From 23th of May until 6th of June the Air Centric Personnel Recovery Operatives Course (APROC) was held at Gilze-Rijen Air Base in The Netherlands. The main focus from this exercise is to practice the personnel recovery procedures when an allied member is downed or trapped in enemy territory.
Several international countries took part in the exercise. The requirement to take part in this exercise is that the country has to be part of the European Personnel Recovery Centre. 12 countries participated in this exercise and 7 of them provided flying assets. Obviously, as the exercise was held in The Netherlands, the Royal Netherlands Air Force participated with several of their CH-47 Chinooks, AH-64D Apaches and AS-532U2 Cougars. France sent a NH-90NFH and two AS555AN’s, Spain participated with an AS-332B and the UK provided two EH101 Merlins. An extremely interesting participant came from Sweden. The Swedish Air Force sent one of their Hkp16A’s to Gilze-Rijen, a type that’s rarely seen outside of Sweden. The Polish Air Force participated with two Mi-24V’s acting as overhead cover during the extraction missions. Last country to provide flying assets came from Italy. The Italians were also the ones that participated with the most aircraft. No less than 7 aircraft came over to Gilze-Rijen to take part in the APROC-exercise. One UH-101A and One HH-101A were sent over to boost the helicopter force. Aside from this the Italian Air Force also participated with three F-2000A Typhoons and a G-550-AEW.
All the above mentioned participants flew from Gilze-Rijen Air Base. Also involved in the exercise were two RNlAF F-16’s, but these flew from their homebase. The exercise was held at 9 different locations in The Netherlands and Belgium. Flying missions started on the 28th of May after all the participating crews had taken part in a couple of theoretical days.
Several international countries took part in the exercise. The requirement to take part in this exercise is that the country has to be part of the European Personnel Recovery Centre. 12 countries participated in this exercise and 7 of them provided flying assets. Obviously, as the exercise was held in The Netherlands, the Royal Netherlands Air Force participated with several of their CH-47 Chinooks, AH-64D Apaches and AS-532U2 Cougars. France sent a NH-90NFH and two AS555AN’s, Spain participated with an AS-332B and the UK provided two EH101 Merlins. An extremely interesting participant came from Sweden. The Swedish Air Force sent one of their Hkp16A’s to Gilze-Rijen, a type that’s rarely seen outside of Sweden. The Polish Air Force participated with two Mi-24V’s acting as overhead cover during the extraction missions. Last country to provide flying assets came from Italy. The Italians were also the ones that participated with the most aircraft. No less than 7 aircraft came over to Gilze-Rijen to take part in the APROC-exercise. One UH-101A and One HH-101A were sent over to boost the helicopter force. Aside from this the Italian Air Force also participated with three F-2000A Typhoons and a G-550-AEW.
All the above mentioned participants flew from Gilze-Rijen Air Base. Also involved in the exercise were two RNlAF F-16’s, but these flew from their homebase. The exercise was held at 9 different locations in The Netherlands and Belgium. Flying missions started on the 28th of May after all the participating crews had taken part in a couple of theoretical days.
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