Cover letter_JPR JOG_ACT approved - European Defence Agency

180NATO UNCLASSIFIED RELEASABLE TO THE PUBLIC3.5 RW RESCORT tactics and proceduresFigure 3.4: Racetracka. Low Altitude chain pattern. Low altitude chain pattern is used for closecover of a singleton or formation of recovery helicopters (see Fig 3.5a). TheRESCORT assets fly essentially an oval shaped pattern around (a) moving recoveryvehicle(s). Such a pattern is normally flown between 500’ and 2000’AGL but is not easily flown by aircraft manoeuvring at speeds above 350 KIAS.b. Race track. The race track pattern for attached RESCORT is the same basicoval pattern as flown for detached RESCORT (see Fig 3.4). The pattern may beflown with either the objective area or recovery vehicles in the centre, or beoffset to aid in visual look-out. This pattern is useful regardless of RESCORTairspeed.c. S-weave. The weave pattern involves FW RESCORT flying an “S” pattern inrelation to the recovery vehicle(s)’ flight path (fig 3.5b). This pattern may beflown at varying altitudes and airspeeds.3.5 RW RESCORT tactics and procedures0316. The task of the AH is to protect the recovery vehicles by providing firepower orshowing presence to suppress or intimidate the OPFOR, so the recovery vehicles can havea safe passage to the OA. The RW RESCORT can be detached or attached RESCORT.Detached RW RESCORT. The detached RW RESCORT is to clear the ingress route andmonitor OPFOR avenues of approach into the OA. The detached RW RESCORT willfly 1 to 5 minute in front of the recovery vehicles and fly the same speed and samealtitude or higher as the recovery vehicles. It needs to be considered that usingforward detached RW RESCORT can alert possible OPFOR. In order to prevent this,the detached RESCORT can take an alternative route in the direct proximity of therecovery vehicles’s route.Attached RW RESCORT. The attached RW RESCORT is to provide close-in protection tothe recovery vehicles. The position of the attached RW RESCORT will depend on thenumber of used AHs, threat situation, terrain, environmental conditions and sizeof the whole PRTF. For Night Vision Device (NVD) operations, it is mandatory thatall helicopters within an element are visual with each other. The lead of the secondNATO UNCLASSIFIED RELEASABLE TO THE PUBLIC