Inzpire deliver second EW course for EDA

Above: Inzpire’s Luke Cabot delivering a module during the electronic warfare course.

Twenty trainees from Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, Slovenia, Sweden and the UK completed the course. The majority of students were rotary aircrew, however a number of intelligence officers and fast jet aircrews also completed the training.

The course provided students with a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of electronic warfare and covered a range of topics including radar, infra-red and ultra-violet systems. Theory-based study was combined with practical learning, with each student on the course having to deliver a specified threat briefing on different platforms to enable a deeper understanding on the systems. Students also undertook learning in a simulated environment, where a bespoke electronic warfare sortie was conducted to allow trainees to visualise the theory they had learnt in the classroom.

To further enhance learning, the course, which is designed by Inzpire personnel, included a day at the UK Electronic Warfare range at RAF Spadeadam, where participants had the opportunity to examine systems such as SA-2, SA-3, SA-6 ad SA-8 in depth and engage with personnel who operate and maintain them.

The course was designed after research suggested aircrew and support personnel across Europe have a decreasing understanding of electronic warfare, in part due to a recent operational focus in theatres such as Iraq and Afghanistan where the battlefield is typically low-tech.

Luke Cabot, operations and training specialist for Inzpire Limited delivered the course and said: “The delivery of the second electronic warfare course was a fantastic opportunity for Inzpire to expand on our ground-breaking electronic warfare syllabus from the debut course. We had the unique opportunity to design a course unlike any other, and our enthusiasm, depth of knowledge and original thinking delivered an end result that was suitable for all levels of student. I was personally delighted to provide the EDA with knowledge that will enhance their operational capability”.

Chris Raynes, head of helicopter services for Inzpire Limited said: “Inzpire’s unique approach to training provision involves continuous interaction with trainees to drive enthusiasm within the group, and ensure that training objectives are met and exceeded. This was a fantastic opportunity to provide students from multiple member states with a foundation level understanding of electronic warfare principles, and we look forward to continuing to work in partnership with the European Defence Agency to deliver world-leading electronic warfare training.”