An “elephant walk” launch in Suffolk by two dozen British and French helicopters helped kick off Pinion Titan, a month-long exercise helping to ensure military readiness for NATO combat operations.
Last Tuesday ten Wildcat, eight Apache, four Gazelle, and two twin-rotor Chinook helicopters taxied along the runway together at Wattisham Flying Station before flying off.
The complex manoeuvre, dubbed an “elephant walk” by military aviators, is intended to demonstrate flyers’ skills, cooperation, and collaborative strength.
It served as one of the opening drills of a month-long series of manoeuvres collectively known as Exercise Pinion Titan, which is running throughout November. Taking part will be up to 50 helicopters, 1,000 vehicles and 2,000 soldiers from the British Army, Royal Air Force (RAF), the Armée de Terre (French Army), and the U.S. Army.
Commander of 1st Aviation Brigade Brigadier Nick English commented: “Preparing four different types of aircraft to fly together is a significant engineering and logistical achievement. It proves to us and to potential adversaries that we have the teamwork and coordination needed for real-world combat operations.
“Exercise Pinion Titan marks the end of a modernisation programme started when 1st Aviation Brigade was formed in 2020. Every one of our soldiers, vehicles, and helicopters is going into the field for us to test our capabilities together.
“We will be working closely with the RAF, our French and US allies, and integrating cutting-edge technologies such as drones and advanced communications systems.”
French Gazelle helicopters carry out reconnaissance and attack missions. Their participation in the elephant walk demonstration was a nod to closer Franco-British military co-operation brought about by the 2010 Lancaster House Treaties.
Capitaine Damien, commander of the Troisième Régiment d’Hélicoptères de Combat, said: “We are very proud to participate in this major exercise, which is a great opportunity to enhance our operational readiness.
“For most of the soldiers, it is their first time working with allied forces, but we can see that France and Britain share a common military culture. This will lead to smooth integration and the development of a joint force with solid tactical capabilities.”
During the exercise, after initial joint training splitting the force into two battlegroups, the troops were due to travel to set up bases across northern England to fly and maintain their helicopters. Practice missions will span the length of the U.K. from Salisbury Plain to the Scottish Highlands.
At the Wattisham launch Major Jake Cox explained the wider aims of Pinion Titan, which were not to simply test pilots and equipment, but also logistic capabilities, without the use of civilian contractors.
Throughout the exercise British and French forces will simulate responding to an enemy entering a territory resembling Estonia, and conduct manoeuvres intended to stall the advances of an adversary into that hypothetical territory using air and land assets.
- You can read more details on the British Army website
