Attack Helicopter Force
The first confirmation that, despite the reassuring words of the Army 2020 document, the Attack Helicopter Force was going to face significant change came in November 2012, when Col. Andrew Cash, aviation commander, 16 Air Assault Brigade, spoke about the future of the Apache and exposed the planning for the passage to a 4 + 1 squadrons structure.
Those plans have now progressed enough that the first Apache squadron has been disbanded: 654 Sqn, 4 Regiment AAC, had its disbandment parade on July 8.
Until then, the Attack Helicopter Force, based in Wattisham, was composed of the two Apache regiments (3 and 4 Rgts), each with three frontline squadrons. These mono-type squadrons were the result of a rethink, in the early 2000s, of an earlier plan which would have seen 9 Regiment also roled as an Attack formation. In that iteration of the plan, each regiment would have had two squadrons of Apache and one squadron with Lynx. Logistically, however, it was simpler to concentrate the fleets together in mono-type formations, and so the eventual result was two regiments wholly on Apache, and 9 Rgt wholly on Lynx, with the 1st Rgt based in Germany with a further two squadrons of Lynx helicopters tasked with intimate support to 1st (UK) Armoured Division.
It is of some historical interest remembering that the original plan for the attack helicopter called for 91 machines to equip 9 squadrons, one of which would be 847 NAS, to ensure that 3rd Commando Brigade would have its attack helicopter support. In the end, however, 847 NAS was not to see the Apache, and the army would only be able to equip 6 instead of 8 squadrons.
The UK purchased 67 Apache helicopters, with the first 8 assembled at the US plant in Mesa, Arizona, and shipped to the UK beginning in September 1998, before Westland assembled the remaining 59 in the UK under license.
The UK purchase included 68 Longbow fire control radars, 1 Full Motion Simulator, 4 desktop simulators and 2 Field Deployable Simulators.
The 67 helicopters were theorically assigned as follows:
9 Sustainment Fleet
48 Frontline fleet
8 Training Fleet
1 assigned to Development and Trials Sqn
1 assigned to Empire Test Pilot School
In reality, the training fleet is larger. In 2011, 13 helicopters and 18 instructors made up 673 Sqn. The assignment of the machines is more flexible than the paper suggests.
In 2012, besides, one Apache was written off following an extremely hard landing, leaving 66 in the fleet. Hard, constant usage because of operation Herrick has also taken its tool on availability: on 1st April 2013 only 38 Apaches were in the Forward Fleet, including the training fleet and those deployed on Herrick detachment.
The Forward Fleet comprises aircraft which are serviceable and those which are short-term unserviceable. Short-term unserviceable aircraft are undergoing minor works, forward maintenance or any other unforeseen rectification or technical inspection work that can arise on a day-to-day basis.
The Depth Fleet comprises aircraft which are undergoing planned depth maintenance, upgrade programmes and fleet management temporary storage, but excludes those which are redundant, declared as surplus or awaiting disposal.
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| 4 and III Regiment AAC make up the Attack Helicopter Force |
3 and 4 Regiment AAC have borne the burden of a constant presence in Afghanistan for all these years, by adopting a two-year cycle that sees one Regiment committed to operations and one in supporting role.
For example, in its operational year, 4 Regiment would cover the 12 months by deploying each of its three squadrons for a 4-month tour, modelled on RAF guidelines (which have been selected by Joint Helicopter Command, the higher authority the AAC responds to).
In the same 12-months period, 3 Regiment, in the supporting role, would deliver Mission Rehersal Exercise (MRX) support to troops preparing for deployment; Operational Conversion Training and a token Contingency force available for new operations, such as Op Ellamy in 2011.
One squadron on rotation between the three in the Supporting regiment would be tasked as Conversion To Role (CTR) unit, inglobating the Air Manoeuvre Training and Advisory Team (AMTAT). The Squadron would also hold Station Airfield responsibilities, looking over Wattisham, and would deliver training for shipboard operations, delivering Deck Landing Qualifications (DLQ).
