TACTICS: Art of disposing military or naval or air forces esp. in actual contact with enemy; procedure calculated to gain some end, skilful device. – Oxford Dictionary
Image right: Exercise Steel Talon 2007 - Helicopters. OH-07-0815-07-tn.jpg.
The modern tactical battlefield is a complex arena. And the introduction of new technologies – night vision kit, Portable Flight Planning Software, anti-air missile systems and sophisticated secure and non-secure communication networks – make each Air Force Exercise incrementally more complex than the last. That’s certainly true of No.3 Squadron’s recent tactical exercise, Steel Talon, held in the Central North Island from 26 November to 7 December 2007.
Commanding Officer No.3 Squadron WGCDR Ian MacPherson, who oversaw the exercise, described it as an ‘unqualified success’ not only in introducing new technology but also testing the Squadron’s ability to set up a fully functioning camp in a remote location.
Image left: Exercise Steel Talon 2007. OH-07-0813-50-tn.jpg.
One of the biggest lessons of the Squadron’s recent deployments to the Solomon Islands and our current deployment in Timor Leste, is that deployment on a large scale is much more than merely boots and aircraft on the ground. Tactically the Squadron – and its support from Expeditionary Support Squadron (ESS), Integrated Mission Support Squadron (IMSS), Communications and Information Systems (CIS) and other support Squadrons – must be able to set up camp quickly and efficiently, establish effective communications systems and be able to defend itself from the outset. It’s no mean feat. Everything – from washing facilities to fuel testing and all the details in between require advanced planning. It simply has to work like parts of a well-oiled machine. It’s the detail and the big picture – working in tandem – that make our deployments effective.
Image right: Exercise Steel Talon 2007 - Air security at work. OH-07-0813-31-tn.jpg.
Some might say our modern Air Force is obsessed with exercising but the reality is the more you exercise the more able you are to deploy successfully at short notice.
The scenario for Steel Talon, skilfully led by Detachment Commander SQNLDR Chris Andrew assisted by key personnel Adjutant FGOFF Edwina Buckrell, Camp W/O Frank Spence, Maintenance Flight Commander FLTLT Michael Chalmers and Exercise Control (EXCON) SQNLDR Tim Evans and FLTLT Sheard, reflected the NZDF’s role in real local disputes – a militia force, disputed borders and, inevitably, a struggle for independence. Sound familiar?
The annual tactical training exercise involved over 150 Air Force personnel and seven helicopters. And that’s not to mention the 25-strong Air Defence Troop provided by the NZ Army. The latter’s role was to act as both enemy and friendly troops and to deploy the new Mistral missile head to track helicopters.
For the first time the annual deployment also included a 4-person Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) team, making an already busy airspace even more complex.
Image left: Exercise Steel Talon 2007 - Simulated protest. OH-07-0815-76-tn.jpg.
The exercise was conducted in two phases – the first, from 26 November to 1 December had the Squadron deployed to Helwan Camp at Waiouru Army Base. That was the relatively easy bit. The second, from 1 to 7 December was a full tactical phase with the Squadron deployed as a full tented camp at remote Lochinver Station.
The second phase had the Squadron face a variety of threat levels – the ever present threat of attack by enemy aircraft, and/or attack by small armed raiders, the aforementioned incorporation of simulated and actual UAVs, and the use of simulated missiles known as ‘Smokey SAMS’ (Surface to Air Missiles).
Image right: Exercise Steel Talon 2007. OH-07-0811-21-tn.jpg.
Another first for the tactical phase was CIS’s deployment of a fully secure communications network (SWAN) into the battlefield alongside the less secure DIXS system.
The Squadron even had to deal with a real time emergency with a number of significant fires in the Army’s Waiouru Training Area. The Air Force was able to assist by spotting fires from the air, liaising with fire-fighters, providing personnel to help put out the fires and, inevitably, the use of monsoon buckets to douse the flames.
Image left: Exercise Steel Talon 2007 - Returning from a successful sortie. OH-07-0811-46-tn.jpg.
The Squadron also honed its skills, developed in previous exercises, in Non Combatant Evacuation (NEO). The scenario was a night evacuation from Napier (appropriate given the region’s recent tremors) using the 7 Wellington Hawkes Bay Battalion group and a mix of cadets and Territorial Forces.
Although the annual Steel Talon exercise is the Squadron’s largest single tactical battlefield exercise it also plans a number of other regular exercises during 2008. These include Exercise Peka Peka in Tekapo (night vision and flying)in May; Exercise Blackbird (mountain flying based out of Dip Flat) and Exercise Croix de Sud over March/ April. All of this is in addition to the Squadron’s usual round of Search and Rescues (SARs) with one helicopter on permanent standby and SAR exercises with the NZ Police.
Image right: Exercise Steel Talon 2007 - Simulated protest including media. OH-07-0815-81-tn.jpg.
In addition the Squadron is gearing up for the arrival of the venerable Huey’s replacement – the European built NH90 and the new Light Utility/ Training helicopter. These are indeed busy times at No.3 Squadron.