Called AMSE Lite 2023, this year’s edition of the multinational air-land exercise Ample Strike has not been so extensive in terms of the number of trainees, but it does not diminish its importance. The 10th iteration has again verified interoperability of the air power, Joint Terminal Attack Controllers and land forces. The participation comprises five dozen Czech service members and three dozen from the armed forces of three other NATO nations – Germany, Poland and the United States.
The scenario seeks to achieve the same objective: to integrate activities of the Joint Terminal Attack Controllers with aircrews and commanders of land units in a multinational environment. A total of 12 Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) teams guided over 200 successful runs onto targets with air support involving five rotary wing aircraft, six fixed wing aircraft and three tankers. Pilots logged over 165 flight hours.
The exercise was held in the Boletice Military Training Area, and aircraft took off from the 22nd Helicopter Air Force Base Náměšť, the 21st Tactical Air Force Base Čáslav and from the Pardubice airfield.
Besides the Czech Air Force L-159 ALCA aircraft, the air operations saw the participation of the German Air Force EF-2000 fighters and an A-400 tanker. The United States assigned F-16 fighters, AH-64 helicopters and a KC-135 tanker. The Multinational Multi Role Tanker Transport Unit (MMU) contributed an A-330MRTT tanker for in-flight refuelling.
“It was our premiere in this year’s edition that we have practiced dropping the GBU12 laser guided bombs from an L-159 aircraft onto targets laser designated by a U.S. AH-64 helicopter. This multiplying effect of using advanced assets in the battlefield was trained for the first time in the history of the Czech Air Force,”Exercise Air Ops Director Captain Pavel Staněkemphasized.
Czech Joint Terminal Attack Controllers were able to guide two GBU-12 bombs on two different targets at the same time, which is also a remarkable achievement. “This is not something you train every day,” JTAC Jitka S. admitted.
The so-called HOT PIT procedure with U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets being replenished on the flight line with engines running was rehearsed at Náměšť. “This time it was in attendance of U.S. specialists at Náměšť AFB, but down the road, Czech technicians will be trained for these procedures as well,” said the Exercise Director Colonel Aleš Cápal.