Effectively, this arrangement was considered a 5 + 1 solution of five deployable squadrons and one training unit.
The Apache pilots, after completing their initial training or after coming from another type, move to 673 Sqn in Middle Wallop. This is the Apache Conversion To Type training squadron, which delivers 8-months training courses to form the crews of the attack helicopter.
Achieving conversion to type, however, is not at all the end of the training. Conversion to Role prepares the crews for actually flying combat missions.
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| Under Army 2020, one Apache squadron at readiness will be roled every year to the support of the amphibious Response Force Task Group |
Under Army 2020, if the plan hasn't been revised further, the idea seems to be to reduce the Attack Regiments to binary formation, with two squadrons each, in line with the new binary structure of 16 Air Assault Brigade.
In addition, one squadron, while no longer frontline tasked, would remain as CTR unit: this could be, judging from the fate of 654 Sqn, the future of whatever squadron will be selected within 3 Regiment AAC once involvment in Herrick is over and the regiment is restructured to its binary Army 2020 structure.
The Attack Regiments will continue to alternate on a 12-months basis, with one regiment at high readiness for one year. The two squadrons of the regiment will have different focus: one will be prepared to deploy on land in support of the Airborne Task Force (ABTF) and one will qualify for shipboard operations to support the amphibious Response Force Task Group (RFTG). The regiment will provide a deployable HQ as well.
The Army's promise on disbandment of 654 Sqn is that manpower and helicopters within the Regiment will be maintained, and just spread on two instead of three squadrons. This would in theory mean increasing the strenght of each squadron to 12 helicopters. I sincerely don't thinks this is actually the case.
As operation Herrick ends and 3 Regiment AAC ends its last year committed to Afghanistan operations, the Attack Helicopter Force will complete its restructuring, and if a fifth squadron will effectively remain to be tasked with CTR training, the squadrons won't have more than 9 or 10 aircraft at most, assuming a Frontline fleet of 48 is maintained.
And it probably won't be maintained for much longer. The latest Apache logistic support contract signed reportedly includes instructions on how the total fleet will, in the coming years, shrink from 66 to 50 helicopters. A mention in a written answer in Parliament again mentions the 50 figure as the "Army 2020 requirement".
The next big question is how many upgraded helicopters the AAC will get when the Capability Sustainment Programme for Apache is started. It would appear that 50 is the target, and we have to hope the numbers don't drop further.
It is widely expected that the AAC will want to have its Apache rebuilt to AH-64E (Block III) standard; or that it will purchase brand new block III helos.
The rebuild option is considered the favorite, since the US Army is paving the way with the reconstruction of hundreds of early block Apaches to bring them to Block III standard, at costs significantly inferior than those of new buys.
However, the british Apache is based on the old american Block I and comes with a number of british specific modifications which might prove a bit of an issue. I've covered the Apache CSP issue in earlier articles, and the most recent update is available here.
The Army's Fixed Wing component
Spectacularly under-reported and almost unknown, the Army Air Corps fixed wing component never seems to make the news, but has received substantial investment from 2003 onwards, suggesting that, as at times happens in defence, silence does not mean the force is disappointing expectations.
The Army Air Corps has a fleet of 15 light aircraft of the Britten Norman Islander and Defender types. These aircraft are flown by 651 Sqn, part of 5th Regiment Manned Airborne Surveillance AAC.
In reality, so little is known about the squadron that the number of 15 aircraft, albeit appearing in a MOD publication, is controversial. The very same report in fact suggests that the Regiment actually has a fleet of 9 Defender and 3 Islander, with a fourth due for delivery this year.
9 + 3 most evidently does not give a total of 15. A possible explanation is that the number of 15 (rising to 16 this year with the latest delivery, it would seem) is obtained by actually counting in the Islanders CC.MK2 and MK2A with RAF markings that fly out of Northolt.
