Australian forces in Afghanistan conducted a joint Live Fire Exercise (LFX) at Tarin Kot, Afghanistan in April to maintain their combat readiness and enhance integration with Coalition forces under Combined Team-Uruzgan (CT-U).
The activity involved United States UH-60 Black Hawks for troop insertion and Air Weapons Team (AWT) AH-64D Apache gunships firing on target areas designated by the 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment Task Group Joint Fires Team (JFT).
Collaboration between ground and air assets increased skills in airmobile operations, directed engagements and helicopter entry and exit drills.
Lieutenant Ben Carbis, 7 RAR TG Medical Reaction Force (MRF) Commander said the LFX was a perfect opportunity to work with several specialist assets serving at Multi National Base – Tarin Kot.
“We’ve combined a MRF rehearsal with a Joint Fires Team live fire practice. The JFTs have been calling in fire from the Apaches, while the MRF is providing security for the activity.”
“The rehearsal and LFX was excellent, it was great to get in and out on the US helos, work in tandem with Coalition forces and refine skills required for combat and support scenarios,” Lieutenant Carbis said.
Sergeant Jason Kent, 7 RAR TG Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) said the exercise enhanced the ability of qualified observers to successfully locate targets and safely call in air support.
“The JTACs and Joint Fire Observers (JFO) who make up the Joint Fires Team were able to call in fire from the AH-64 Apache using 30mm cannon and 2.75 inch rockets.”
“Our job is to facilitate airborne assets in the delivery of munitions for both fixed wing aircraft and rotary wing aircraft to support the manoeuvre arms commander on the ground.”
“It was a very successful activity with great support by the coalition force assets and it’s good to be able to actually fire those assets live because we don’t get a chance to do it in Australia,” Sergeant Kent said.
Task Force Brawler, from the US 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, provide Chinook, Apache and Black Hawk helicopters for lift, transport and combat requirements to all forces within Tarin Kot.
“We’ve built a great rapport over the years with the US Aviation units and especially on this tour with 7 RAR TG and Task Force Brawler. The working relationship we have is very professional and we are confident that if we needed to, we could use their assets safely and directly to prosecute targets,” Sergeant Kent said.
While the ANSF are in the lead in security operations across the province, Coalition forces remain combat ready and poised to react quickly to any emergency requests for assistance.
