The activity brought together aircrews and ground personnel to rehearse the procedures required for future live-fire operations with the Army's new attack helicopter fleet.
Conducted at RAAF Base Townsville and the Townsville Field Training Area, the exercise focused on essential day and night operations, including mission planning, flight procedures, refueling activities, and simulated aircraft recovery scenarios.
A key component of the training involved the handling and loading of inert ordnance, allowing crews to safely familiarize themselves with the Apache's weapons systems. Ground personnel practiced loading and unloading inert 70 mm rockets and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, while pilots conducted training flights with the additional weight and handling characteristics associated with operational weapon configurations.
Exercise Possum Walk served as the final rehearsal before Exercise Possum Guns, which subsequently saw Australian Army AH-64E Apaches conduct their first live-fire activities. Together, the exercises marked a major milestone in the introduction of the AH-64E into Australian service and validated the procedures required for the employment of live rockets and missiles.
Crews prepare Australian Apaches for first live-fire
Australia Dept. Defence – Aviation ground crew loaded fuel and inert ordnance onto AH-64E Apache helicopters to prepare for the new attack platform's first live-fire activities.
Commanding Officer 1st Aviation Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Jason Perrins said Exercise Possum Walk, conducted at RAAF Base Townsville and Townsville Field Training Area, was an important milestone for both ground crew and pilots.
“The reason for Ex Possum Walk is to be sure that our crews are ready to do what they do every day, which is load and employ an attack helicopter. They have all done their basic Apache training and so now we are taking that next step where we're getting them to load inert ordnance. They are loading by day and night, including on night-vision goggles, which is just another level of risk that they haven’t experienced yet,” Lieutenant Colonel Perrins said.
He added that the exercise was a crucial step for the growing cadre of Apache pilots.
“The aircrew are getting the opportunity to fly with the helicopter that’s a little bit heavier with that inert ordnance on board. This allows them to fly inert ordnance profiles and practise the range procedures they will employ while firing live munitions. It also enables them to identify targets further out and communicate that information quickly through various data systems – something we haven’t been able to do before.”
Trooper Tyson Higgins, an aviation ground crew member with 16th Aviation Support Battalion, said the exercise gave personnel the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the aircraft and develop standard operating procedures.
“For aviation ground crew, that involves marshalling the aircraft, conducting hot refuels, and loading and unloading inert explosive ordnance. We’re getting better with our communication, hand signals and confidence in each other; as a team, we’re picking up each other’s little quirks and encouraging one another.”
Lieutenant Colonel Perrins said the Apache offered significantly more capability to the integrated force than the Tiger ARH it was replacing.
“Its sensor suite and communications suite are beyond anything the other attack capabilities have at this time. It enables our crews to provide situational awareness to the integrated force that wasn’t feasible with the Tiger. Identifying targets at greater distances and rapidly sharing that information across the force is a capability we simply didn’t have before.”
Exercise Possum Guns later saw 1st Aviation Regiment, supported by 16th Aviation Support Battalion, conduct the first live-fire activities by Australian Army Apaches.
“That was an actual live-fire activity here in Townsville, where the ground crew and aircrew used live ordnance, took it to the range, and engaged targets with live rounds. This significant step marked the first time an Australian Apache conducted a live-fire activity in Australia,” Lieutenant Colonel Perrins said.