UK re-roles Apache attack helicopter units - IHS Janes
The British Army's attack helicopter regiments have been re-aligned to better support the British Army's reaction force and high readiness brigades.
The UK Attack Helicopter Force has spent the past 13 years either supporting light air assault and amphibious units, or on counter-insurgency operations in Afghanistan so the re-orientation to work alongside armoured forces is innovative.
The plans were part of the 'Army 2020 Refine' exercise that was announced in December 2016 and they will see the Army Air Corps' (AAC's) two attack-helicopter squadrons held at continuous readiness for deployment on operations.
Previously the AAC operated a readiness cycle in which one regiment was ready for operations and the other concentrated on training and supporting exercises.
Under the new plans, 3 Regiment AAC will be tasked to support the armoured infantry, and strike brigades of 3 (UK) Division and 4 Regiment AAC will support the army's 16 Air Assault Brigade and 3 Commando Brigade of the Royal Marines.
Colonel Chris Bisset, the Commander of the UK's Attack Helicopter Force at Wattisham Flying Station in Suffolk, explained the new system in a briefing to his soldiers seen by Jane's. "For the last couple of years we have soaked up [demand for us] by using a system whereby we conduct a year of training for operations followed by a year held at readiness for operations anywhere in the world, alternating between 3 Regiment AAC and 4 Regiment AAC and supported by 7 Aviation Support Battalion REME," he said. "The only way to 'do more' is to train and be ready at the same time, a so-called 'continuous readiness' model and this is the course of action we will have to adopt."
The commanding officer of 3 Regiment AAC, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Ackrill, said in the same briefing, "we have been tasked to lead a change of focus to the significant parts of the army who have of late seen little of the Apache, indeed of helicopters in general.