At a time of unprecedented international tension, with war raging in Europe and Russian aggression reaching new levels, the people at RAF Lossiemouth find themselves on high alert patrolling the UK’s airspace and the high seas to ensure the security of the UK and our allies.
Lossiemouth is the place where Typhoons are on Quick Reaction Alert, fully armed and ready to launch in minutes to intercept any aircraft that threatens UK airspace, and across six months of filming cameras have been given unprecedented access to aircraft, pilots and crews who fly a range of vital missions.
With Lossiemouth being home to over 3,000 people, the series will take in the breadth of work undertaken by the personnel based in this key position as they patrol the seas around Britain hunting submarines and tracking suspicious Russian shipping; police NATO’s airspace in the skies over eastern Europe and deploy overseas to provide air support in the ongoing fight against terrorist groups such as Daesh in the Middle East.
The 6x60 series will not only show the work that takes place on the frontline but also get under the skin of the men and women at the heart of the UK’s defence, understanding the crucial decisions that they make each day and what drives them to do this dangerous yet exhilarating job.
Warplane (wt) was commissioned for Channel 4 by Documentaries commissioning editor Will Rowson. The series will be produced by True North with executive producer Mark Tattersall.
Will Rowson, Documentaries commissioning editor for Channel 4: “It’s been some time since Channel 4 took on military access and this is a fascinating time to be returning to the genre. The extraordinary, frontline, cockpit access that True North have secured, gives us a front row seat, affording us a unique perspective on unfolding world events. I’m delighted that Channel 4 are making this series and I’m delighted it’s coming from a Leeds indie.”
Mark Tattersall, executive producer for True North: “This is the first time a documentary team has ever been given such wide-ranging access to the RAF, and given the events of the last 12 months, it’s been an exciting challenge to document the work of the people at RAF Lossiemouth.”
Warplane (wt) will be distributed internationally by Abacus Media Rights.
