RAA Liaison Letter 2024 - 2025 Edition

RAA Liaison Letter – 2024 / 2025 Edition 51 Surveillance and Target Acquisition Wing Major Chris Wishart 2024 was a high-tempo, high-achievement year for the Surveillance and Target Acquisition Wing. The headline? The successful transition from the RQ-7B Shadow to the more advanced A61 Integrator system—delivered on time, with precision, and to great effect. The final Shadow flight leaves the rails. The final RQ-7B course was delivered in early 2025, marking the end of an era in TUAS training. This final iteration wasn’t just a box- ticking exercise—it symbolised the culmination of years of operational experience and training development, carried forward into the next generation of capability. Behind the scenes, the instructional team undertook a massive rework of every RQ-7B Learning Management Package (LMP). These were not simply updated—they were rewritten from the ground up to align with A61’s expanded capabilities and revised tactics, techniques, and procedures. It was a substantial undertaking, but one that ensures our training remains modern, relevant, and operationally focused. In an environment where technological advancement is constant, this work keeps the Wing ahead of the curve. We also completed the return of the old RQ-7B simulators and took delivery of new A61 simulators—an essential step in modernising our training pipeline. These cutting-edge systems have dramatically enhanced our ability to prepare operators for the complexities of contemporary uncrewed aviation. With improved fidelity, scenario complexity, and system realism, they allow us to train harder and smarter, well before soldiers step onto a flight line. The first group of Integrator IETs, experience some battle PT on the PMA! Following the transition, the Wing wasted no time. Four Introduction Into Service (IIS) courses for the A61 were delivered, producing 56 new TUAS operators for Army. This was followed by a Regimental Officer Gunnery Course (ROGC) and an Advanced UAS course aimed at developing deeper technical and tactical competence among experienced operators. These courses were not just successful—they were transformational, equipping our soldiers with the confidence and capability to operate the A61 in the most demanding conditions. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing the value of the new training ecosystem. The Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS) cell had an equally dynamic year. One major highlight was the successful execution of a live SUAS call-for-fire with 53 Battery—an important proof of concept demonstrating the tactical integration of SUAS into real-time fires. The team also worked to refine and trial new counter-UAS (C-UAS) procedures, enhancing the Army’s ability to respond to emerging drone threats. In a notable contribution to Army-wide capability, one of our instructors deployed on OP KUDU, returning with a wealth of first-hand experience. These insights were directly applied in the development of a new SUAS Battle Book—a tactical resource capturing the latest TTPs and lessons learned. This document is now shaping how Army units train for, and operate in, drone-contested environments.