EX TALON GUARDIAN

Written By: SSgt Bateman

On the 20th February, 662 Squadron AAC deployed to Woodbridge Airfield and Stanford Training Area on Exercise TALON GUARDIAN (Ex TG) 2023.

The exercise was to challenge and test the Squadron in conducting aviation operations from an austere environment in preparation for its upcoming Readiness Validation on Ex WESSEX STORM. It would see the Squadron develop and improve fieldcraft and survivability; command and control; agility; and lethality while conducting multi-ship missions by day and night.

Woodbridge is located by the coast, which brought its own unique challenges. Operating in a ’salt laden’ environment incurs a burden on aircrew, ground crew and engineers. The airfield allowed the Squadron to exercise dispersion, reducing its ‘footprint’ in a single location and therefore enhancing the survivability within a combat scenario.

As part of Ex TG, comms as ever proved an essential tool in enabling the Squadrons’ decision action cycle. It allowed the Squadron to project forward a smaller

Squadron Command Post (CP) to Stanford Training Area (STANTA), approximately 65km away, and a Forward Arming and Refuelling Point (FARP), CP c.150km away. The Signals Section were able to establish High Frequency comms between all CPs, passing information in support of a planning exercise run at Aviation Task Force 4 (ATF). The new AH-64E SATCOM capability was proven for the first time in an exercise scenario, delivering tactical comms across the country. The Groundcrew played an essential role in support of the Squadron pushing forward into the Divisional ‘Deep’ battlespace, setting up FARP’s in Shobdon, White Waltham and Bassingbourn, significantly enhancing the reach of the aircraft.

Engineering Support dispersed to a greater extent than has been exercised for some time, with Maintenance Teams up to 3km apart, significantly enhancing the survivability of the aircraft and Squadron. Aircraft availability on AH64-E continues to go from strength to strength, with 100 hours flown in a two week period, a serious level of output.

The flying portion of Ex TG centred around the aircrew training to tactically manoeuvre formations to Find and Destroy targets without being detected. Crews made use of AH64-E’s enhanced systems and sensors, striking targets across the full breadth of the country. Significant time was spent planning and developing the new tactics and procedures necessary to increase the survivability of the aircraft and crew.

Not all the flying was dedicated to tactics however, and the squadron were able to help the ATF with a Find tasking, testing their ability to remain undetected while being hunted by the worlds most advanced battlefield helicopter. There was also time to allow for a few wellearned Air Experience Flights to reward a small number of Signallers, Groundcrew and Technicians for excelling and underpinning the success of Ex TG. The Squadron were lucky to be tasked with conducting a professional aerial photo shoot, the first time AH64-E has been involved in Air-to-Air photography. A drivers’ rest period fell over a 6-Nations Rugby Match, and there was enough time to catch a breath while enjoying an England fixture. A large screen in a disused hangar allowed all departments to come together from their otherwise dispersed locations .

As Ex TG drew to an end, the Squadron was able to come together for this end of exercise photograph at Woodbridge Airfield before the Flight of four Apache AH-64E Gunships departed for their final mission. The Squadron and the UK had achieved three firsts: 662 was the first British Army front line squadron to field the AH-64E on a challenging exercise; the first AH-64E 4-point FARP was conducted ; and it was the first 4-ship strike mission conducted by the UK’s newest, and arguable most lethal, battle winning asset. A fine way to wrap up Exercise TALON GUARDIAN 2023.