F-111K Aardvark, shown in AU RAF service.
The F-111 was acquired by the RAF (entering service as the Aardvark GRS.3) in the late 60s/early 70s as a replacement for the English Electric Canberra as the mainstay of RAF Bomber Command (later moving to become the main aircraft of RAF Strike Command, alongside the Tornado GR.1/4). F-111Ks served in RAF service from 1970 - 2007, with squadrons in Britain itself (mostly at RAF Honnington, RAF Marham, and RAF Cottesmore) as well as overseas in Germany, Cyprus, and Bahrain. In addition, 3 Australian squadrons were raised at RAF Amberley in Queensland (with occasional deployments to RAF Butterworth in Malaya) as well as 2 Canadian squadrons at RAF Goose Bay in Newfoundland and Labrador. RAF Aardvarks saw service in the 1991 Gulf War and over Yugoslavia in 1999, as well as seeing service over East Timor and Iraq in the early 2000s. The last RAF Aardvarks were used for reconnaissance purposes over Afghanistan in 2006, prior to the types final retirement in 2007.
(edited Pave Tack pod mounting)