Stunning photographs capture British Armed Forces helicopters in action during a significant exercise, which includes a thrilling air assault training mission.
Exercise Hades Warrior is an intense, multi-service military event designed to push the UK’s top helicopter pilots to their limits.
RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire is currently the hub for the UK’s largest-ever tri-service rotary-wing training operation, accommodating over 200 pilots, aircrew, and ground support staff.
Spectacular scenes witnessed six Royal Air Force helicopters flying in formation; a Chinook HC.Mk 6, a Merlin Mk2, two Army Air Corps Apache AH-64E helicopters, and a pair of Wildcat AH. 1s from the Commando Helicopter Force.
The fortnight-long rigorous assessment aims to qualify pilots across various rotary platforms as Qualified Weapons Instructors and Qualified Helicopter Tactics Instructors, reports Plymouth Live.
Exercise Hades Warrior kicked off on Monday (14 July) and is set to conclude on 27 July.
In other news, an air marshal who has flown hundreds of operational missions across several warzones is set to be appointed as the new head of the RAF, as confirmed by the Defence Secretary.
Air Marshal Harv Smyth, who joined the force in 1991 and served 15 years as a frontline Harrier pilot and weapons instructor in conflicts in Bosnia, Kosovo, Serbia, Iraq and Afghanistan, will assume the role of Chief of the Air Staff.
Air Marshal Smyth has been appointed as the new Chief of the Air Staff, taking over from Sir Rich Knighton, who has been promoted to head of the armed forces and will assume his new role in September.
Since becoming an Air Commodore in 2015, Air Marshal Smyth’s career has seen a steady ascent through various command positions, culminating in his current post as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff for Military Strategy and Operations.
He expressed his sentiments, stating: “I am deeply honoured to have been selected as the next Chief of the Air Staff at such an important time for the Royal Air Force.
“The Strategic Defence Review makes clear the need for us to rapidly evolve and modernise to meet current and future threats and I am enormously proud to lead the service at such a crucial point in our history.”
He continued, acknowledging his predecessor’s contributions: “I take over from Sir Rich Knighton, who has achieved so much over the past two years, preparing the Royal Air Force for the challenges that we currently face and developing the operational mindset that we need, should we transition to conflict.”
Concluding with a commitment to his team, he added: “I share in his unwavering support for our people and am delighted to have this opportunity to lead our whole force as we deliver outstanding air and space power for the UK and Nato.”