Page 87 - The KRH Year of 2023 (CREST Sharing)

The Regimental Journal of The King’s Royal Hussars 87
hit ground targets and demonstrated the Typhoon’s ability to seamlessly switch from being a fighter to a ground attack aircraft.
We returned to flying from Lossiemouth in mid-June after some much deserved post-op leave. Much of our routine fly- ing involves standard training sorties where our pilots will practice anything from basic fighting manoeuvres to advanced combat manoeuvres, but our speciality is mimicking the tech- niques and methods of our adversaries, known as Aggressor Training or RED AIR, for other Squadrons and Units to train against. We participated in several other exercises during the latter half of 2023, the main and most recent being Ex COBRA WARRIOR (CW) in September; the largest RAF led military exercise in Europe. Participants included U.S. Air Forces in Europe with their F15Es, F16s, F35, Pave Hawk and KC135 aircraft; the Royal Canadian Air Force with F18s; the Royal Norwegian Air Force with F35; the Italian Air Force with G550 and KC767; and NATO with E-3A AWACS.
The aim of CW is to develop the tactical skills of participat- ing aircrew and supporting elements with players from dif- ferent nations, providing valuable opportunities to utilise and develop procedures in complex scenarios against a near peer adversary. IX(B) Squadron acted as RED AIR throughout CW, inflicting the highest number of BLUE (friendly) losses of any participating squadron or company, thus reinforcing our sta- tus as the UK’s lead aggressor squadron (no room for humility here!). In parallel to acting as RED AIR, IX(B) Squadron pilots also participated in multiple Offensive Counter Air (Escort) missions throughout the exercise on the BLUE side. This pro- vided a valuable opportunity for our pilots to practice their multi-role skillsets; again, a very worthwhile experience.
We’ve also provided RED AIR to Exercise POINT BLANK (similar concept to CW – but run by the USAF with different
participants and scenarios), enjoyed some helicopter affilia- tion training (Helo Affil) and started some upgrade training for our pilots to ensure they’ve got the required qualifications for our upcoming deployment on Operation BILOXI next year (yes, we’re off to Romania again). The Helo Affil was with a Wildcat (the Royal Navy’s latest generation Maritime Attack Helicopter) from 815 Naval Air Squadron, fighting in the air- space between the Isle of Skye and the Isle of Harris. The train- ing was mostly for the benefit of the helicopter crews, who were preparing to become Air Combat Leaders. It consisted of a series of ‘runs’ at the helicopter with our pilot trying to tip in and gain a simulated guns kill. All great fun by all accounts!
To round off a full year, IX(B) Squadron deployed to Exercise ARCTIC PHOENIX in Norway in December, a winterisa- tion exercise for the Combat Air Force, demonstrating our ability and preparedness to operate in extreme cold weather conditions. The aim of the exercise was for RAF units to test their Agile Combat Employment capabilities – to survive an