The Royal Air Force say that its A400M Atlas fleet is continuing to expand its capability with the start of low-level parachute trials.
“The trials have seen the successful completion of several sorties for ‘Mass Para Insertion’ over Salisbury Plain for the first time, working to be ready to take over Low-Level Parachuting capability from the C-130J upon retirement.”
Air Commodore Martin, Atlas Programme Senior Responsible Owner, was quoted as saying:
“The successful initiation of mass low-level parachuting trials on the Atlas represents a major milestone for the Atlas Capability Programme. This significant step is the result of a lot of hard work by the whole team and keeps the Programme on track to transfer low-level and high-altitude parachuting capability from C130J Hercules onto the Atlas next year. Adding both parachuting capabilities to the range of other tactical capabilities that are already in service such as the ability to air-drop supplies, air-to-air refuelling, and landing on natural surfaces, puts the Atlas in a good position to take over from the Hercules in 2023.”
Paratroopers from across 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team and 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines were brought in to participate in the trials.
Major Philpott, Airborne Plans Officer, 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, was also quoted:
“The speed and reach of deploying by air are the defining characteristics of air manoeuvre forces, and vital to 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team’s role as part of UK Defence’s Rapid Reaction Force. Across a wide range of strategic and tactical scenarios, parachuting retains significant relevance for contemporary operations through enabling us to hold the initiative. We can take off from the UK to deliver troops by parachute to where they are needed rapidly, outmanoeuvring the enemy and putting us in position to win the first battle when, where and how we want to fight it. The Atlas has a key role to play in our future, offering a significant boost to our capabilities through its ability to carry more paratroopers over a greater distance.”
The trials have been planned and delivered by 206 Squadron the RAF’s Heavy Aircraft Test & Evaluation Squadron and the Joint Air Delivery Test and Evaluation Unit, according to the RAF website:
“RAF Despatchers from the Parachute Test Team working on board the 206 Squadron operated aircraft assist the parachutists in the safe fitting and checking of equipment, conducting final checks prior to despatch, and ensuring the safe despatch of parachutists from the aircraft before recovering their static lines.”
You can read more on this here.
Great news.
How about buying a few more?
Oh, and the noise? A400M is about as subtle as tying to creep up on someone in a Chinook: you can tell the airframe and distance just with your ears from a good few miles away.
Plus, the cabin resonance generated by the props can destroy payload electronics due to the vibration. Hence the special pallets.
Well, at least there is a solution for that.
We are ordering more, exactly how many we don’t know but it is in the equipment plan and been confirmed a number of times when the question is asked.
But never with any specific response on numbers or timings!?
I appreciate that in the present sim war footing nobody is going to be too clear about the number of missiles or shells that we have stockpiled but the act of wording more units of anything in service does show a resolve to up capability levels and mass.
I don’t get why the MOD doesn’t publish info, as the US popublishes it all in detail. Yes they have black budget stuff but the main equipment is all inventoried and available. It would help increase transparency around how money is spent.
They don’t so they can apply smoke and mirrors and hide cuts.
A comprehensive equipment plan, like France, like Japan, should be fully available to Parliament for scrutiny.
When. How many. How much.
I couldn’t agree more. It’s easier to find out about experimental/ in development US weapons systems than it is to find out how many artillery pieces are currently in active UK inventory. It’s ridiculous
We need to keep the Herc’s aswell or buy more Atlas simple as.
nothing is ever going to change Labour , Tory ,Lib, all of them are as bad as each other and will continue to erode this nations🇬🇧 sovereign ability to act as we see fit. Cut cut cut and more cuts all wrapped up in a giant turd sold with spin and half truths that the gullible sheep continue to accept and follow by continually voting for them..
’Vote None Of The Above” -Montgomery Brewster
🏴🇬🇧
Great commentary – I thoroughly support your thinking.
All’s well and good but going to need more Aircraft ,if saying good bye to Hercules 🙁
I think it’s a massive mistake retiring the C-130’s, especially as it’s size (now we will only have ‘larger’ aircraft) is in many cases the best option. If we are to go forward with only the Atlas & C-17, I feel we will have to revisit the whole situation again in the very near future, and risk having to reinvent the wheel…again. We have operated the Herc for a long time now and if it still fits the bill for intra-theatre, SF operations and the plethora of other taskings that are more suited to a smaller (more discreet?) airframe, then… Read more »
Agreed, it is the worst of the latest cuts. A plane can carry more further, faster, but cannot be in two places at once.
And DSF draw considerable use of air assets, primarily the C130s.
