Defence Online

RAF Puma aircrew overcome challenges of Afghan winter

Air January 28, 2019

Royal Air Force Puma Helicopters deployed to Afghanistan have continued to operate despite the challenges the aircrew face from the Afghan winter, snow and mountainous terrain.

The Pumas from RAF Benson, are deployed to Afghanistan to provide helicopter support to the deployed NATO forces stationed their conducting the on-going training and advisor mission with the Afghan Security Forces.

Since UK combat operations in Afghanistan ended in 2014, the UK has contributed to the NATO led, 41 nation, Resolute Support Mission which seeks to improve the capacity of Afghan national defence and security institutions through training, advising and assisting them. This is to enable the Afghan people to secure a political settlement with all parties and achieve a sustainable and lasting peace.

Sqn Ldr Max Bond, the Officer Commanding the UK’s Theatre Aviation Detachment, said: “Operating the aircraft is always a challenge because of Kabul’s altitude and congested airspace, but this is further compounded during the winter months by degraded visibility, sub-zero temperatures and occasional heavy snow fall.

“Despite this we have been able to maintain our core activities and have recently conducted training with the 1st Battalion the Royal Gurkha Rifles to make sure we are ready and able to provide an airborne Quick Reaction Force for the NATO mission if required”

The soldiers of 1st Battalion the Royal Gurkha Rifles are the lead battlegroup in the NATO Kabul Protection Unit. They work alongside other NATO allies and the wider international community, to form part of the Kabul Security Force which provides force protection to NATO’s Train, Advise, Assist mission known as Resolute Support.

The RAF Puma detachment and the Gurkhas soldiers combined training focusses on interoperability between the infantry and helicopters. This training ensures the Gurkhas are familiar with the Pumas, its capabilities and to develop tactical methods to ensure that both are ready and able to conduct missions if called upon.