Wildcat helicopters showcased their capabilities during the Exercise Swift Response in Estonia, part of the larger Steadfast Defender series of manoeuvres, which marks the largest deployment of British troops in a generation aimed at deterring Russia, according to a press release.
The Wildcats, operated by the Army Air Corps’ 661 Squadron, provided close air support to ground troops.
Although the Apache AH-64E and CH-47 Chinook helicopters often garner more attention, the Wildcat’s ability to perform various roles makes it a valuable asset in modern military operations.
According to the British Army here, one evolving role for the Wildcat is as a Forward Air Controller (Airborne) or FAC(A). Traditionally, a Joint Tactical Air Controller (JTAC) on the ground manages aerial assets in a battle space. However, the Wildcat can assume this responsibility, providing vital battle management from the air. This capability allows Wildcat crews to take on more complex missions.
“The primary role of the Wildcat is that of a reconnaissance platform,” the press release explains. This role involves operating in the divisional deep “battle space”, gathering intelligence and relaying information to facilitate strikes on enemy targets. This ability to integrate and direct combat power makes the Wildcat essential in shaping enemy capabilities before a main assault.
Warrant Officer Class Two John Holmes, a Wildcat helicopter commander with 12 years of experience, described a typical mission scenario: “We’d fly out to a location. Utilizing our sensors, we’d fix the target by using our laser target designator to get an accurate grid. Once we’ve got that, we’d relay that back over and request the use of guns, and that would be forward on to an artillery radio net and that gun call sign would then conduct the necessary fires to achieve the effect.”
During Exercise Swift Response, the Wildcats guided Apaches to neutralize enemy anti-aircraft capabilities before CH-47 Chinooks landed British paratroopers at a disused Soviet-era air base in Kiltsi.
The Wildcats then provided close air support as the paratroopers engaged enemy targets on the ground.
That close air support sounds too close for my liking. Relying on short range machine guns is a bit high risk these days. It’s not like we have the numbers to absorb losses or even cover battle damage repair time.
They can also cart around a lot of martlet missiles, with an 8k range and 510ms speed. Well they could if the army would actually arm them with the missile.
Where’s John?
Considering HMG and the army have decided to start phasing out AS90 immediately ( and indeed Chestnut Troop conducted the “last ever” shoot in the UK recently ) calling down fires from the guns by being an airborne JTAC isn’t a role they’re going to be able to do for much longer! Unless they use LG.
And the Wildcat provided CAS to the Paras! With a door mounted MG?
If we’re not going to arm them beyond a MG and they’re the forward spotters for Apache shouldn’t they stick to that?
Seems totally unsuited to me??
Phasing out AS 90! Replaced by what?
In time….RCH155. In the interim….zilch.
“Mind the Gap!….Mind the Gap!”
With war in Europe, Russia rising, and the military stretched, the British Army will soon be relying on MLRS and old 105mm LGs.
It’s almost as if someone planned this….like an episode of Blackadder.
It’s all part of Rishi Sunaks “cunning plan”
I think we are currently being run by Baldric and not Blackadder.
Agree on Sunak, but surely this is also a decision taken by the military?
To be fair HMG and the British Army must have known that much of its warfighting kit was approaching obsolescence for years. Tanks, CVRT, Warrior, FVs, Artillery, all left to run on due to COIN wars, and programs to replace them cancelled, especially by your lot. No upgraded Mks of vehicle, which as Graham often says used to be a given, and UORs providing most new armoured vehicles.
The ownership of this does not rest solely with the current lot, there has been Armoured Cavalry, Infantry, MIV, and CHLE programs ongoing from around 2010 on I recall.
Not to put to finer point on this it’s treason and seriously the fools who thought this is a good idea should be locked up for quite a time!
I hope it is not true, but it was on a few Twitter feeds I follow so may well be. You can see them giving the lot to UKR and us getting a SPG holiday.
Bloody scary holiday! We don’t even know that what we want to replace them with works yet. Have you seen any trails or that that the RA have had one to look at? Just glossy videos telling us it’s the best thing out there!
I’ve not, no. Doesn’t mean RATDU haven’t had a look.
Worryingly, our Rodney mentioned it was a Sunak decision while in Germany! With no competition between alternatives like K9 and Archer.
