The UK’s most advanced rotary-wing pilots have begun Exercise Hades Warrior, a demanding two-week assessment designed to qualify them as weapons and tactics instructors across all three services.
Held at RAF Leeming and run by 22 Squadron, the exercise brings together Chinooks, Merlins, Apaches and Wildcats from across the Royal Navy’s Commando Helicopter Force and the Army and RAF’s Joint Aviation Command. The goal: to certify ten pilots and aircrew as Qualified Weapons Instructors (QWIs) and Qualified Helicopter Tactics Instructors (QHTIs).
All eyes on the skies 🚁
Hades Warrior brings together the full force of UK rotary aviation in a complex joint training environment.
We are proud to support alongside @845NAS & @847NAS as two of our senior QHIs are in the final stages of their QHTI journey, best of luck from all… pic.twitter.com/GKW84E4NDp— 846 Naval Air Squadron (@846NAS) July 15, 2025
“We have designed the course to upskill frontline rotary pilots and rear crew to instruct war-fighting disciplines. Training in a tri-service environment helps sharpen the interoperable capabilities of Joint Aviation Command assets, including Merlins, Chinooks, Apaches and Wildcats,” said Squadron Leader Macgillivray, 22 Squadron Exercise Lead and Flight Commander Tactics.
Participants face a mix of complex mission sets, including electronic warfare, air assault, and air-to-air combat scenarios. These are made more difficult by the rugged North Yorkshire terrain, forcing crews to navigate and fight in realistic, high-pressure environments.
All students are serving aviators from the Royal Navy, Army and RAF. Once qualified, they will return to their squadrons as tactical leaders, guiding flying operations and developing aircrew across the services.
846 Naval Air Squadron posted during the exercise, “Hades Warrior brings together the full force of UK rotary aviation in a complex joint training environment… two of our senior QHIs are in the final stages of their QHTI journey, best of luck from all of us!”
RAF Benson, home of 22 Squadron and a key hub for joint helicopter operations, plays a central role in hosting Hades Warrior and broader UK rotary capability. The base also supports civilian operations including the National Police Air Service and the Thames Valley Air Ambulance.
Christ, We’re down to just the six now ?
Some great pics there!
#Day34
Fine photo.
Apocalypse Now! Ride of the Valkyries!
Very nice BUT…Where is the order fot the new medium lift…44 then 35 ,then 25/ 30, now none? Chinooks 76, 51.37 and the new order?
50 odd Chinooks.
The 14 new have started build mate.
NMH, yes, requirement was 44.
I’m waiting to see the meltdown here when we get 20 odd, but think of the jobs at Westlands.
20 would be a positive step at the moment considering very little seems to be moving order wise, to see a program take a big step will be some positivity which isn’t that common with defence these days.
Oh I don’t know, John.
The RAF got 22 Merlin ( the ones now with the CHF ) at a time when we also had Wessex, 44 Puma, and Chinook. And the CHF had 33 Sea King HC4s.
Just 20….too few. Token as usual, to keep Yeovil in work.
But imagine the meltdown on here if Yeovil closed, and we could only buy helicopters built abroad.
Hi mate.
We buy lots of stuff from abroad.
The Waves were built in Korea.
On time. To budget.
I wish we’d sent the FSS abroad too, the RFA would have had them years ago.
I prioritise the military in my thinking. Others seem happy to see HM forces with endless waves of kit at ruinous prices in tiny amounts but built here.
I want to see affordable kit bought in bulk here. It never happens. Or if it did, I don’t recall.
Another factor, confirmed by a few posters here. The military wanted BH. They always wanted it, especially the SOC version.
Do politicians listen? Or prioritise other things? I know the answer.
Yes I support soveriegn where it is economical to do so, is high tech, and advances the UK in doing so.
I’m not convinced a handful of helis every few decades at the expense of military need and capability justifies it.
Sorry. 😬
Looking up BBC articles to find Yeovil building FMH already, as CR mentioned in another article, I’m reminded that Yeovil are also building Proteus.
Now THAT is something I can get behind, if it can be provided in number, at a good price, that we csn sell abroad as well.
But 20 helis for 1 Billion plus?
“RAF Benson, a key hub”
Been threatened with closure for years.
Only a handful of assets left there now Puma was cut.
SFH Simulator facility there as well.
I hope it doesn’t close, would double the drive to Air Experience Flying for my cadet section, and we have a lot of people this year who will need AEF.
Have to get up at 6 as it is!
Ahhh. Isn’t there a AEF at Odiham? Perhaps not.
I think the simulator facility for the SHF helps save it.
With a runway too, these are strategic assets that should never close.
Would probably go to the Army anyway, but still.
Team building; preparing the ground for orbat changes?
Just like the Military Police – think Italian Carabinieri, they should be combined into a purple force; with such small forces there is simply not the money to have separate branches of the same function.
One pipeline, one product but multiple disciplines, however, at with reduced overheads.
Carabinieri are not a purple force, they a completely separate service branch like the US Coast Guard. Helicopter Command is already Purple in the UK, falling under JHC which sits under Stratcom.
Very much so.
CHF of the FAA.
SHF of the RAF.
And the AAC, with assorted ground enablers from REME and the RLC.
Renamed Joint Aviation Command now, though I believe it isn’t a Stratcom asset but actually under HQ Land. Curious, but maybe that’s due to who its main customer is.
As you say though, most Purple is the domain of StratCom, itself rebranded.
Ah, Dern.
Also just noticed you’ve finally replied to my list on the other thread, thank you.
Not read it yet but very interested in your take on what’s needed to enable your original list.
And just read. Very good points re Regimental Colonels. One rumour I read re Para Reg is 1st Bn was made SFSG by Jackson the give it a unique role and save it?
And the Cavalry Regiments lineage, got it.
Oh I forgot to mention Cav, got side tracked or my ADHD kicked in.
Cav is hard to cut because each regiment has only 1 unit within it. So obviously the QRH aren’t going to be up for cutting any of it’s units, because a single cut and the regiment is gone.
Ref Jacko and 1 PARA, spot on mate, that was the situation at that time, 3 Bns to 2, had to be saved somehow! It worked as well to be fair.