These Islanders, equally hush-hush, have been observed above London many times, and the RAF eventually admitted that an Islander flight is based there. Two such aircraft are now "declared" on the website by the RAF, but it is thought that there are actually 3, with the third added since 2008. Spotters are merciless, and there is no flying in and out of Northolt without being photographed: internet will easily give back photos of the Islanders ZH536, ZF573 and ZH537 if you make a search, yet the RAF website, ever since 2007, stubbornly reports only two aircraft, and with serials messed up: ZF563 and ZH 537!
Including these Islanders, which are thought to be used in support of anti-terrorism COMINT/ELINT surveillance, the two totals of 15 or 16 aircraft are indeed reached.
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| An Army Defender with self-protection pods and EO/IR turret |
The 651 Sqn acquired originally 7 Islanders AL.MK1 many years ago: they were used for aerial photo reconnaissance over Northern Ireland during Operation Banner.
In the years, however, the squadron has renewed its line, and now flies mostly newer Defender 4000 AL.MK1 and AL.MK2 (8 aircraft) plus a T3 for training.
The first 4 Defender 4000 were purchased as UOR for Operation Telic. Ordered in 2003 and delivered in 2004, they were used in Iraq, carrying underwing DAS pods for self defence and a EO/IR turret under the nose.
The Defender was used in Afghanistan as well, between 2010 and 2012.
Today, the squadron maintains a total of 6 Task Lines equipped with Defender and Islander aircraft: 5 task lines available for homeland taskings and one for global contingencies. The aircraft are used often in support to exercises and training providing imagery intelligence and communications support, and in support of Police Service Northern Ireland, homeland security (they were active to cover the Olympic games, for example) and support to civil authority in emergencies.
Venerable Gazelle
The Gazelle remains in use to this day, despite being so old. In April 2013 the Forward Fleet counted 11 machines, excluding those used by 29 Flight BATUS in Canada and those still available for Special Forces support in 8th Flight AAC (658 Sqn since 2013).
Their role in support of special forces is of course secret, while in BATUS the Gazelle delivers CASEVAC, range safety control and C2, plus ISTAR support to the formations in training.
The total fleet numbers up to 35 machines still, but probably only around 20 are actually in use. 2 Gazelle MK1 helicopters are still providing valuable service for test and development purposes in 667 Sqn, Middle Wallop: this year, surprisingly, they are due to test flight some components of the F-35 mission system no less. Most likely their most ambitious test task ever!
Gazelle is still used in support of UK training and other homeland tasks. It is flown by 665 Sqn, 5th Regiment AAC. In its most "full-optional" incarnation it has been seen fitted with a large MX-15 EO/IR turret and a Nitesun searchlight.
The Gazelle has its OSD set in 2018, and a support contract in place covering its residual life. In April this year, a contract was signed to roll out a limited but important upgrade on an undisclosed number of Gazelle helicopters: the contract will add a Traffic Alerting System, an electronic Primary Flight Display, GPS navigation and 8.33kHz VHF communication.
Conversion To Type training for Gazelle is delivered by 671 Sqn AAC.
The big question is what happens when Gazelle goes out of service. One interesting news by AirForcesDaily, back in May, might actually give an hint of one of the possible solutions for the future: a Squirrel HT.2 from 670 Sqn AAC, the Operational Training unit, was seen being trialed with a mission fit comprising an MX-10 EO/IR turret.
The trial, described as an assessment of whether the Squirrel can take some of the simpler tasks off the shoulders of Wildcat, actually makes me think this could be one idea for replacing Gazelle in its various supporting roles.
The requirements currently covered by Gazelle, in fact, are not going to all vanish together with the old helicopter, even if one role that has been vital in the last years will probably lose relevance: Gazelle and other helicopters have "impersonated" UAVs and delivered full motion video ISTAR to troops training in the UK prior to deployment. It is now hoped that, with Watchkeeper entering service and being cleared to fly, this kind of service will no longer be required.
