As part of an urgent need to improve intelligence gathering in Afghanistan, the RAF commissioned an initial four Shadow R.Mk1s, based on the King Air 350CER, under an urgent operational requirement. Delivered to V(AC) Sqn in 2009, the Shadow features an underfuselage electro-optical sensor turret, a variety of integrated sensors and extensive communications capability, managed from operator consoles in the cabin. Number V(AC) Sqn's Shadow flight became 14 Sqn in 2011, after the former Tornado unit disbanded at RAF Lossiemouth, and was based at RAF Waddington.