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INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
Due to limited availability and maintenance requirements of Germany's CH-53s, participation in international exercises is limited. The wing has participated in special operations exercises in the past, such as Angel Thunder in the United States. Angel Thunder is one of the largest personnel recovery exercises in the world. At the moment, such an undertaking is impossible from a logistical standpoint, so the wing is focusing on special operations exercises that take place in Europe.
In addition to participating in international exercises, select young pilots are sent to Israel for basic training on the CH-53. There is also an exchange program with the U.S. Air Force and French Army with deas and best-practices from the exchange pilots being implemented into the squadrons. German CH-53 pilots gain experience flying UH-60 Black Hawks and HH-60 Pavehawks in the United States and EC-725 Caracals in France.
FUTURE
After decades of dedicated and reliable service, the end of the line for the CH-53s is nearing. Lt. Col. Mayer notes that, “The CH-53 is an old workhorse and we are coming up to the moment that the CH-53 should be replaced by a heavy transport helicopter.” He continues, “At the moment talks are based around the CH-47F Chinook and the CH-53K King Stallion. The timeline to start replacing the current CH-53s is set for 2023 and the last CH-53 should be taken out of service in 2030.” The CH-47 will have a lower price, but the CH-53K will have the capability to carry more personnel and cargo. Both Boeing and Sikorsky have submitted bids to Germany’s competition to acquire a new heavy-lift helicopter, offering the Chinook and King Stallion respectively. The ‘Schwerer Transporthubschrauber’ (STH) or heavy transport helicopter competition, aims to meet the country’s military goal to place a contract for the rotorcraft in late 2020 or 2021, with the delivery of the helicopters expected to conclude by around 2030.
Wing Commander Mayer is always thinking ahead: “We would like to establish up to two CSAR squadrons to have high-end Personnel Recovery covered and also the training squadrons comparable that we have now at Holzdorf. It is a mixed squadron, a training squadron, and an operational squadron. There is a plan up to four flying squadrons at Laupheim. Three with the heavy transport helicopter and one with the H145M. This is still a rough plan. And three flying squadrons with heavy transport helicopter at Holzdorf.” No matter which helicopter is chosen, Lt. Col. Mayer has faith in the Wing's future success: “All the people here are highly motivated with different backgrounds, which is good, it allows coming up with good and different ideas. I think this is an excellent Wing that is prepared for the future.