The Airborne Tactical Extraction Platform is among the capabilities being considered for future helicopter operations, according to an answer given in Parliament.
Ben Obese-Jecty, the Conservative MP for Huntingdon, asked what assessment had been made of its merits for tactical use and for search and rescue.
Luke Pollard, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, replied: “The Airborne Tactical Extraction Platform is among the capabilities being considered in relation to future helicopter operations. The Ministry of Defence keeps equipment requirements under regular review to ensure that our Armed Forces have appropriate capabilities to meet operational requirements.”
Escape International, based in Paris, makes the AirTEP, a collapsible platform carried folded inside a helicopter, lowered on a 25-metre rope and opened so that up to ten people can stand or sit on it, EDR Magazine reported. The system weighs 53kg packed, has a maximum load of 1,500kg and a maximum indicated speed of 100 knots, and the company claims more than twenty customers worldwide.
Users include counter-terror and special operations units such as France’s GIGN, Germany’s GSG-9 and Jordan’s special operations forces, The War Zone reported in 2018, after Russian counter-terror operators were filmed training on one beneath an Mi-8 over Moscow.
Both MPS had to google the bloody thing prior to asking, then answering the question. However I have heard to save money the chinook fire fighting buckets have also been considered, therefore saving money, reducing the requirement to buy so many and ensuring while fighting a fire the blokes can already be hanging on, just in case the chinook is re-tasked enroute!
Airborne rescue – maybe.
Tactical – not a chance.
If we think we can use it tomorrow sneak out we are mistaken. Current methods need massive air support we do not have.