces as a deterrent against any aggressor. However Argentina is the only other country to claim ownership of the Islands. These forces also protect South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

The Royal Air Force contribution to this deterrent is based at RAF Mount Pleasant, the primary component of which is No. 1435 Flight, with its four Tornado F3s providing air defence.

No. 1312 Flight operates in support of this force providing aerial refueling, air transport, search and rescue and maritime patrol. The latter is an important mission to the Falkland Islands government as the Hercules verifies that all fishing vessels are licensed; at £1,000 per licence per season this is an extremely lucrative source of income.

Having been disbanded 1957, No. 1312 Flight reformed at Port Stanley in 1983 before moving to the newly opened Mount Pleasant in 1986.

RAF Hercules units

C1/C3