Incredible images show British helicopters in action during major military exercise
Stunning photographs capture British Armed Forces helicopters in action during a significant exercise, featuring an intense air assault training mission.
Exercise Hades Warrior is a high-stakes, 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 personnel.
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 evaluation aims to certify 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 participated in hundreds of operational missions across multiple 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 spent 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 is set to take over as the new Chief of the Air Staff, succeeding Sir Rich Knighton who has been in the role since June 2023 and is now moving on to become head of the armed forces from September.
Since his promotion to Air Commodore in 2015, Air Marshal Smyth has climbed the ranks with a series of command positions, including his present post as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff for Military Strategy and Operations.
He expressed his sentiments by saying: "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."
Reflecting on his predecessor's contributions, he added: "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."
In closing, he shared his commitment to the RAF personnel: "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."
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