Dark Blade 19 large NATO helicopter exercise goes on.

Dark Blade 2019 (DB19), the 13th helicopter exercise organized under the umbrella of the European Defence Agency’s (EDA) Helicopter Exercise Programme (HEP), started on 13 May at Náměšť airbase in Czech Republic. It will last until 1 June 2019.

Agusta A109BA Hirundo of the Belgian Army's 18 Sqn based in Beauvechain (Picture source: Belgian MoD)

A total of 29 air assets (25 helicopters + 4 fixed wing) and some 600 military personnel from six countries - Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia - participate in this exercise hosted by the Czech Air Force. "Dark Blade 2019" aims at allowing crews to practice operations in various environments replicating the challenging conditions that participant forces are expected to encounter when deploying to a theatre of operation. The exercise’s main focus is on enhancing interoperability at the tactical level between helicopter units by using the Composite Air Operations (COMAO) concept in a combined, joint, realistic and challenging environment.

The objectives of DB19 are manifold, notably:
* enhance tactical interoperability between helicopter units from the participating countries by using the COMAO concept in a combined, joint, realistic and challenging environment and to teach and learn helicopter Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs). The focus will be on Composite Air Operations (COMAO) with live firing and trooping;
* train and practice Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) with/against fighter jets and electronic warfare means on the ground;
* improve interoperability in training and operational tasks with Ground Force's involvement (NVG operations, low-level flying, formation flights, FARP training, gunnery, etc.) in a live/simulated, full spectrum environment.

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