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UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters have engaged in training exercises with soldiers in Townsville for the second time in over 10 years.
Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR), had the opportunity to train with the Black Hawks, which initially focused on safety measures, primary aircraft drills, and mission planning; they will have the opportunity to engage in more complex, intricate exercises as their foundational skills develop.
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“From a unit perspective, this is really important for building competence and confidence with the aircraft,” said Commanding Officer 1RAR Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Farrell.
“It’s exciting to work with these aircraft as it provides myself, as the commander, and the soldiers a different experience.”
According to Defence, despite extensive experience with the CH-47F Chinook helicopters, the UH-60M Black Hawks provide soldiers with a new, highly advanced aircraft for conducting critical operations, offering greater speed and maneuverability.
For many soldiers in 1RAR, this was their first engagement with the Black Hawks, something that Lieutenant Colonel Farrell says is critical for a greater understanding of Army operations.
“It gives them exposure to how the broader Army operates and familiarises them with different capabilities,” he said.
“Exposure to these aircraft assists junior leaders in understanding how the employment of aviation supports the execution of combined arms operations.
“This gives the unit the experience required to plan and execute air assault operations.”
The main differences between the Chinooks and the Black Hawks lie in their purpose and structure.
Black Hawks have a single main rotor that can carry between 11 and 14 troops, primarily used for air assault missions.
Compared to Chinooks, the latter can carry up to 50 troops for high-altitude cargo and lifting operations, powered by a tandem motor.
“Both the Chinooks and Black Hawks give us versatile options for inserting and extracting troops, each offering distinct advantages that influence how we conduct mission planning and execution,” Farrell added.
Future training exercises with the Black Hawks will focus on tactical scenarios, platoon-level manoeuvres, and nighttime training.
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