- Defence Policy
- Equipment and Support
- Modernising Defence
- Aviation
- Marine
- Land Vehicles
- Security
- HR and Training
- Defence Estates
News updates
Email
Print
Digg
reddit
StumbleUpon
Facebook
DeliciousUK helicopter fleet was 'inadequate'
Thursday, July 29, 2010
In an October 2005 memo from General Sir Mike Jackson, then Chief of the General Staff, to General Sir Michael Walker, then-Chief of the Defence Staff, General Jackson said that Joint Helicopter Force Iraq was "struggling to meet its tasks even with rigorous prioritisation".
"Our support helicopter fleet is creaking badly," wrote Gen Jackson.
"Serviceability, flying hours and crew numbers are all factors, but the overall picture is one of an SH (support helicopter) force ill-matched to support current operations."
As well as difficulties with the helicopter fleet, Gen Jackson also wrote that problems with the airbridge between Iraq and the UK were limiting the effectiveness of troops in theatre. The General said that four month tours without rest and recuperation (R&R) leave could be reconsidered if the situation did not improve.
"If our SH capability is inadequate, our AT (air transport) fleet is worse," he wrote.
"The air bridge to theatre is now so fragile that sustaining an efficient R&R schedule is nigh impossible.
"Quite apart from the morale effect of inordinate delays, the difficulties with R&R are now beginning to impact significantly on the operational effectiveness of the Division."
"The situation is so bad that I am asking HQ Land to re-examine, at least in principle, whether we might re-adopt four month operational tours without R&R."
Gen Jackson's memo concluded with a warning that things could get worse when Britain increased its presence in Afghanistan.
"We really need to take stock of our AT capability in the round," he wrote, "especially in light of our impending commitment to Afghanistan."
HAVE YOUR SAY
Bernard Jenkin MP said in 2008, that UK helicopters would fall from 522 to 215 by 2020 unless the MoD ordered replacements. Since then, there have only been penny packet orders.
The coalition should know better, but it seems to be worse on defence than Gordon!
I never understood why we did not buy the 4 ex-BWIA Tristar 500s. They would have cost peanuts, but helped with the airbridge.
Instead we have the drawn out, expensive, poorly equipped PFI A330 saga. We should have just bought 14 outright to the same high standard as the 5 for the RAAF.
Now the rumour that the 22 RAF A400Ms may be cut. How will that help the airbridge. One extra C-17 plus C-130Js may be bought instead. C-17s are handy, but C-130J cannot carry large helicopters or the new Scout armoured vehicle.
Equipment & transporters need to be matched in size.
John Hartley - Woking/Surrey/UK
I am really surprised at the comments by this General. These remarks confirm my suspicion that the army still has no knowledge of air power and how it works. In Afghanistan the British Army (which is supposed to be able to fight on the ground) has access to Chinooks and Merlins of the RAF, Sea Kings and Merlins from the Fleet Air Arm, Lynxes from the AAC i.e Joint Helicopter Command. It can request Helo support from all the other Nato allies in the area, and there is more than enough C-130 aircraft in theatre. The trouble is with the modern army is that it has forgotten how the US lost Vietnam. Too much dependence on the Helicopter and incorrect use of helicopters. In Malaya and The Indonesian confrontation the UK used helicopters correctly and won. The SH force has done wonders in Afghanistan and is certainly not "creaking", and deserves accolades and not criticism. The problem is also that army officers now want a helicopter per person, and that is not possible or desirable. If the coalition carries on in the way it is doing now there won't be any air support at all.
R.E. Hex - Ex RAF and Joint ops