Page 97 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2018

REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN) 95
see is an ‘End User Device’ – likely to be a mobile phone which can access mapping, personnel location information and a vari- ety of Command and Control applications which will allow com- manders to do their business faster and with more confidence.
This device is likely to be married into VIRTUS body armour with power management and encryption devices attached to a small complex radio. The future of soldier systems will see this capability grow to include sights and sensors and potentially augmented reality headsets which is being pursued robustly by the US Army. Once in service I really believe this will be a
step change in capability for dismounted users, a real ‘iPhone moment’.
Whilst all this might sound a bit dry to those at Regimental Duty, I have spent more time than most Army Headquarters desk of- ficers out in the fresh air testing equipment and had the oppor- tunity for lots of travel to the US and Europe, with Australia and New Zealand looming in 2019. Norway, Gibraltar, Spain and Malta were also visited as part of D Info’s well supported pro- gramme of sailing events and in support of Army Sailing.
663 Squadron, Attack Helicopter Force
This year the Squadron, as part of 3 Regiment Army Air Corps, has been getting to grips with divisional warfighting as a core part of Third (United Kingdom) Division. As such we have been developing the Squadron to be able to strike in the divisional deep using mass aviation (circa ten aircraft) operating out of austere conditions with the lightest footprint possible. Planning wise, this has placed us in the divisional context. Flying wise, this has given us the opportunity to build up to low flying, at night, as part of large formations of mixed aircraft type and with the lowest elec- tronic footprint possible against targets protected by air defence.
At squadron level this has driven a year of very enjoyable train- ing. Most notably flying out of Northern Scotland for mountain flying in the areas of the Isle of Skye and Loch Ness, 30mm rang- es, and mass aviation strikes into central Scotland from Rutland, with the Wildcat integrated. Sprinkle in a squadron ski trip to Chamonix, drinking vodka with the Polish Airman’s Associa- tion (663 Squadron has its heritage as a Polish squadron during the Second World War), the Army Staff Ride to France and some good sport, it has been an excellent year. In 2019 we look forward to being the first Apache squadron to deploy to Estonia, Latvia and Poland.
Minards – 30mm firing on the Lincolnshire Coast
TL
At the beginning of the year Maria and I were delighted with the safe arrival of our second daughter, Catherine Maria Rose. It has been a great year for catching up with Lancers; if you find yourself in Suffolk please let us know!
Not the most ‘cockpit friendly’ lunch at Edinburgh Airport
EJM