Spanish and French Tigre Helicopters Participate for the First Time in a Joint Exercise in Spain

Tigre helicopters during the exercise (Photo:Francisco Francés)

French and Spanish helicopters over Almagro (Photo:Francisco Francés)

The 1st Attack Helicopter Battalion has directed, from 23rd to 27th April, the ‘Hot Impulse’ Exercise, which has been undertaken on Base ‘Coronel Sánchez Bilbao’ in Almagro (Ciudad Real). This exercise has gathered units from the Spanish Army Helicopter Forces (the 1st Attack Helicopter Battalion, 5th Transport Helicopter Battalion and the Signals Battalion) with units from the Field Artillery Command, the Special Operations Command and the 5th Combat Helicopters Regiment from French Army Light Aviation.  This is the first time that Spanish and French Tigre helicopters have participated in a joint exercise in Spain. 
 

For five days, the participating units have carried out practical exercises in convoy escort, air interdiction operations, refuelling and airborne ammunition supply, medical evacuation and crew rescue, precision helicopter fire and combat in close attack.   Also, helicopter unit action procedures in Spain have been able to be compared with those in France.  As well, the exercise has integrated air fire observers and special operations operational teams and it has employed the Almagro Simulation Centre.