Dropping two or three battalions! I don’t remember when was the last time we dropped one. AATF consists, I believe, of a reinforced company group plus bits of various CS/CSS.
ATF is fine as is – Herc, Atlas, C17, and as usual they are going to screw things up.
With the apparent move to 3% of GDP we may see decisions like this reversed.
I hope we are learning the lessons of the Ukraine war. Logistics, mass and stocks are key. Not that it is a new lesson, but it seems we need a reminder.
If we can’t keep the hercs then let’s order another 10 A400M.
It has to be that figure doesn’t it. Then it is acceptable, though not ideal for many of the roles the Herc carries out.
3 would be just restoring the 25 originally planned.
3% by 2030 is the talk Rob. Unfortunately we will have a general election before then, so who knows what will happen!
Hopefully we can stick to that figure, but not holding my breath.
Stocks are a good call for the army’s project managers. 😎
https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/75B7/production/_90153103_stocksandwhippingpostnortonbucksdavidstowell.jpg
Yes, That is generally the case. Having those 14 airframes allows so much flexibility for the organisations that make the most use of them. You could also argue that in extremis the number of C-130’s we currently operate would also be enough to drop a ‘battalion’ just. There are so many other things that can be done with Hercs as well. It just doesn’t make practical sense, but I guess as with many things it’s the financial sense that is the defining factor I fear.
And sometimes you just need a smaller plane, a Herc can operate off a shorter austere runway than an Atlas.
Yes, agreed. It’s like using the QEC for patrol work. They can, but what a way to fit a square peg in a round hole when existing in service assets DSF want and need are to be withdrawn purely for financial reasons to fund “future capabilities”
What capabilities? Afghan airlift has just happened and assets are needed now.
Agree, the atlas can and should be able to do almost everything the C130J can plus a lot more. Loosing a fleet of aircraft is always a massive saving compared to salami slicing other capabilities.
A handful of UK Paras took part in Op Northern Delay (Iraq 2003) with the US, and some SAS dropped in during the Falklands war. Was it Suez, the last time we dropped a whole battalion? It’s a useful capability to have even if we don’t use it very often.
It is, as Airborne keeps reminding. I don’t know to be honest, again A is the man to answer, or Davey.
SAS dropped during Falklands? I thought they were inserted by boat or submarine into the Islands themselves. I assume you mean the drop into the South Atlantic by B Sqn that took place.
Yes the B Sqn drop. And also Lt Col Chandler to take over 2 Para.
I know this would be unusual, but what about the British joining the joint German/French C130 squadron? Food is better there, too ;).
Ok I am German, so no real sense of humour. I agree that axing the C130 is one of the strangest moves ever. On the other hand, no other relatively medium sized nation has C130s, A400M and C17s. Germans only have A400M and C130s, and so do the French if I remember well.
This link shows the automatic (not low level) jump out of German A400M:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8zzRC_Crqs
With respect, I don’t think Germany carries out the wide range of SF tasks abroad on an ongoing basis from Asia to the M East, Africa and no doubt elsewhere. There are also security issues too, would that mean Germany France knowing what our SF do, where and when? DSF would be in competition for use of those assets shared with two other nations.Currently it has its own aircraft provided by the RAF and the AAC and must continue to have its own. The UK SFG is the tip of the UK spear and should bloody well be furnished appropriately!… Read more »
Fair point with the S & D Flight.
We were told in the 60s that if we went operational the reserve chute would be taken away because you would be jumping from 400 foot. thank the Lord never had to test that.
Now that BAE has done a deal with Embraer, I do wonder if the RAF will get a handful of C-390? After all, bits of it are made in the UK.
I have a particular insight into the C390 as I used to run the lan that certified the flight control system for the whole aircraft. BAE supply the flight control computer and the stick plus a few other bits. 6 months of intensive work with the Brazilian team who were great guys but did not like our winter weather.
I thought we were going to buy on the cheap the mothballed a400 s from the Germans who ordered far to many for their needs?? Or since the Ukraine war they are going to use them????
Germany bought more than they needed to make up the numbers necessary to make the whole programme viable.
Particularly angry to see the Hercules being forceably removed. It is smaller, quieter and can take off/ land on a shorter surface. At least have three or four on the books.
I think this is more salesmanship from the airbus lot than the national interest. People doing special things in odd places seem to think that it might be pre-mature to sack the Hercules. It might be ‘good practice’ to keep a few.
I don’t often make strong statements about defence but I think this is valid.
Did they use the existing IrvinGQ Mk1 or the French EPC static line system