The Helicopter Tactics Symposium is an integral part of the Helicopter Exercise Programme (HEP), which is one of the helicopter training programmes of the European Defence Agency designed to enhance European helicopter capabilities and interoperability. Participating Member States make use of the HEP with their aircrews and rotary wing aircraft to the effect of common training and experience sharing in the frame of a ten-year programme.
For the second time in the programme history, the Czech Republic – specifically the Czech Air Force Headquarters – was honoured to host the multinational event. Having been delivering tactical helicopter training since 2017, including to the Czech Air Force, the Helicopter Training Point (HTP) based in Ostrava was chosen as the best venue.
Almost 50 attendees from twelve EU Member States, including those representing NATO and EU organisations, gathered to discuss the latest trends in heli tactics as well as ways and options to operationalise the shared experience. That is the core idea and key benefit of the HEP – reacting swiftly to evolving threats by implementing relevant tactical procedures into the common HEP Standard Operating Procedures.
A close cooperation within the European Defence Agency’s helicopter training programmes benefits the Czech Air Force helicopter aircrews in terms of improved interoperability and enhances the Czech Armed Forces’ helicopter capabilities.