I hope the Army had input.
Seen a video of it a while back, looked impressive but then so do all those YouTube videos of footballers one’s team is interested in. When they arrive as often as not they look like they have been mere extras on Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
I think they already have – just saw a Twitter post aboiut 50 British SPGs arriving on the Kharkiv front today
That’s pretty much the conclusion I came to having read those feeds. Mindbogglingly stupid if you ask me (which obviously no one has!!). It won’t leave us with much until said RCH155 comes into service, where we are steadfastly behind Germany’s order for some 100+ units. So, a long SPG holiday it would appear!
I might have said this before but take a look at Chieftain’s history on Wiki or whatever other site you like, to appreciate the upgrade culture that used to exist..
You have mate, often. Which I noted. When did it change, and who decided on that I’d like to know.
CR1 was not significantly upgraded in service and other AFVs fielded about the same time or a bit later (WR, AS-90), so you could say that from the mid-80s or so, regular major upgrades fell by the wayside on AFVs. Even those planned were often not delivered (eg. WCSP, Braveheart). There are only a few exceptions – a number of Scimitars were upgraded to a Mk2 standard and many 432s were upgraded to Bulldog (Mk3) spec.
I really can’t explain it. I don’t think you can say it was a deliberate policy decision made by some unknown senior officer.
A Baldric with a free pass to the US or India to match ntain a lavish lifestyle if all goes wrong to boot. Doesn’t fill me with confidence.
Just to add, it occurs to me that the army are also looking at 120mm mortar, but even so, getting rid of your 155 before a replacement?
Those sorts of mortars don’t advertise anywhere near a far enough range to replace 155mm howitzers.
NEMO, which is the one I think we should get for Boxer, claims 10km so it’s more of a Fire Support role than battlefield artillery.
I know mate, I’m clutching at straws that they only have LG and MLRS in the RA for a period. 🙄
Have the Archers arrived yet?
19RA have a handfull I believe, unsure if all 14 are operational. Not a regs worth by a long way.
They were looking at 120mm mortars over twenty year’s ago to be used by 7rha and 29 commando
Christ they really are living in a parallel universe🤬 we knew they were up for replacement but to leave a gap with the RA nothing to play with just beggars belief🙄
Sorry to break that to you then Jacko. Was on Twitter other day.
We are doomed🙄
Two ways to look at it. Yes, it’s barmy and when did we ever get rid of kit before replacements before the modern era.
Or, those SPG might make a huge difference killing Russians who are gaining ground of late.
I’m between the two, as I see the advantages. The intell community will have had input on this that it’s not about to blow up in our face.
I can see logic in that, as Ukraine are screaming for more artillery at the moment. Though there is European shortage on 155 shells production, even though manufacturing is in the process of ramping up. So not sure what they will be firing, until the US start delivering what has been promised.
However, it does leave us pretty naked, especially as there seems to be more press reports of NATO putting troops in to Ukraine. If that was the case, then NATO would soon be in the same position as Ukraine. As it would soon burn through its stocks of 155 and have nothing to replace it with. Sobering thought!
In the interim…14 Archers..!! Such a cunning plan.
Currently 14 second hand archers from Sweden
14 second hand archers
Yeah , a drone could do that job, but of course they’re still ‘informing decisions ‘ about those. I remember when the earlier Lynx had TOW missiles and might have been more use to troops when clearing positions. TBH, the scenario described in the press release sounds like an excellent opportunity to get a helicopter crew killed given the prevalence of MANPADS on the battlefield in Ukraine.
I agree. Surely Lynx is not a CS aircraft given its lack of weapons. In a training exercise, then a good asset.
Like something out of Vietnam and wasn’t risk free even then, what planet are these strategists living on the Russians lost all manner of copters when they thought they had control of the sky even when Ukraine had limited resources. Would be near suicide to try to do what was just laid out..
When conducting a recce, the Wildcat will invariably be in the hover slightly cresting a tree line for example. The Ukraine War has shown that anything that is identifiable and stationary, can and is attacked by drones. There is even a video, showing a Ukrainian drone chasing a Russian Ka-52, that was initial stationary. The Ka-52 managed to out-drag the drone. But it could have been so easily the first use of a drone to take out an in-flight helicopter. The Wildcat in this instance would be no different, perhaps worse, as the Wildcat is slower accelerating than a Ka-52.
