Live demonstration Black Blade 2016 European Defence Agency Helicopter Exercise Programme 10112162

Defence & Security News - Belgium
 
Live demonstration Black Blade 2016 European Defence Agency Helicopter Exercise Programme.
Wednesday, November 30, 2016, Exercise BLACK BLADE 2016 ended its major training exercises with a live demonstration which was attended by Head of the EDA (European Defence Agency), High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini.
     
Wednesday, November 30, 2016, Exercise BLACK BLADE 2016 ended its major training exercises with a live demonstration which was attended by Head of the EDA (European Defence Agency), High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini. Belgian Chief of staff army general Marc Compernol (L) and Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini (R) arrive at the military airbase of Florennes in Belgium, Wednesday, November 30, 2016.
     
From 14th of November to 2nd of December this year, the 10th helicopter exercise under the umbrella of the Helicopter Exercise Programme (HEP) took place from airbase Florennes in Belgium under the code name Black Blade 2016.

The BLACK BLADE 2016 military exercise as a Multinational Helicopter Exercise of the HEP will be delivered by the Belgium Defence Forces. The HEP is one of the EDA helicopter training projects and programmes. Together with Helicopter Tactics Course (HTC) and Helicopter Tactics Instructors Course (HTIC), it proves that at very low cost, immediate operational output can be realized.

A total of 14 air assets from 4 Member States (13 helicopters from Belgium, Slovenia and Austria and one Falcon aircraft from the UK) have been deployed. Over a three week period, the combined air assets flew in excess of 300 mission hours across a combined 175 aircraft sorties. The exercise will officially end on the 2nd of December.
 

The BLACK BLADE 2016 is a Special Operations Forces (SOF) oriented helicopter exercise, featuring 70 members of the Belgian Special Forces who participated directly in the training missions. The exercise aimed to develop cooperation with SOF both in the air and on the ground.

The EDA was set-up in 2004 to support the Council and the Member States in their effort to improve the European Union's defence capabilities for the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). This means running and supporting cooperative European defence projects; supporting research and technology development; boosting the European defence technological and industrial base; and working on wider EU policies.

Future editions of the EDA HEP are expected to take place in Hungary (2017 - Exercise FIRE BLADE), Portugal (2018) and the Czech Republic (2019).
     
Picture gallery Black Blade 2016