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COMMANDOS CALL IN FAST FIGHTER JETS AND APACHES ON ARCTIC MISSIONS
21 February 2020
From covert observation posts on the frozen Norwegian mountainside, commandos have called in fast fighter jets and attack helicopters to destroy ‘enemy’ positions.
Specialists from 29 Commando Royal Artillery, attached to the Royal Marines of 45 Commando during their demanding winter exercises in northern Norway, directed British Army Apache attack helicopters and F-16 fighter jets of the Royal Norwegian Airforce to pummel enemy armour and mortar lines.
From forward positions, these expert commandos – known as Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACS) – are responsible for directing the actions of combat aircraft engaged in sorties targeting positions close to friendly forces.
“Working with the Norwegian F-16s and the British Army's Apaches in Norway has been an awesome experience,” said Captain James Walford Royal Marines, Officer Commanding Tactical Air Control Party, 7 Commando Battery 45 Commando.
“Very rarely do we get to work with fast jets dropping such large munitions such as the GBU-10; a highly effective 2000lb laser-guided weapon.
“We have learnt some invaluable lessons from our Norwegian partners about coordinating Close Air Support (CAS) in Arctic and mountainous conditions, which we will look to utilise in upcoming international exercises such as Exercise Cold Response.”
The commandos used a targeting laser – the beam is invisible but the laser-guided munition detects a signal to steer itself onto the target identified – to hit positions with the GBU-10 smart bomb.
The Plymouth-based troops also coordinated attacks of MK82 (500lb conventional bomb) and strafing runs firing 20mm cannons onto ground position from the F-16.
21 February 2020
From covert observation posts on the frozen Norwegian mountainside, commandos have called in fast fighter jets and attack helicopters to destroy ‘enemy’ positions.
Specialists from 29 Commando Royal Artillery, attached to the Royal Marines of 45 Commando during their demanding winter exercises in northern Norway, directed British Army Apache attack helicopters and F-16 fighter jets of the Royal Norwegian Airforce to pummel enemy armour and mortar lines.
From forward positions, these expert commandos – known as Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACS) – are responsible for directing the actions of combat aircraft engaged in sorties targeting positions close to friendly forces.
“Working with the Norwegian F-16s and the British Army's Apaches in Norway has been an awesome experience,” said Captain James Walford Royal Marines, Officer Commanding Tactical Air Control Party, 7 Commando Battery 45 Commando.
“Very rarely do we get to work with fast jets dropping such large munitions such as the GBU-10; a highly effective 2000lb laser-guided weapon.
“We have learnt some invaluable lessons from our Norwegian partners about coordinating Close Air Support (CAS) in Arctic and mountainous conditions, which we will look to utilise in upcoming international exercises such as Exercise Cold Response.”
The commandos used a targeting laser – the beam is invisible but the laser-guided munition detects a signal to steer itself onto the target identified – to hit positions with the GBU-10 smart bomb.
The Plymouth-based troops also coordinated attacks of MK82 (500lb conventional bomb) and strafing runs firing 20mm cannons onto ground position from the F-16.
