News

Joint Helicopter Command supports Afghan deployment exercise

February 09, 2010

Nearly 20 helicopters from the UK's Joint Helicopter Command have been involved in their first major exercise of 2010.

The helicopters from the RAF, Fleet Air Arm and the Army Air Corps have been taking part in Exercise 'Pashtun Rat' a Mission Rehearsal Exercise on the Salisbury Plain Training Area, preparing some 3,500 soldiers and Royal Marines from Catterick-based 4th Mechanized Brigade (4 Mech Bde).

The brigade will deploy to Afghanistan's Helmand Province in April through remaining there until October. The brigade was last deployed to Iraq on Op Telic 11 during 2007 and 2008.

Support helicopters involved in the exercise include Merlins from the RAF's 28 and 78 Sqns, Chinooks from 18 and 27 Sqn, Commando Sea Kings from 845 and 846 Naval Air Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm. Lynx AH9s from 9 Regiment and Apache helicopters from 4 Regiment made up the Army Air Corps contingent. ISTAR assets included an EO/IR turret equipped Gazelle helicopter and an Sea King Airborne Surveillance and Control (SKASaC) helicopter.

Most of the helicopters operated out of Netheravon airfield and flew a range of missions in support of troops. Chinooks regularly flew simulated evacuation missions, while a forward refuelling point was set up by the RAF's Tactical Supply Wing to carry out hot refuellings of helicopters involved in the exercise.

Several of the Apaches have been carrying the new external fuel tank fit, which is understood to have been introduced under an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) to give the aircraft increased loiter times although at the expense of reducing weapons capacity.

By Tony Osborne - Rotorhub.com Editorial Team