Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1064315
route of the group – on an on-going basis. Thanks to AWACS, the RMC may also ask for SEAD or additional RESCAP of jets. It's the only course where helicopter pilots have an opportunity to practice working together with an AWACS plane. The squadron's pilots have taken part in Angel Thunder training in the US – how do CSAR training and tactics in Europe and the US compare? We've taken part in Angel Thunder training at the Da- vis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, US, two times now. The American concept of mission planning is similar to the model developed by EPRC. The main differences result from differ- ent equipment being at the disposal of European armies and American forces. The backbone of American CSAR missions, apart from helicopters, is the A-10 Thunderbolt. Its properties served as the foundation for Americans to develop the con- cept named "Sandy", where A-10 crews act as OSCs (On Scene Commander) and RMCs. The plane fills the gap between at- tack helicopters and fighter aircraft, both supporting shot- down crews and acting as FW Escort. It has not counterpart in European armies, though. Using these planes each time has helped Americans work out some tactical patterns they apply in their missions. In Europe, given the fact that there are differ- ent types of aircraft, coming from different armies, engaged in each single mission, there's no way to apply such patterns. Two years ago the squadron started working together with the 57th RQS – will this cooperation continue? What are the benefits for both parties? In order to be well prepared to possible CSAR missions in different theaters of operations, we decided not to make do with European experience only. Taking part in Angel Thunder and the cooperation with USAFE's 57th RQS, initiated in 2016, made it possible for us to draw on American CSAR solutions. The 57th RQS is a unit based at Aviano Air Base, Italy, with huge experience in carrying out CSAR combat missions in all conflicts with US involvement. So far, during Frozen Fury training, organized by the 56th Air Base, Americans have flown Polish W-3PLs and Mi-24s. As for the next year, they have con- firmed they will take part in our training and use their own HH-60 Pave Hawks. From our point of view, the benefits are clear. We're learning from the best.