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UK:Proposal for British air cavalry

01 January 1998

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Senior military officers are proposing to create an American-style air cavalry similar to the elite helicopter-based fighting force in the film Apocalypse Now. The unit will be developed by merging the helicopter forces of the army and the RAF. The force, which should be controlled by the army, will be used for tank-busting and commando-style raids behind enemy lines. The high-tech Apache attack helicopters will form the core of the new British unit and be backed up by Puma and Lynx helicopters and twin rotor Chinooks. The air cavalry will give fire-power to the new Joint Rapid Deployment Force. The proposals form part of the government's Strategic Defence Review process but have provoked bitter rows between the army and the RAF, which fears erosion of its independence.

Sunday Times, 16.11.97.

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