The UK Royal Air Force has conducted live-fire training with CH-47 Chinook helicopters to assess the difficulty and accuracy of airborne weapons.
The activity in Lincolnshire focused on evaluating and sustaining its Weapons System Operators’ skills.
Alongside the live-fire demonstrations, the team upskilled its threat response missions, such as returning fire for aircraft takeoffs and landings.
Airborne Firing Drills
The service operated twin M134 miniguns and single M60D general-purpose machine guns aboard the Chinook helicopters during the drill.
Trials involved air-to-ground engagements against purpose-built targets and beached vessels.
At night, the choppers flew to Coningsby for refueling and ammunition replenishment.
The warfighters then rehearsed a similar live-fire training at 200 feet above sea level with poor visibility using night goggles.
Royal Air Force Chinooks
The CH-47s are based in Odiham and serve as frontline support for the service’s Joint Helicopter Command.
“The Chinooks are of a variety of tasks from carrying troops and equipment to operating as a flying hospital, transporting injured service personnel from the battlefield to hospitals,” a statement from the Royal Air Force said.
“The Chinooks have recently been deployed to Estonia as part of the bilateral agreement between the Defence Ministers of Estonia and the UK.”
“Whilst in Estonia they have been supporting NATO’s enhanced forward presence in the region.”