The Army are clearly not learning from the lessons being taught by the Ukraine War! If we went to war with Russia, they would have the advantage, as they have more actual peer vs peer combat experience. The wars in Afghan and to an extent Iraq aren’t relevant in this context. Especially as we don’t have the mass to take significant losses.
The Army and to an extent the other services need to wake up to the fact, that Ukraine is a test bed for new and developing means of combat. This also goes for the politicians. Where it is clearly shown, that you must have mass and large stocks of ammunition to stay in a peer vs peer conflict. As soon as the war goes static and turns attritional. You must have the manufacturing capability to replenish materiel and stocks, without relying on outside assistance. Otherwise you lose!
I really don’t see why the army does not arm its wildcats with martlet…seems a no brainier to me..a 510ms missile with a 3kg duel mode warhead is not to be sniffed at.
Yep, it’s ready and waiting. Another example of a massive force multiplier at reasonable cost. And available.
Why?
If I was being a cynic I would suggest that the army would have been worried that if they integrated martlet onto wildcat some treasury bod would have come along and suggested apache was not needed….but I honestly think that they need to be beyond that thinking and lever every multiplier they can..as you say it’s literally ready, waiting cheap…that’s another 34 rotors that would be a serious threat to any battle group…20 martlet missiles is a very significant payload and the wildcat has the same defensive suite as an apache..
The everlasting problem. When will the Treasury give the military the money it needs, and then butt out?
I could then answer my own question, when the MoD stop pissing money up the wall?
They do now have Archer to play with.
Can the AAC Wildcats be armed with Martlet missiles like the ones used by the FAA?
Good question. You’d hope that they’d have some air to ground missile capabilities. Maybe even air to air, helo to helo?
They could be much more powerful on the battlefield if we invested in them. If you see the ordinance the maritime version is carrying, you have to think its a missed opportunity.
Agreed can be done but don’t think any ambition for it 😞 🇬🇧
Nope and no plans to do so either…..
Sea Venom Vs Tanks?
Well not necessarily tanks, plenty of other targets out there that sea venom could take out.
Martlet not sea venom. 20 martlet would be a significant threat to anything…it’s also a supersonic missile, which makes a difference.
They could be. Even better ”Brimstone”
Yes, considering we only have 50 Apaches, arming Wildcat with some decent weaponry seems like commonsense.
Yes they can..there is almost no difference between an RN and army wildcat…other than sensor and weapons fit.
I thought that the army was taking a second look at the radar the RN Wildcats are equipped with.
With Finland in NATO the Russians must be bricking it about NATO helicopter and airborne forces.
It would be a piece of piss to jump over the boarder and grab Murmansk, especially when you can easily get artillery fire from GMLRS.
I doubt the Russian’s would even know we captured their entire northern fleet until it was all over.
It’s exactly what we did to the Danish and the Dutch did to the English,
I certainly hope we are not planning to do that as that means WW3 and only confirms Putin’s and wider Russian paranoia. The Kola peninsula is one of the most militarised areas in the world, more than just Murmansk.
But if war was underway, certainly scope for sabotage and that SF stuff. One SAS Sqn was assigned to NATO Flank if the Cold War had gone hot.
We know the Russian nuclear doctrine is fast and loss compared to all other nations..actually capturing a Russian city would be strait down the drainpipe to nuclear war…any Russian NATO war would be a knife edge to nuclear Armageddon….NATO would clearly have to push the risk to attacking Russia forces in Russia…but I don’t believe for a second they would risk one boot hitting the ground on actual Russian territory.
Pass the lot over to the FAA and upgrade them to the full FAA standard including the weapons. They should at least have more than a GPMG. A drone can do what they do for the Army. Better suited for use at Sea and the littorals. AAC need more Apaches (50+ more) since the Army has no numbers of armour and need to kill hard and fast to give them some punch. Pass over all the troop support Helo’s to Army/Navy control, who man a high percentage of them anyway.
Very good, all sounds nice and traditional.
What about using hourses for cavalry? they can live off the land, very green and no need for battlefield charging points. Cheaper than Ajax. An ideal solution for reconnaisance….
Oh and they can cause havoc in a City too.