Page 14 - Bugle Spring 2024

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Army Expo 22
Major Øyvind Nilssen (Norwegian Army)
ON WEDNESDAY 14 SEPTEMBER the ACSC 26 visited the Army Expo 22. We were blessed with fair weather and skipped the dreaded rain and cold conditions most soldiers experience when they go to Salisbury Plain. The only drama came when a hired bus from Barnes Coaches got stuck in a corner just before the Imber Village, unknowingly kicking off a trend where buses got stuck or navigated poorly when students left the safety of the Cormorants’ nest.
The Expo consisted of four main displays in line with the ambition levels of Protect, Engage, Constrain and Warfight. We were able to see and interact with both personnel and equipment at each of the four stands through a well-organised event by the British Army. By organising the event along these four key functions the British Army demonstrated how the theory of the Integrated Operating Framework from the Integrated Operating Concept 2025 has started the transition from paper into real world.
Protect
The protect display consisted of three stands that demonstrated the support to society in the UK, innovation and experiments together with the industry, and how the army is investing in the people that make up the regular, reserve and civil service. The stand had a wide range of new technology demonstrated, however the real-life military working dog won ahead of the robot dog in a close race for “most photographed piece of kit”.
Engage
This stand centred around the new Security Force Assistance Brigade and how the Army is constantly operating and deployed globally. This included displays of support to UN missions, and of course Op ORBITAL, the training of and provision of military aid and weapon systems to the Ukrainian forces. For many the highlight was to speak to one of the many
UK trained and brave Ukrainian soldiers before they return to fight and protect their homeland from the brutal Russian invasion.
Constrain
The display showed how the UK 6th Division utilised modern technology to integrate “forward” and “standoff” elements in an Eastern Europe scenario working with partner forces. This included a scenario where a range of capabilities were demonstrated from intelligence collection through open sources,
to information operations and support to allies and partners.
Warfight
The Army Expo 22 ended with a grand finale where the Global Response Force demonstrated a wide
range of capabilities. This included insertion by Chinook helicopters escorted by the new Apache AH64-E attack helicopter providing overwatch to take out an enemy control node; and the cooperation between drones and heavy armour to defeat a hostile force in an urban environment.
Other highlights
Perhaps the greatest moment was the global café serving delicious food made by Army chefs who had sought inspiration from the Land Regional Hubs
in Germany, Kenya, Oman and Belize. This was a welcome surprise and a culinary upgrade to the standard ration packs served on exercises, operations and ACSC outings.
“For many the highlight was to speak to
one of the many UK trained and brave Ukrainian soldiers