 |
| Gavin Williamson is shown the controls of an Apache Photo MoD |
The UK's Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson bid farewell to British Army aviators as they took off for Estonia, where they will be training alongside NATO forces working to reassure the allies and deter Russian forces.
3 Regiment Army Air Corps is deploying to the Baltics for three months, with Apache attack helicopters of 663 Squadron taking off from their base at Wattisham Flying Station in Suffolk today.
The Apaches will be working in tandem with the Army’s Wildcat battlefield reconnaissance helicopters to provide valuable training opportunities to NATO allies on Estonia’s annual Exercise Spring Storm and to the UK-led battlegroup deployed on NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP).
The creation of the ePF was a direct result of the Warsaw Summit of 2016 amid, concerns about Russian aggression following its annexation of Crimea in 2014. The eFP is an enhanced deployment of defensive, combat-capable forces in countries which include Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. In the region, there are forces from Germany, the US and Canada side by side with the UK aiming to deter any future Russian aggression.
Before the Apaches departed from Wattisham, the Defence Secretary spoke with the soldiers who fly and maintain the aircraft to understand more about its capabilities and their mission.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: "The first deployment of Apache helicopters to Estonia underlines our position at the forefront of NATO. This is a world class machine operated by world class Army aviators and this deployment demonstrates our unwavering commitment to NATO’s collective defence."
 |
| Photo MoD |
The helicopter deployment will boost the UK’s presence in the Baltics – known as Operation CABRIT - to around 1,000 personnel, making the UK the largest contributor to eFP. The Wildcat’s surveillance ability combined with the Apache’s sensors and weaponry will be a step change in troops’ capabilities to detect, track and engage targets during the exercises they participate in.
Major Dave Lambert, Officer Commanding 663 Sqn, said: "The deployment to Estonia is a fantastic opportunity for the Squadron to challenge itself. It will test how we deploy and operate overseas, develop our operational partnership with the Wildcat and our ability to work alongside our NATO allies. Everyone in the Squadron – from ground crew to pilots - has worked hard to prepare for Estonia, and we’re looking forward to establishing ourselves in theatre and contributing to NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence."
More you might like....
