The Army say Apache gunships have opened fire with rockets and cannons as they prepare for a major exercise in Oman.
The Apache attack helicopters of 664 Squadron, 4 Regiment Army Air Corps will be taking part in Exercise Saif Sareea 3, among more than 4,000 British personnel from all three services training alongside the Omani military in October.
“To confirm its readiness 664 Sqn, based at Wattisham Flying Station in Suffolk, has been put through its paces this week on Exercise Archers Alastor (28 – 30 Aug). Air crew carried out day and night qualification shoots with CRV7 rockets and 30mm cannon at Holbeach Air Weapons Range in Lincolnshire, with the Apaches replenished at a Forward Arming and Refuelling Point (FARP) – the military equivalent of a Formula 1 pit stop – at Sculthorpe airfield in Norfolk.”
Major David Mills, Officer Commanding 664 Sqn AAC, said:
“Exercise Saif Sareea is a fantastic opportunity which will showcase all of the Squadron’s equipment, capabilities and people. We’re overcoming the logistic challenges of shipping the Apache, including all of the associated equipment and munitions by sea to Oman, and are ready for the complexities of maintaining the Apache in the desert and operating in support of British armoured infantry and our Omani partners.
Before we deploy it’s been great to get the Squadron out on our home turf for a final test of our skills – both on the ground and in the air, and including the first CRV7 rockets fired at Holbeach.”
Oman will be the first overseas exercise for many of 664 Sqn’s junior soldiers, such as aviation groundcrew specialist Airtrooper Ben Bowes-Bellamy.
The 19-year-old from Blackpool said: “I’m looking forward to the challenge. My role is about refuelling and rearming the Apache, and doing that in the desert in Oman will be a different and demanding environment to test my skills.”
Yes its hot.
It will be great to see how this goes. A good sign for the future ?
I am curious, which is more effective for CAS, the missiles or the gun?
I have not understood why they haven’t gone with the upgraded guided modules for the rocket pods, which has to be cheaper than the missiles.
a more accurate gun wouldn’t go amiss either
From what I understand the rocket pods were not used in Iraq/Afghan becasue they were considered too inaccurate, whilst the gun was heavily used, which would at least indicate it is a little more accurate. My feeling is the era of open field tank battles with each time paying no attention of the surroundings damage wise, are mainly over for the west, and so we should be investing in improving our existing gear for a more urban /closed combat situation.
Brimstone ?
Brimstone whilst a great missile, is very expensive and the helicopters / jets can only carry a few. The idea behind the rocket pods is they are very cheap and light so can be fired on mass. I am not sure how the prices compare once you add some basic guidance to them.