Click here - to select or create a menu

Naval News

DEFEA 2021
  • News
  • Event News
    • Euronaval 2020
    • SNA 2020
    • MADEX 2019
    • PACIFIC 2019
  • Interviews
  • Videos
  • Advertising
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Home» News»British Army Apache gunship starts trials with HMS Queen Elizabeth
The British Army Apache AH1 has debuted aboard Britain’s biggest warship as the gunship undergoes three days of trials with HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier, the Royal Navy announced on June 4, 2019.
A Boeing AH-64 Apache from the British Army Air Corps has landed onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first time (Credit: Royal Navy)

British Army Apache gunship starts trials with HMS Queen Elizabeth

The British Army Apache AH1 has debuted aboard Britain’s biggest warship as the gunship undergoes three days of trials with HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier, the Royal Navy announced on June 4, 2019.

Nathan Gain 04 Jun 2019

Having already hosted RN Merlin and Wildcats and RAF Chinooks to help write the ship’s ‘operations manual’, the team on the carrier are now working with the gunship to practise some of the routines needed to support the Army Air Corps (AAC) helicopters on operations.

Apache operated sporadically from the decks of HMS Illustrious and HMS Ocean – including conducting air strikes at targets in Libya during the civil war of 2011.

It had not, however, touched down on the UK new class of carriers until yesterday, flying in from Wattisham in Suffolk and safely guided on to the sprawling flight deck by Leading Aircraft Handler Sion Rose.

The ‘Platform Ship Integration Testing’ is being led by 667 (Development & Trials) Squadron AAC with the assistance of ground crew and engineers from 656 Sqn AAC as well as the ship’s company.

During a busy three days, they are performing various tasks from the basics of stowing the gunship securely to carrying out maintenance, refuelling the helicopter, the safe handling and loading of weapons and ammunition. That will help pave the way for 656 Squadron embarking on the Portsmouth-based warship later this year.

The AAC currently operates a fleet of 66 WestlandAgusta Apache AH1 combat helicopters. Under a US$2.3Bn FMS contract approved in 2016, the AAC will receive 50 AH-64E helicopters to the same standard being delivered to the US Army. The first UK helicopters are due off the US production line in early 2020 and will begin entering service with the British Army in 2022.

AH1 Apache British Army HMS Queen Elizabeth Royal Navy UK United Kingdom 2019-06-04
Tags AH1 Apache British Army HMS Queen Elizabeth Royal Navy UK United Kingdom
Facebook Twitter Stumble linkedin Pinterest More

Authors

Posted by : Nathan Gain
Nathan is based in Namur, Belgium. He holds an MA in modern history with a minor in international relations from the Catholic University of Louvain (UCL – Belgium). Fascinated by military history he naturally turned to the defense sector after graduating and is particularly interested in Northern European and Belgian defense issues as well as in anything related to naval aviation.

Related Articles

Royal Navy Seeking Next Gen Sensors for its MANTA XLUUV

Royal Navy Seeking Next Gen Sensors for its MANTA XLUUV

Naval News Staff 17 Feb 2021
Tech start-ups, innovators and academics are being offered the chance to showcase and test their novel sensor and payload technology on the Royal Navy’s first extra large unmanned underwater vehicle (XLUUV).
Royal Navy concludes 3-day trial with new ‘Mod 1’ Spearfish torpedo

Royal Navy concludes 3-day trial with new ‘Mod 1’ Spearfish torpedo

Naval News Staff 08 Feb 2021
Submarine HMS Talent has put the world’s most advanced torpedo through its final trials – including firing the lethal weapon at itself.
HMS Queen Elizabeth’s Indo Pacific Deployment to Boost UK-Japan Cooperation

HMS Queen Elizabeth’s Indo Pacific Deployment to Boost UK-Japan Cooperation

Xavier Vavasseur 04 Feb 2021
UK ministers discussed the deployment of HMS Queen Elizabeth during the “2+2” virtual meeting with their respective Japanese counterparts...

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Legal / Privacy Policy
About Us
Contact Us

© Naval News 2019 - 2020
All Rights Reserved