Airforces Monthly - February 2017

EXERCISE REPORT Black Blade 2016
took off again to enter airspace
above Elsenborn, arriving
in a package that included
transport helicopters, escort
helicopters and a command
and control (C2) helicopter.
During the action AFM saw the
participants demonstrating their
skills in counter-terrorism and
the safe and rapid extraction
of the captive from a building.
Here, the elements of speed
and surprise were essential.
After Belgian A109BA and
Austrian AB212 helicopters had
overflown the area to check for
potential anti-aircraft artillery,
they circled over the landing
spot in front of the building in
which the VIP was held. Their
open cabin doors bristling
with heavy machine guns, they
provided defence for the other
part of the COMAO package,
comprising Austrian AB212 and
S-70A-42 and Belgian NH90
and A109BA helicopters.
The first wave inserted several
kinds of special forces, who
immediately began securing
the area surrounding the
landing zone. These soldiers
were prepared to react
immediately to any unforeseen
circumstance, which in this
case included a very thick steel
fence, climbing onto a roof using
extension ladders, establishing
and sanitising several lines
of entry, and eliminating
enemies in their path.
The next task was to take
out potential snipers from the
building and other locations,
including an observation post
mounted on a large container.
The SOF team was able to free
the VIP, secure him, and fly
him to a safe area. NH90 and
S-70 helicopters landed again
to recover their personnel
from the ground. AB212 and
A109BA medical evacuation
(medevac) helicopters were
on hand to provide battlefield
care on the spot, stabilising
the wounded and extracting
them from the scene as quickly
as possible. A Belgian C2
helicopter (an A109) carrying
the air mission commander
was held at a certain distance
from the action. It was down
to the commander to decide if
the quick reaction force needed
more assistance. Had there been
no safe landing zone he would
have called for the S-70s to
use fast-roping. The operation
concluded when the last escort
helicopter departed the area.
Top brass
On the final day the High
Representative of the European
Union for Foreign Affairs
and Security Policy, Federica
Mogherini, visited Florennes
for a demonstration that
included counter-terrorism
Above: A pristine Belgian
NH90 eases into a tight
landing site as a special
forces team prepares to
leap into action. Kees Otten
and Wim Das
Below: Austrian special
forces dangle from an
S-70 during an extraction
mission. Austrian Air Force/
Maximilian Fischer
56 FEBRUARY 2017 #347