RAF and Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan) Weekly Ops Update 6 - 12 Jun 11

Force Protection

The RAF’s 6 Force Protection Wing (6 FP Wg) is responsible for the security and force protection of Camp Bastion and the surrounding area in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Comprising 58 Sqn RAF Regiment, a contingent of RAF Police personnel and a support team, 6 FP Wg is based at RAF Leuchars, and deployed to Camp Bastion in April. Since then, they have been working with the Afghan National Army, the Tongan Defence Forces and the US Marine Corps to maintain and improve the security of both the base and the local population, and to extend influence in the local area. Regularly patrolling in the local area, the gunners and policemen meet the locals, conduct shuras with village leaders and, frequently, attract the attention of inquisitive children, usually on the lookout for sweets, coloured pens, a kickabout or the occasional game of ‘rock, paper, scissors’. By doing so, the patrolling airmen not only gain the confidence of the Afghan population, but also develop an understanding of the local atmospherics and an insight into possible insurgent activity in the area.

ISTAR

Intelligence and Situational Awareness

This week saw 39 Sqn’s remotely-piloted Reaper aircraft employing their full capabilities for both reconnaissance and attack across a broad swathe of Afghanistan. As well as providing over 250 hours of full motion video imagery to ISAF troops on the ground, the Reaper aircraft are always ready to provide kinetic support when required by ground commanders. In one such incident this week, a RAF Reaper crew had just launched a Hellfire missile at a positively-identified insurgent, who was about to attack US Marines nearby, when the crew spotted 2 civilians, one of whom was identified as a child, approaching the target area. Realising the danger of killing or injuring innocent civilians, the crew swiftly diverted the missile towards an area of scrub land some distance from the civilians, where it detonated harmlessly, without injuring anyone or damaging any property. Because of the precision and low yield of the Hellfire missile, and the Reaper crew’s strict adherence to the UK’s Rules of Engagement, innocent lives were protected from harm.

(AC) Sqn’s Sentinel detachment based at 902 Expeditionary Air Wing enjoyed a busy week, predominantly supporting the US Marine Corps’ 2^nd Light Armoured Reconnaissance battalion, operating near Bahram Cha in Helmand’s Reg desert as part of Operation BACKBREAKER. The flexibility provided by the Sentinel aircraft’s Dual Mode Radar System meant that 2 separate ground units could be supported simultaneously, allowing the US Marines to conduct vehicle interceptions whilst providing them with early information of potential insurgent threats. The US Marines Corps commander commented that the Sentinel’s support allowed them to intercept multiple targets, which in turn serves to disrupt insurgent activities in the area.

Air Mobility and Lift

In a week that saw 902 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW) continue to support the Air-to-Air Refuelling and ISTAR contributions to Op HERRICK, the detachment’s doctor found himself being winched down onto an RN submarine to attend to a seriously ill sailor. After receiving a request for assistance from the submarine, 902 EAW contacted an RN Merlin helicopter operating nearby and coordinated the mission to transfer the seaman to hospital ashore. Thanks to some quick planning by all involved, and the invaluable assistance and cooperation provided by the Host Nation, the RAF doctor was onboard the submarine within 2 hours, and the patient safely transferred to a waiting ambulance shortly afterwards. The only casualty of the operation was the doctor’s camera, which went overboard during the transfer to the submarine.

JHF(A)

Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan)

663 Sqn AAC (AH) – A number of engagements have been undertaken by Apache call signs this week. The majority of these have involved the successful application of warning shots under the extant Rules of Engagement; however, the most significant engagement this week was the strike on 2 motorbike mobile insurgents who were in the process of laying IEDs. TheApache aircraft involved fired 1 x Hellfire 1A and 93 rounds of 30mm cannon which resulted in the 2 Insurgents being KIA.

652/657 AAC (Lynx) – Trials for LONGHORN which is the live downlink of the MX-15 camera footage from the aircraft to the operations room continues. For future ops the Lynx Procurement Team has obtained 2 completed downlink sets, which once tested will be sent to theatre to provide resilience for Deliberate Operations both in TFH and across the wider RC (SW) AO.

1310 Flt RAF (Chinook) - The 1310 RiP is progressing well, with the advance party of aircrew fully Tactically Qualified and operating alongside the outgoing 27 Sqn personnel. Aircraft availability has been consistently good for the last two weeks leading to an increased flying rate.

1419 Flt RAF (Merlin) – In order to allow increased flexibility for TFH tasking the High Readiness Force line has moved it’s available tasking time to the right allowing aircraft to routinely be available for tasking during the early night period. This course of action has been adopted to de-couple daytime tasking lines and allow the Merlins the opportunity to undertake night training without impact on other taskings.

Editor: Flt Lt N C Downs.

Photography: RAF/MOD Crown Copyright 2011