Military Exercise: Exercise Ample Strike 2016

Exercise Ample Strike is an international Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC)/ international Forward Air Controller (FAC) exercise. This is the third year it has been hosted and led by the Czech Republic. This year’s Ample Strike has been running from August 30th and will end September 20th 2016.Sean McRandle was invited on to RAF Fairford for the exercise media day by the United States Air Force and has kindly provided the following report and images for South West Aviation
Photographers.


The Ample Strike Exercises (AMSE) started in 2012 under a different name of exercise Ramstein Rover, organized by the NATO’s Air Command in Ramstein, Germany. In 2014 the Czech Republic  took the lead changing the exercise’s name to Exercise Ample Strike (AMSE).

The exercise is aimed at providing realistic training for Forward Air Controllers/Joint Terminal Attack Controllers on the ground in a combat environment. During the exercise aircrews and ground units will be put through their paces in extremely complex and demanding scenarios.

This is the first year that any air assets have been based at RAF Fairford for an AMSE exercise.

Boeing B-52H Stratofortress 60-0038

The first aircraft to arrive at RAF Fairford on the 30th of August was a United States Air Force Boeing B-52H Stratofortress 60-0038 (BD) of the 307th Bomb Wing/93d Bomb Squadron, Air Force Reserve Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The aircraft arrived from Sliač Air Base, Slovakia after attending the Sliač Airshow using the callsign “SCALP99”.

 

A few days after the B52’s arrival on the 3rd of September, the long awaited pair of United States Air Force Rockwell B-1B Lancer’s (Bones) of the 489th Bomb Group/7th Bomb Wing Dyess Air Force Base, Texas arrived at RAF Fairford using the callsigns CROOK1 (85-0089/DY “489 BG/CC”) The Commanders aircraft and CROOK2 (86-0127/DY) after a night stop in Bangor, Maine.

 

The 489th Bomb Group was created in October 1943 and after just two years the unit was then deactivated in 1945, On the 17 October 2015 the 489th was reactivated by the United States Air Force as the Air Forces Reserve 489th Bomb Group and is the reserve unit associated with the regular unit of the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas flying the Rockwell B-1B Lancer (Bone) exactly 70 Years on from when the 489th was first inactivated.

During the exercise the B1B’s and the B52 using RAF Fairford as a forward operating base (FOB) will be conducting numerous day and night tactical strike and bomber missions within the Czech Republic.

Colonel Denis Heinz commander of the 489th Bomb Group said ” It’s a 1hr30min flight to the training area in the Czech Republic where we have been engaging with the Forward Air Controllers and Joint Terminal Attack Controllers from 18 different nations dropping simulated weapons on targets for 2hrs before returning to Fairford, phenomenal training the controllers have been very good”

Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod
Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod

Both the B1B aircraft deployed to RAF Fairford have had the Block 16 upgrades, one of the upgrades fitted to the aircraft is a Lockheed Martin Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod Extended Range (ATP-XR), this new technology is proving invaluable, out on the Ample Strike missions over the Czech Republic, helping the crews acquire targets given to them by the Forward Air Controllers/Joint Terminal Attack Controllers on the ground with pinpoint accuracy.

Adding to the exercises complexity will be air-to-air refuelling missions during the tactical strike and bomber missions by a pair of United States Air Force KC-135R Stratotankers based out of Pardubice Airport, Czech Republic for the duration of exercise ample strike.

During the exercise up to 34 Aircraft are expected to take part, these aircraft will help JTACs to keep up their skills of controlling aircraft in support of forces fighting on the ground. Ample Strike allows JTAC and FAC controllers to work with many different nations and allied forces, sharing experience and knowledge, building up their skills working complex and challenging air to land Integration scenarios.

AircraftCountryBase During Ample Strike
3xMi-24&35 HindCzech RepublicLibavá Military training area, Czech Republic
1xL-39ZA AlbatrosCzech Republic21st Tactical Air Base, Čáslav, Czech Republic
4x L-159 AlcaCzech Republic21st Tactical Air Base, Čáslav, Czech Republic
2x JAS-39 GripenCzech Republic21st Tactical Air Base, Čáslav, Czech Republic
1xL-39 AlbatrosLithuania22nd Helicopter Base, Namest, Czech Republic
2x Pilatus PC-9M
Slovenia22nd Helicopter Base, Namest, Czech Republic
1xPilatus PC-9MGermany22nd Helicopter Base, Namest, Czech Republic
2xLearjetGermany22nd Helicopter Base, Namest, Czech Republic
2xTornadoGermanyNeuburg Air Base, Germany
4xSu-22M4Poland22nd Helicopter Base, Namest, Czech Republic
2x JAS39 GripenHungaryKecskemét Air Base, Hungary
5xAH-64USALibavá Military training area, Czech Republic
2xKC-135RUSAPardubice Airport, Czech Republic
2xB1USARoyal Air Force Fairford, United Kingdom
1xB52USARoyal Air Force Fairford, United Kingdom

Source;- http://www.lznamest.army.cz/

  • FAC = Forward Air Controllers
  • JTAC = Joint Terminal Attack Controller
  • FOB = Forward Operating Base
  • ATP-XR = Advanced Targeting Pod Extended Range
  • AMSE = Exercise Ample Strike

 

All words and images © South West Aviation Photographers/Sean McRandle 2016