News story

RAF and Danish helicopter crews train together for Afghanistan

RAF helicopter crews have exercised with their counterparts from the Royal Danish Air Force in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan.

• From: Ministry of Defence
• Published: 6 March 2013

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

RAF Merlin HC3 helicopters at Netheravon Airfield Camp during Exercise Pashtun Jaguar

Exercise Pashtun Jaguar saw various units from Joint Helicopter Command deploy to Salisbury Plain to support 1st Mechanized Brigade’s final training prior to deployment to Afghanistan on Operation Herrick 18.

Commanding the Danish contingent was Major Finn Christensen. He explained that working with the RAF was nothing new:

We have operated with the RAF in Iraq and Afghanistan with Squirrel helicopters. We have a lot of things in common and a mutual understanding of how we operate. This exercise will enable us to plug in at both staff and operational level in Afghanistan.

Junior Engineering Officer Flight Lieutenant Jack Longbottom [Picture: Wing Commander Dylan Eklund, Crown copyright]

The Danes deployed 2 of their 14 EH101 Merlin helicopters from their base at Karup to Netheravon for the final 2 weeks of the mission rehearsal exercise, which Major Christensen deemed a great success:

It’s gone brilliantly. The 2 crews we are training here [as instructors] have been at Benson for 4 years and in Afghanistan flying with the RAF Merlin squadrons.

Mixed formation flying with the UK helicopters enables us to practise the techniques and procedures used in Afghanistan with the units we would operate alongside. The good thing is the flexibility of airspace and the larger areas in which to fly low-level than we have in Denmark. This gives us a lot of new ways to challenge our crews.

He added:

On the exercise we have the framework of troops on the ground and the battle rhythm so we can develop and participate at the same time.

The Danes operated closely with both RAF and Army helicopters but in particular with Merlin-equipped 28 (Army Cooperation) Squadron.

RAF Merlin HC3 helicopters of 28 (Army Cooperation) Squadron at Netheravon Airfield Camp [Picture: Wing Commander Dylan Eklund, Crown copyright]

Flight Lieutenant Jack Longbottom, the squadron’s Junior Engineering Officer, said:

It’s been great to operate with the Danes. The relationship is good and we’ve shared knowledge and experience. We’ve taken the opportunity to look at their aircraft and role equipment and supported them with ground equipment support, tooling and experience.

Operating in the field is what the Merlin Force does and my team have taken this in their stride. It’s been enjoyable to operate alongside our Danish colleagues who have been very receptive to our support.

Published 6 March 2013