After the very busy period of the move from Windsor to Bulford, the Household Cavalry Regiment has just taken delivery of their very first ARES armoured fighting vehicle which will be the start of a re-equipping and replacement of the aged Scimitar Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicles.

The ARES is a variant in the AJAX family of tracked armoured that will replace the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance Tracked currently in service with the British army.

The MoD has ordered 34 Formation Reconnaissance Overwatch (ARES) vehicles which weigh 38 tonnes with a crew of two plus four passengers.

In service, ARES will provide safe transportation of fully-equipped soldiers in a well-protected environment. On dismount, troops will be able to more effectively conduct a variety of tasks, such as dismounted surveillance (including patrols), observation posts and close target reconnaissance.

Preparing for future battles

1 Mercian’s experimentation with Future Force 2025 land platforms began in earnest last week on Ex Virtual Eagle, utilising the UBVT (Unit Based Virtual Training) at Battle Group level.

1 Armoured Infantry Brigade has deployed to Salisbury Plain to conduct Iron Strike 3 - the latest Strike Experimentation exercise with the Household Cavalry Regiment and 3 RIFLES where they will exercise using new communication platforms, aviation, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones).

OVERSEAS TRAINING

14 members of 52 Armoured Engineer Squadron from Perham Down of have deployed to the Atlas Mountains, Morocco as part of an Adventurous Training expedition. They will also conduct Defence Engagement with the Moroccan Army.

Last Monday they summited Mt Toubkal with members of the 1st Bn, the Royal Moroccan Army. At 4,167m, it is the highest peak in N Africa.

D Company, 5 RIFLES have deployed to the United States where they are battling a very professional OPFOR and spiders in the swamps of Louisiana on Ex Rattlesnake.

24 members of 26 Engineer Regiment are on Exercise Scarab Triple in Bavaria where they are taking part in kayaking, rock climbing and mountain biking.

Finally, the Commanding Officer of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery took his Field Officers to Pol Roger, Épernay, in France, developing closer links with the world renown chateaux.