The UH-72A Lakota was introduced to B Company in 2011, and five of these aircraft are currently operating out of Barstow-Daggett Airport. All the aircraft are painted in the “bruised banana” color scheme and fitted with laser sensors for the improved MILES system on the skids and fuselage.
OPPOSING FORCES
Serving as the opposing force (OpFor) for the rotational training units is the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment “Blackhorse.” The unit joined the Fort Irwin NTC in 1994 and specializes in enemy warfare, using tactics and equipment that the enemy would use in modern warfare. Humvees and M113 armored personnel carriers are heavily modified to replicate Russian T-72, T-90, BMP-2 and BMP-3 tanks to serve as OpFor surrogate vehicles (OSVs). Also, several villages (mock cities) have been built in the vast desert to replicate enemy strongholds for urban warfare training. The accomplishments and progress of the RTUs are closely monitored by the operations group’s observer coach/trainer (OC/T) teams.
SOKOL
To assist Blackhorse, the 2916th Aviation Battalion Raptors play an important role. The battalion reports to the 916th Support Brigade, and consists of three flying companies and a subordinate aviation regiment. The battalion’s Bravo Company is nicknamed “Sokol,” which means “Falcon” in Russian,
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and provides enemy air threat for the RTUs. From 1980 until December 2011, the Bell UH-1H and JUH-1H Hueys served at the NTC with the 2916th Aviation Battalion. The Hueys were painted in a smart yellow, green and brown color scheme with a bright red star to replicate enemy Mil Mi-24 Hind helicopters. The JUH-1H was additionally fitted with an extended nose cone, replicating an extra cockpit to make it look even more like an Mi-24. The aircraft were fitted with the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) on hard points on both sides of the fuselage that simulated rockets or guns fired from the helicopter. RTU units both on the ground and in the air were equipped with laser receivers that alerted the OC/Ts if a vehicle or aircraft was hit and no longer allowed to participate in the day’s exercise.
In 2011, the UH-72A Lakota was added to the B Company that is currently operating five aircraft out of nearby Barstow-Daggett Airport. The aircraft are all painted in a “bruised banana” color scheme and fitted with laser sensors for the improved MILES system on the skids and fuselage.
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