British Army's 3 Regiment Army Air Corps ready to fly new Apache on frontline
The British Army's 3 Regiment Army Air Corps (3 Regt AAC) have passed the validation tests required to fly the new Apache AH-64E attack helicopter on the frontline.
On Exercise Iron Titan, soldiers from 3 Regt AAC were pushed in every aspect of logistics, command and control procedures, maintenance, and operational effectiveness across a six-week period and trained using the new Apache model. The regiment have now been cleared to use them in a frontline capacity.
The Apache attack helicopter has been described as "probably the most sophisticated piece of equipment in the world".
3 Regt AAC's Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Rich Simcock said: "The AH-64E is the most advanced attack helicopter in the world and the step change it brings in lethality, agility, survivability and how it can communicate and integrate with other capabilities is nothing short of revolutionary.
"To achieve validation, every single function that we deliver as a regiment has been tested in a realistic scenario that reflects the challenges of modern operations.
"We have shown how we can sustain ourselves and survive on the battlefield while striking targets far behind enemy lines to give ground troops a decisive advantage."
During Iron Titan, technicians from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) kept the aircraft in working order, while ground crews operated Forward Arming and Refuelling Points.
During the testing period, 3 Regt AAC had deployed from its base at Wattisham Flying Station in Suffolk to set up temporary facilities at Nesscliffe in Shropshire and then moved down to Eaglescott and Chivenor in Devon.
The manoeuvres came as part of Exercise Iron Titan which involved an estimated 8,000 personnel working at 22 locations across the south west, West Midlands, and Wales.
The exercise saw 3 Regt AAC validated in its core role of providing an aviation deep attack battlegroup, made up of AH-64Es and the Wildcat reconnaissance helicopters of 1 Regiment Army Air Corps, to 3rd (UK) Division, the British Army's warfighting division.
Lieutenant Colonel Simcock added: "Like any machine, the AH-64E is only as good as the people who operate it.
"To have got to where we are just two years after the first aircraft arrived in the UK reflects the hard work and dedication put in by everyone in the regiment.
"Aircrew and engineers have been on training courses, we've developed new procedures to reflect the AH-64E's enhanced capabilities, and we are constantly adapting as we learn more about what the aircraft can do.
"To have got to where we are just two years after the first aircraft arrived in the UK reflects the hard work and dedication put in by everyone in the regiment."
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