Typhoon and ‘Honey Badger’ jets fly over North East region

Photographer Simon McCabe captured images of a Typhoon alongside an L-159E ‘Honey Badger’ as the aircraft headed towards Teesside.

Simon, who photographed the jets from the Stockton area, also captured further images during a training session.

Photographer Simon McCabe captured images of a Typhoon alongside an L-159E “Honey Badger” as the aircraft headed towards Teesside (Image: SIMON MCCABE)

The unusual sight is likely to have caught the attention of people looking skywards across Teesside, but the Honey Badger has become a relatively familiar presence in the region.

The aircraft is operated by aviation and defence company Draken from its base at Teesside International Airport.

The L-159E Honey Badger is a Czech-built light combat training aircraft which is used to simulate hostile aircraft during exercises with Royal Air Force fighter pilots.

Draken’s pilots regularly fly the aircraft against RAF Typhoons and F-35 Lightnings over the North Sea, effectively taking the role of an enemy force to give military pilots realistic combat training.

Photographer Simon McCabe captured images of a Typhoon alongside an L-159E “Honey Badger” as the aircraft headed towards Teesside (Image: SIMON MCCABE)

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.

A fleet of Honey Badgers has been based at Teesside since 2022, when a purpose-built hangar was completed at the airport to accommodate the aircraft.

Draken has since strengthened its presence at the site, with a £173 million Ministry of Defence deal announced in 2025 securing its Teesside operations for a further 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 also comes while Exercise Cobra Warrior 26-2 is underway in the UK.

The major RAF and NATO exercise began on September 14 and is due to continue until October 2, involving personnel and aircraft from several allied nations. The RAF has described it 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.