Special Forces support
In addition to 657 Sqn, flying Lynx as part of Joint Special Forces Air Wing, which i will cover in the "Wildcat" section of this article, the AAC provides another squadron, 658 AAC.
Previously known as 8th Flight, it was given squadron dignity on 1st September 2013 after receiving a fifth, additional Dauphin helicopter for urban operations.
It possibly still operates a number of Gazelle helicopters as well.
Thorny issues
Gazelle is not the only issue the AAC will have to wrestle with in the future. It will be challenging to replace, in future, the small fleet of enhanced Squrrel HT2 used by 670 Sqn for Operational Training, and the Bell 212 used in 25 Flight in support of training on Salisbury Plain and in BATUK.
The replacement of the training fleet is inexorably tied to the UK Military Flying Training System PFI plan, and is putting the Army and the RAF into a fight over the future of 670 Sqn AAC in Middle Wallop.
AAC candidates are first graded at Middle Wallop using the Grob G115 Tutor, and then sent to RAF Barkston Heath to gain more fixed-wing experience. They then move to the tri-service Defence Helicopter Flying School in Shawbury, where they train on a fleet on the Squirrel HT.1 trainer.
For AAC pilots, however, the HT.1 is then followed by a 22-weeks course of Operational Training at Middle Wallop, which includes flying on 9 enhanced Squirrel HT.2. The HT.2 was created specifically with the Apache in mind, and adds several features which allow to download some of the training burden which would otherwise fall on the Apache training fleet itself.
The HT.2 comes with a moving map display, a simulated defensive aids system panel and night vision goggle-compatible
anti-collision lighting to support formation flying at night. Night flying is a key operational role for Apache crews, so training for night ops gets a great focus.
Come 2018, however, the UK MFTS contract is expected to kick into higher gear by selecting the way forwards for replacing the current rotary wing training fleet and for restructuring how training is delivered, and where.
In the fixed-wing arena, a sure loser is RAF Linton-on-Ouse, which will be cut off by 2019, when the fixed wing training pipeline will be completely renewed. In the rotary wing arena, the Army might face further pressure about Middle Wallop.
The focus of MFTS is on the 24 Squirrel HT.1 and 11 Griffin used at Shawbury, and on the DHFS itself: the army, Flightglobal reported already back in 2011, is opposing the call to concentrate all training at Shawbury, because it assesses as vital the advanced courses run at Middle Wallop.
The superior training value of the HT2 and of the AAC courses, as well as the position of Middle Wallop, in the middle of the action (near to Salisbury Plain and to major helicopter bases) are seen as a precious plus that the Army does not want to lose.
The Army's voice might have managed to reach receptive hears, because in January this year the deputy commander of Joint Helicopter Command, Brigadier Neil Sexton went on record saying that the MOD is now looking at a Surrogate Training requirement as well, which might help cover the requirements.
In January, the idea was described as having small fleet of smaller, cheaper surrogate training helicopters (six for each base) equipped with dummy systems and adequate human-machine interface to enable highly realistic training at lower cost. The pilots will need to be able to move seamlessly from the surrogate to the real thing.
A key factor is that this requirement would be detached from the DHFS, which would continue to deliver Initial Training.
The Army and the RAF will probably want to incorporate / attach other small-fleet requirements to these training fleet deals: for the RAF, the potential problem is replacing the Bell Griffin HAR2 used by 84 Sqn in Cyprus for SAR, support to training, firefighting etcetera. As its brother Griffin HT1 (used for training) goes out of service, it might be very attractive to get it replaced as well, to maintain the wider possible fleet commonality.
For the army, the issue is replacing Gazelle in its irreducible roles, and the Bell 212.
All will have to be done within a tight budget, making it all challenging.
Wildcat
The Lynx AH7 is expected to bow out of service in March next year, replaced by the Wildcat, while the AH9A fleet is expected to keep serving out to 2018.
