The 12th Combat Aviation Brigade of the United States Army (12th Combat Aviation Brigade) confirmed the effectiveness of Apache helicopters in combating drones in the air during exercises in Germany. During Operation "Skyfall" the AH-64E crew utilized standard device armaments to do so, demonstrating fresh opportunities to tackle the increasing threat from unmanned systems.
AH-64 Apache chopper - illustration image (Olivia Cowart / 25th Combat Aviation Brigade / United States Army)
The exercises were carried out in mid-March at the Grafenwöhr (southeastern Germany) camp, where the US Army garrison is located. They aimed at developing the capabilities of the drone defence and adapting impact aviation to changing battlefields. Apaches have shown that they can effectively service as a drone control platform, utilizing existing weapons systems without the request for deep modifications. The U.S. website did not state precisely what measures were utilized to destruct unmanned aircraft. However, it was stressed that it was the first specified demonstration of possibilities AH-64 helicopters Europe.
– Most pilots in our unit and in the full army have never fought air-to-air combat on the AH-64 before, so this is simply a fresh profile for us, for which we request to make appropriate tactics, techniques and procedures – says Major Daniel Murphy, officer of the 2-159 Battalion of Assault Helicopters 12 CAB. “We look forward to sharing the experience gained, so that together with NATO allies we can proceed to make capabilities as part of this initiative”, adds Major Murphy.
12 CAB regularly trains with partners from the UK, Netherlands and Poland to guarantee full interoperability. – The Polish side did not participate in drone exercises, but our pilots this week start training on the Longbow Crew Trainer simulator at the German base 12 CAB – says Colonel Krzysztof Kwiatkowski, liable for implementing AH-64E to the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland.
The Head of the chopper Combat Aviation Branch at the Management Board of the chopper Aviation besides announces that another edition of the Polish Apache Initiative Summit will be held at the end of May. "It is simply a two-day global conference where users of AH-64 present different issues on the first day and share conclusions and experiences, which allows to build and make interoperability. And the second day, we decision on to applicable action. For example, this year we will present for the first time the moving of the combined fire utilizing Apache, the HIMARS rocket systems and the circulating ammunition – said Colonel Kwiatkowski. These exercises will be carried out at the camp in Toruń by forces of Poland, the USA and the UK.
Each specified action allows to make the capabilities of Polish pilots, service and staff members active in operations utilizing Apache helicopters, which will shortly become a key force in the Polish army. Between 2028 and 2030 96 specified machines are to be delivered to Poland in the latest version of AH-64E (Echo), making us the second Apache user in the planet after the US. presently there are 8 AH-64D (Delta) in the 1st Air Force Brigade in Inowrocław, acquired as part of a leasing for training pilots and soldiers of the engineering and aviation service (SIL) while waiting for deliveries of Polish Echo.
The assault battalion fights an unmanned aircraft utilizing AH-64E during Operation Skyfall (CPL Grant Hockley / United States Army)
– We are building the largest army of land troops in Europe. Already today, after Turkey, in this part of the planet we are second, and in all NATO third. However, it is impossible to organize large land forces without adequate protection from the air – said late Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz in Łódź, where an offset agreement was concluded with Lockheed Martin. Thanks to it, in Łódź will emergence Apache Helicopters Service Center, designed to operate sensor systems and drive the fire of these machines.
