Mixed Messages for Army Aviation in Europe

摘要

An inconsistent US deployment policy, election-year questioning of NATO's value, and manufacturers clamouring for Eastern European helicopter procurement dominate army aviation dialogues in the EU. MT highlights recent developments. "My number one need is for combat aviation. That is the biggest gap in our capabilities," US Army Europe Commander Lt.Gen. Ben Hodges has been saying for more than a year. Not surprising, considering the drastic drawdown in helicopter capability in the region in the past few months. By the third quarter this year, the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), the only US CAB based in Europe, will have lost 30 Sikorsky UH-60 BLACK HAWKs, 24 Boeing AH-64 APACHEs, nine HH-60 medical evacuation platforms, three Boeing CH-47 CHINOOK transports, and the Bell OH-58D KIOWA WARRIOR scout fleet, which is being drummed out of service worldwide. The brigade will also lose almost 2,000 personnel, reduced to about 800 permanently stationed in Ansbach, Germany.