The British Army is the UK's second largest operator of military aircraft, fielding more than 300 armed helicopters, fixed wing surveillance aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles. Its aviation units have been in the forefront of UK combat air operations in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan between 1999 and 2010. HRH Prince Harry was recently awarded his 'wings' to allow him to begin training as an Apache attack helicopter pilot, further raising the profile of British Army aviation. This book will look at the current units and equipment used by British Army aviation elements of the Army Air Corps (which operates helicopters and fixed wing aircraft) and Royal Artillery (which operates unmanned aerial vehicles or drones). It will provide a detailed account of British Army aviation operations, drawing on first hand accounts of army personnel and commanders, official records and the author's observations from war zones.
