Exercise Pinion Titan, which we covered during the opening stages in last month’s issue, saw an all-up 1st Aviation Brigade put through its paces for the first time in manoeuvres that tested the formation from top to bottom.
The resupply chain in particular was flexed as the service’s Apache and Wildcat helicopters operated alongside Royal Air Force Chinook platforms plus Gazelle gunships from the French Armee de Terre.
Around 50 aircraft and 2,000 troops were involved, validating the full operational capability of the brigade in partnership with Nato allies.
Exercise planner Capt Bobby Durham (AAC) explained that mock missions had been flown from Scotland to Salisbury Plain Training Area, where the crews backed serials run by other units.
The officer told Soldier: “We achieved our objectives and the Brigade Support Group worked well. This allowed the formation to conduct warfighting at scale, carrying out a range of serials, including deep strike missions, during an intense schedule.”
Pinion Titan’s two battlegroups were led by 3 and 4 Regiments, Army Air Corps with their troops facing demanding weather conditions throughout.
