U.S. – Australia Relations

Aussie Pilot Feels the Sting of a Cobra

Canberra — 20 September 2003

MSPA 280/03

Australian Army helicopter pilot Captain Hayden Archibald has flown a US Marine attack helicopter and operated its weapons systems during a live fire operation as part of Exercise Crocodile '03, currently underway near Rockhampton.

Captain Archibald has spent four weeks of the exercise embedded with the Cobra teams to learn Marine tactics and flight characteristics of an attack helicopter.

The Australian Army will take delivery next year of the first of 22 new armed reconnaissance/ attack helicopters called the "Tiger", a French/German designed aircraft.

The Tiger has similar designs and weapons systems to the Cobra.

Two squadrons will be formed to provide new reconnaissance and fire support capability for ground troops.

The Tigers will also replace the Army’s Kiowas and the gunship role of the Iroquois.

During his assignment with the Cobras Captain Archibald has flown a number of missions but during his latest flight was the designated gunner and received Pentagon approval to fire hundreds of cannon rounds and a $20, 000 missile.

Guided by the systems heads up display Captain Archibald received a perfect target score.

The skills Captain Archibald learned during the exercise will be used to help train other Australian pilots as they begin the transition to the Tiger.

Exercise Crocodile '03 is now in the live fire phase with many elements of the ADF and US Marines testing their weapons and co-ordination between the services.

F-111s completed low level attack runs while ground troops were supported by artillery.

Original document from www.defence.gov.au.

Last update: Friday, 15 August 2008 GMT+1000