Two military-style jets roar over Darlington town centre

The L-159E ‘Honey Badger’s were spotted in the skies above the town after taking off on Tuesday morning (September 22).

The Czech-built aircraft are operated by aviation and defence company Draken and are used to help the RAF practise defending UK airspace during exercises with Royal Air Force fighter pilots.

Flight data shows the jets flew towards Croft after take-off, then over Darlington Railway Station and along the railway line before turning towards Sedgefield.

The Honey Badgers have become a familiar sight since a fleet began operating from a purpose-built hangar at Draken’s Teesside Airport base in 2022.

Draken regularly flies the jets against RAF Typhoons and F-35 Lightnings over the North Sea, acting as an enemy force in realistic combat training.

Honey Badger’ fighter jets

The RAF introduced the service in 2022, saying the aircraft allow its fighter crews to practise against a different type of jet flown by experienced former military pilots using unfamiliar tactics.

Draken later strengthened its presence at the airport after securing a £173 million Ministry of Defence deal in 2025 to run its Teesside operation for another four years.

The company is also developing a new £7 million hangar at the airport which is expected to house its combat aircraft and support further adversary and electronic-warfare training.

The latest sighting comes amid Exercise Cobra Warrior 26-2, a major RAF and NATO exercise that has been described as its “largest test of UK homeland defence”.

There is no confirmed indication that the aircraft photographed over Teesside were taking part in Cobra Warrior, which is due to end on October 2.