Royal Air Force has deployed one of its newly inducted Airbus A400M strategic airlifter to US, for carrying out certification trials to...
Royal Air Force has deployed one of its newly inducted Airbus A400M strategic airlifter to US, for carrying out certification trials to carry the Stryker Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV) onboard.
An A400M from No 70 Squadron, based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, was deployed to Fort Bliss, Texas, to participate in the Network Integration Evaluation training exercise, on Sunday 27th September 2015.
Led by the Officer Commanding 70 Squadron, Wing Commander Simon Boyle and accompanied by Squadron Leader Kate Houghton of the Air Warfare Centre’s Joint Air Delivery Test and Evaluation Unit, the UK team worked in concert with US forces to complete load and tie-down trials with a US Army Stryker ICV.
The successful trial will enable A400M to achieve air transportation certification for Stryker, which is key for future NATO and UK / US interoperability.
Successful trial is key to meet one of the objectives of the NATO 2014 Wales summit, where leaders agreed to establish a Very High Readiness Joint Task Force as a "Spearhead Force" able to deploy at short notice to threats against NATO sovereignty. The Stryker family of vehicles figure prominently as part of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Vilseck, Germany.
The RAF recently accepted the eighth of the 22 aircraft that it has ordered, all based at RAF Brize Norton. The A400M’s 37 tonne payload, strategic range, and jet-like speed provide the ability to deliver medium-weight armoured vehicles and troops rapidly to austere airfields.
