US Apache helicopters lead air assets in Noble Partner defence drills
An Apache helicopter engaging targets during action at Vaziani Training Area. Photo: Georgia’s Defence Ministry press office.
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A Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopter is leading the first-ever participation of United States’ offensive air assets in the Noble Partner 2018 multinational defence exercise in Georgia.
The Ministry of Defence of Georgia released brief footage of the US-made helicopter engaging mock targets during the drills at the Vaziani Training Area outside capital Tbilisi.
In the footage, the Apache — which, in various modifications, has been in service for US armed forces for over four decades — is seen on Firing Range 11 of the Vaziani grounds.
Hovering over the ground, the rotary wing aircraft can be seen firing its fuselage-mounted M230 Chain Gun and missiles from wing-mounted pods.
Its participation in action marked the first time attack air assets from US forces featured in the exercise led by Georgian and US commanders.
A main battle tank from the Georgian Armed Forces fires its main cannon during today’s drills. Photo: Georgia’s Defence Ministry press office.
The Apache was in close air support of ground- based hardware, including Georgian Armed Forces main battle tanks from the 4th Mechanised Brigade as well as vehicles from US Army Europe’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment.
The US forces on the ground included a Stryker armoured fighting vehicle, a Bradley fighting vehicle and an Abrams main battle tank.
A Stryker armoured fighting vehicle in action on Vaziani’s Firing Range 11. Photo: Georgia’s Defence Ministry press office.
Launched on August 1, the Noble Partner drills are set to run through Wednesday.
The exercise involves troops from 13 NATO and allied nations training at Vaziani and Camp Norio grounds.
The US Defence Authorisation Act, which the president of the United States Donald Trump signed on August 13, affirms support for the open door policy of NATO, “including the eventual membership of Georgia in NATO”.
Georgian service members carried out joint drills alongside their partner forces from the United States, United Kingdom and Ukraine earlier today, within the Noble Partner defence exercise ongoing outside capital Tbilisi.
Noble Partner 2018, a Georgian Armed Forces and the US Army Europe led exercise has officially kicked off in Georgia today. Under the slogan Power is in Partnership, the exercise is being hosted by the Vaziani Military Base in the outskirts of Tbilisi for the fourth time.
Troops and military hardware from NATO member states and Georgia’s allies have arrived in the country’s Black Sea port of Poti, a week before the multinational defence exercise Noble Partner kicks off outside the capital of Tbilisi.
Service members accompanied by ground- and air assets from Georgian and allied nations featured in a show exercise which concluded the Noble Partner 2018 multinational defence exercise outside Tbilisi earlier today.
Georgian defence officials have praised a “new stage” in defence partnership between the United States and Georgia as a US Army unit joined Georgian troops in a combined live fire event this week.
Luke Coffey, the researcher of US Heritage Foundation, has proposed the sending of the US troops leaving Syria to Georgia.