Apache helicopter ground crews have been preparing for their latest deployment to Estonia, say the British Army.
According to a news release:
“Part of Aviation Task Force 1 (ATF1) deployed to Pippingford Park in Kent to refresh their Forward Air Refuelling Point drills ahead of Exercise Spring Storm in Estonia. ATF1 is made up of 661 and 664 Squadron, 1 Regiment Army Air Corps with each having pilots, ground support, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, and signallers.
The Aviation Task Force has a reconnaissance and an attack element and is part of the Army’s Global Response Force. The Force was created as part of Future Soldier, the Army’s transformation plan. It will be ready to respond rapidly to any threat, anywhere in the world, including to deliver humanitarian support.”
The British Army add that the Task Force will support the Apache Helicopter Gunships, ensuring they are refuelled and rearmed ready to take on the enemy. The Wildcat helicopter is also part of the Task Force, and will be used together with the Apache to provide reconnaissance and attack elements.
A Forward Arming Refuelling Point, or FARP, can be set-up close to an enemy position or border, to ensure the greatest range and capability of the Apache. During training, troops practiced setting up defensive positions around the aircraft to protect it from possible enemy damage.
You can read more here.
“The Aviation Task Force has a reconnaissance and an attack element and is part of the Army’s Global Response Force. The Force was created as part of Future Soldier, the Army’s transformation plan. It will be ready to respond rapidly to any threat, anywhere in the world, including to deliver humanitarian support.”
So no different to what went before then, just a rebranding. Not “New” in any shape or form I can see.
The Army seems to be forced into frequent re-branding exercises to divert attention from the savage manpower cuts and flaky equipment upgrade or replacement plans. The creation of Rangers is another, as is the launch of Brigade Comat Teams. Its all rather sad. I have serious doubts about the Army’s ability to deploy at scale, meaning a division plus on a single operation or to deal with multiple, warfighting, peacemaking or peacekeeping operations, without calling up huge numbers of Reserve Army personnel, and being able to do that in a timely manner.
At the moment the navy takes priority it seems but the way things are for the army at present is grossly underfunded and under manned ,its dam right disgrace.
And yet I believe of the 3 services the army has had the biggest budget for years.
Got to hope the extra equipment spend committed to in the review actually delivers, artillery, ISTAR, SHORAD, EW, Precision weapons, drones, and so on.