2020 Royal Black Hawk Exercise

This year was the eighth time the 1st Regiment of Artillery of Bourogne had organised the "Royal Black Hawk 2020" exercise held in the vicinity of Belfort and its surrounding areas, and lasting for about two weeks. More than 400 soldiers and a dozen combat helicopters participated in this life-size exercise.

- Roelof-Jan Gort

The idea was born when a cadet from the French Army met a cadet from West Point in the USA, and while they were at school they were looking for ideas. As a joke they said that they want to organize an exercise together in the future. What started as a joke became reality in 2013 when the first “Royal Black Hawk” exercise was held.

The annual air combat exercise brings together foreign aircraft and teams of air-ground support specialists which enables 1st RA units to maintain their operational capabilities. For the 2020 event more than 400 French, Belgian and British soldiers, engineers, artillery, infantry and combat helicopters of the French and United States Army came together. Helicopters from the 1st Combat Helicopter Regiment were able to fly alongside the different helicopters of the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade (U.S. Army).

The exercise remains realistic and faithful to its objectives, thus making it possible to train mortar divisions as well. The teams of observers and troops participating included: air assault, MEDEVAC, close combat attack, close air support via JTACs (Joint Terminal Attack Controllers), and forward air traffic controllers; all while offering the opportunity to experiment with new innovative procedures and gain know-how.

For the French Army it was also an opportunity to train with their allies according to standard NATO procedures used in operations. This exercise is well established in its region with training phases in the area between Belfort, Besancon and Valdahon.