Throughout October and November, Australian Army aviators from the 16th Aviation Brigade conducted intensive training exercises across the greater Sydney and Goulburn regions. Flying UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, the focus was on honing essential skills for domestic counter-terrorism operations within complex urban landscapes.
The training moved crews away from familiar rural training grounds, deliberately immersing them in the challenging and unpredictable environment of cities and suburbs. A key exercise involved a multi-storey car park in central Blacktown, NSW, where two Black Hawks successfully inserted and later extracted a ground force, simulating a rapid response to a high-threat urban scenario.
A pilot from the Brigade emphasised the critical nature of this real-world preparation. “A key part of our role is domestic counter-terrorism, so if we were to be used it would be in an urban setting. However, they are quite a complex environment,” he said. Training in these locations prevents complacency and ensures crews are ready for the unknown.
Beyond tactical proficiency, the exercises served a vital force-generation role. “Without this, we would not have qualified and competent pilots or aircrew to meet operational requirements,” the pilot noted, highlighting how such missions qualify new personnel.
The aviators also praised the deep professional satisfaction derived from executing these complex team missions. “We’ve all got very defined roles… When you go out and execute a mission and it goes well, it is a pretty amazing feeling knowing that all of those individual parts have come together,” the pilot shared. For him, the connection between pilot and machine is a particular passion. “I get a lot out of just hanging on to the aircraft and feeling that connection between you and the airframe.”
This sustained period of urban aviation training ensures the Army’s Black Hawk fleet and its crews remain at a high state of readiness, capable of responding to counter-terrorism threats where they are most likely to occur: in the heart of Australia’s urban centres.
