U.S. Blackhawk helicopters arrive in Latvia
On the 1st of March, five U.S. Blackhawk helicopters were deployed to Latvia during Operation Atlantic Resolve, Delfi reported. Soldiers from the Phoenix division of the 10th Aviation Brigade of the U.S. Army also arrived in Latvia.
The 10th Aviation Brigade is the first of many allied armed forces to arrive in Europe as part of a rotation of units to show the readiness of the United States and NATO to ensure security in Europe.
The Brigade is normally posted at Fort Drum, New York. Previous reports revealed plans to deploy 2,200 soldiers, 86 helicopters and more than 800 units of equipment to Latvia, Germany and Romania. Approximately 60 representatives of the Brigade will conduct aviation operations and participate in Operation Atlantic Resolve international exercises at Lielvārde airbase.
Currently, one more battalion equipped with Apache attack helicopters, the 1st Battalion of the 3rd Aviation Regiment supports the U.S. Armed Forces in Europe. It belongs to the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade based in the German city of Ansbach, west of Bavaria.