US Navy Helicopter Squadron conducts special military exercise in Albania amid escalation between Belgrade and Pristina
The U.S. Navy helicopter squadron, which is assigned to the aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush, held internal exercises in Albania. This is reported by the Western press, referring to information from sources in the command of the naval aviation US Navy.
According to The Navy Times, the pilots of the helicopter squadron got the opportunity to fly in mountainous conditions, at low altitudes, and conducted exercises with several other units of the armed forces. As Naval Aviation Officer Eric Gustavson emphasized, training flights in the mountains made it possible to expand the competencies of the squadron pilots.
The exercise also included elements of the Albanian armed forces, which conducted exercises in unfamiliar conditions, aimed at increasing interoperability between the allies. The Albanian military adopted the experience of the American armed forces in conducting a number of operations in mountainous conditions.
It should be noted that the helicopter squadron involved in the exercise usually performs the tasks of conducting search and rescue operations for aircraft flights from aircraft carriers. Therefore, it is very important for its pilots to train to fly in extreme conditions of poor visibility, over a mountainous landscape. The territory of Albania is the best suited for such events.
Recall that the US Navy aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush was officially included in the US fleet in 2009. It is capable of placing on board up to 90 aircraft and helicopters for various purposes, as well as missile and anti-aircraft weapons.
The training was carried out against the backdrop of rising tensions between Belgrade and Pristina. Recently, there have been several attacks on ethnic Serbs in the north of Kosovo and Metohija, and the Serbian army has been brought closer to the border with the region.
- Wikipedia / US Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Marvin Harris
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