The Royal Air Force (RAF) has taken delivery of its second Envoy IV CC Mk1 aircraft for the “timely and discreet” transport of military personnel and mission-critical equipment.
According to the service, the delivery marked the achievement of full-service capability for the RAF’s newest Command Support Air Transport (CSAT) fleet.
“Establishing the new CSAT service with Envoy IV is the culmination of months of hard work on the part of RAF, Defence Equipment & Support, and our industry partners,” an RAF Air Mobility official said.
He added that the Envoy IV will support “UK influence and diplomacy” around the world.
The RAF’s latest transport aircraft is set to replace the service’s BAe 146 C Mk3 military transport aircraft, which was retired earlier this year.
Bolstering Air Defense, Surveillance
In recent years, the British military has acquired high-performance aircraft to boost its air defense, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.
It received its first P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft during an unveiling ceremony in Seattle in 2019.
The service has also tapped Raytheon to expand and upgrade the country’s Shadow surveillance aircraft fleet for $149 million.
In addition to increasing the number of Shadow aircraft to eight, the company will install the latest UK Sovereign Defensive Aids Systems on the planes.
Earlier this year, RAF commanders asked for more P-8 Poseidon aircraft as Russia ramps up military activities near UK borders.