British give Aussies a head start on Apache

Australian maintenance personnel are getting their hands on Army’s future attack helicopter, the AH-64E Apache, more than a year before it arrives on Australian shores.

CAPTION: A British soldier from 3 Regiment Army Air Corps and soldiers from the 1st Aviation Regiment, Australian Army Aviation Command, observed as a AH-64E attack helicopter taxis down the pan during their learning experience at Wattisham Flying Station. Story by Major Lily Charles. Photos by Photos: Corporal Aaron J Stone.

6 Aviation Command engineers, aircraft and avionics technicians are participating in the United Kingdom Apache Exchange program – spending between 12 and 18 months working side by side with British Army counterparts.

The British Army’s 3 Regiment Army Air Corps in Suffolk, which introduced the AH-64E into service in 2022, has been sharing its experiences with the Australians to give them a head start in their future roles.

“There’s more to a transition from Tiger to Apache than just acquiring new aircraft,” an Australian maintainer said.

“This exchange was all about making sure we don’t just have people who are qualified; we’ve actually embedded people into a maintenance workforce to gain experience in the roles they will be conducting.”

CAPTION: A British Army soldier gives a tour of an AH-64E Apache helicopter to an Australian Army soldier in Wattisham, UK.

Some of the Australian maintainers deployed on exercises across Europe to witness the Apache in action in a combined-arms setting.

One said it was an eye-opening experience.

“Going out to Finland and Estonia was a real highlight. Packing up a squadron of aircraft to go and operate in another country is not something I’ve done before, and I learnt a lot from it,” the maintainer said.

As part of the exchange, the Australians have shared their experiences working on the ARH Tiger.

British Army Aviation Artificer Staff Sergeant Maxwell Porter said the sharing of knowledge was key to enhancing relationships between the two armies.

“These exercises that we’ve been on are vital for building relationships, particularly with a new attack helicopter, which has global reach with what it can deliver,” he said.

“I think we’re aligned in our vision and where we want to be. It’s been a wholeheartedly positive experience working with the Australian Defence Force.”

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