The IAF launched its “Staging Threat” exercise for helicopter squadrons. The exercise was led by the IAF’s “Red Squadron”—Squadron 115— which simulates the enemy and is based out of Uvda Air Force Base in southern Israel. The exercise subjects helicopter crews to extreme situations, and tests their response to mission-failure scenarios.
According to Maj. L, who commands the Joint Forces Section of “Red Squadron,” the Middle Eastern combat theater is constantly evolving.
“We understand that the enemy is learning, is upgrading itself and acquiring capabilities from day to day in the Middle East,” he said, adding, “We have to constantly challenge ourselves.”
The commander stressed that the exercise simulates not only complex and challenging operational scenarios, but also is designed to build true mental resilience.
“This is a very special exercise, that took months to plan…. It’s aimed at getting the air crews to encounter the main scenarios of the next war,” said Maj. L.
“We want to train them on two main elements. The first is uncertainty. I put them into a ‘playground’ that they know nothing about. They take off with a certain intelligence picture, and they meet something completely different in the air. In addition, I want them to encounter significant failure,” he stated.
Crews lift off believing they were facing one kind of threat, and then, in mid-air, discover that the enemy possesses completely different capabilities, he explained. The aim is to undermine the crews’ central assumptions, he explained.
Both transport and combat helicopter crews participated in the exercise.
After the simulations, said Maj. L, the crews take part in in-depth after-action reviews.