扒哥吃瓜

• RAF Regiment gunners in the Middle East become聽鈥檃ces鈥櫬爁or the first time in the unit鈥檚 history.

• The聽鈥淎ce鈥澛爐erm聽is traditionally聽used聽for a pilot聽who聽shoots down聽at least five聽enemy聽aircraft聽in combat.

• Gunners in the RAF Regiment have won the term for the first time through shooting down five or more Iranian聽drones.

Crack聽gunners from聽the聽RAF Regiment聽have become聽鈥榓ces鈥櫬爁or the first time,聽having聽blasted聽Iranian drones out of the sky聽during operations in the Middle聽East,聽protecting British interests, partners,聽and personnel in the region.聽

The four聽personnel聽achieved 鈥渁ce鈥� status by taking out five or more聽drones during operations in the Middle East.聽

The聽鈥檃ce鈥櫬爐itle is based on the same definition used in the Second World War, when a pilot was聽named聽an聽鈥檃ce鈥櫬爄f they shot down five or more enemy聽aircraft.聽聽

The evolution of the聽much-acclaimed mark of respect and recognition聽demonstrates聽how no matter the era, the RAF still protects the skies.聽聽

The new 鈥榓ces鈥櫬爋perate聽a complex system of defences to protect聽personnel聽and equipment on the ground.聽To defeat the enemy, they combine early-warning sensors,聽electronic聽warfare, and the聽state-of-the-art聽Rapid Sentry air defence system聽armed with Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM).聽聽

RAF聽Regiment gunners in the Middle East face a range of threats, including from uncrewed systems, hostile drones, and complex swarming technologies designed to disrupt operations and endanger personnel on the ground.聽聽

An RAF Regiment gunner 鈥榓ce鈥� said:聽

We are all RAF Gunners鈥攕ome as young as 18, many of us with over five confirmed engagements, and some just eight months out of training. We are proud to聽represent聽the next generation of the Corps.聽

Under constant threat, we聽are responsible for聽detecting,聽tracking聽and engaging targets, often while coming under fire but we continue to load and聽operate聽equipment even as missiles land around us.聽

We take immense pride in our role. Working long, demanding shifts in high-pressure conditions, we聽remain聽focused, determined, and resilient.

Minister for the Armed Forces Al Carns MP said:

Our teams across the Middle East are operating in some of the most demanding conditions imaginable, and they are delivering with professionalism, courage and real combat skill.

I am hugely proud of our RAF Regiment. Night after night, under threat, they are protecting British lives and British interests, and doing so in the finest traditions of the RAF Regiment.

Several of these heroes have achieved 鈥榓ce鈥� status neutralising Iranian drones. The first of its kind, it isn鈥檛 just impressive, it is exceptional.

We don鈥檛 say it enough in the UK, but thank you for your Service.

Wing Commander Richard Maughan, Officer Commanding No. 2 Counter鈥慤ncrewed Aerial Systems Wing said:聽

Since the outset of the conflict in late February 2026, RAF Regiment personnel鈥攕upported by Royal Air Force engineers and air surveillance officers鈥攈ave been at the forefront of countering persistent one鈥憌ay attack聽drones聽targeting聽UK and Allied personnel, infrastructure, and assets in the Middle East.聽聽聽

During the 23rd and 24th of March, RAF Regiment gunners聽operating聽within a ground鈥慴ased counter鈥慸rone聽unit delivered the most effective defensive outcome achieved in a single night to date, underscoring the Regiment鈥檚聽central role聽in force protection within a high鈥憈hreat environment.聽

Air Cdre Paul Hamilton, Commander Global Enablement:聽

Our deployed gunners are showing outstanding courage to defend deployed UK personnel, allies, and partners every day.聽聽

They are genuinely putting their own lives at risk in the defence of others; as their Commandant General, I am extremely proud of the professionalism and self-sacrifice being displayed by these amazing people.聽

This defensive action is in line with the UK鈥檚 policy to defend British people, interests, and partners in the region while avoiding being drawn into the wider conflict.

It comes as聽the Defence Secretary this week announced that the UK will deploy Rapid Sentry to Kuwait to support the country鈥檚 air defence against Iranian attacks.聽聽

The MOD聽also聽confirmed last week that the UK intends to buy further Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM) to supply to British forces and support partners in the region, including with training in the UK where needed.聽聽聽

As RAF Regiment gunners have shown, Lightweight Multirole Missiles, manufactured by Thales UK in Belfast, have proven highly capable for air defence in the Middle East.