Notoriously, all Wildcat helicopters are due to be eventually based in Yeovilton, under 1st Regiment AAC, which will absorb 9 Regiment as it moves south from Dishfort, "not before october 2015".
The plan, as of today, is to preserve all five the squadrons of the two regiments, but have one (652 Sqn) as Conversion to Role unit.
Conversion to Type, i believe, will remain in 671 Sqn AAC, which is the squadron with delivers CTT training for all AAC helicopter types bar Apache.
This plan would give a force of four frontline squadrons (651, 659, 669, 672) sharing the same pool of helicopters and the same pool of ground crew and engineers. 847 NAS would also draw from the same fleet of 34 helicopters, while contributing a share of naval engineers to the pool, which it would draw for deployments on warships.
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| AAC Wildcat with fast rope frames installed |
The odd one out is 657 Sqn, Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing. It is to be assumed that this squadron will be the last user of the Lynx AH9A. In 2011, a plan emerged to purchase four additional Wildcat and convert four of the existing army order into a Light Assault Helicopter configuration, as replacement helicopters for 657 Sqn.
The plan, however, did not progress at this stage, for reasons never clearly explained. A decision will have to be made at some point in a not too distant future about what to do.
32 Wildcat have already been delivered (20 army AH1 and 12 HMA2 for the navy), and 13 helicopters are due for delivery this year, with 18 expected the next (up from 15, on a request from the MOD to speed up deliveries).
Deliveries of all 62 should be completed by August 2016 at the latest, anyway. ISD with the Army should be in August, while the Navy ISD is in January 2015. The Navy's Wildcat OCU, 825 Sqn, formally stands up on 1st August 2014, and is expected to have four deployable Flights next year, with which activities at sea will begin.
The training centre in Yeovilton was handed over to the MOD in March 2013. The centre is delivering courses already, and it includes two Full Mission Simulators (FMS), a Flight Training Device (FTD) and a Cockpit Procedures Trainer (CPT), plus a suite of briefing rooms, integrated electronic classrooms and a learning management system. All simulators can be used both for Army and Navy training.
Reserves
Ground crew support for the Army Air Corps comes from 6 Regiment, which has expanded under Army 2020 to include 4 squadrons.
675 (Rifles) Sqn is paired to 1st Regiment AAC and will support the Wildcat force.
677 (Suffolk & Norfolk Yeomanry) is paired to 3 Regiment AAC, and supports its Apaches.
678 (The Rifles) is paired to 4 Regiment AAC.
679 (Duke of Connaught's) supports the attack helicopter force.
REME and logistic support
7 REME Battalion provides the ground technical support to all of the Army aviation. It currently has 3 Aviation Companies (71, 72 and 73) which alternate in Operational Role (deployable / deployed); Support to Training; Intimate Support.
In Afghanistan, the Operational company breaks down in a multitude of detachments: UAV Det, AH Det (support to Apache), Kindle Det (support to Joint Special Forces Air Wing), Lynx Det.
With the entry in service of Watchkeeper, the Royal Artillery is devoting one battery (74 Bty) to "UAS Support", but it is not clear if this is technical, maintenance support eating into REME territory.
7 REME also includes 8 Field Company (Parachute), which delivers 2nd line equipment support to 16 Air Assault Brigade.
In 2012, the company had an establishment of some 150 men, and was made up by HQ, Forward Sp Platoon, General Sp Platoon, Support Platoon and the Airborne Forward Repair Team, which supports Drop Zone requirements and early movements of the brigade post-launch.
It is pretty much certain that the company will be re-organizing internally to assume a binary structure to be able to provide, on rotation, a coherent full package of capabilities to the Airborne Task Force (ABTF).
The ABTF is made up by 1698 men at R2 (readiness level 2; 5 days notice to move), including artillery, medics, engineers (a squadron of 135 from 23 Eng Rgt) and other supports.
Logistic support for the Army Aviation is delivered by 132 Aviation Sqn RLC.
