| Unit Name: | Army Aviation Corps |
| Native Name: | German: Heeresflieger |
| Dates: | 1957–present |
| Country: | Germany |
| Branch: | German Army |
| Type: | Army aviation |
| Role: | Tactical Air Transport, Close Air Support, Reconnaissance, Liaison, Disaster Relief |
| Size: | 3 regiments, 1 independent squadrons, 1 school |
| Current Commander: | Brigadier General Volker Bauersachs |
| Motto: | Forward! Nach vorn! |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Roundel |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | Fin flash |
| Identification Symbol 3 Label: | Cap badge |
| Identification Symbol 4 Label: | Collar patch |
| Identification Symbol 5 Label: | APP-6A symbol |
| Aircraft Attack: | Tiger |
| Aircraft Patrol: | H145 |
| Aircraft Trainer: | H135 |
| Aircraft Transport: | NH90 |
The German Army Aviation Corps[1] (German: Heeresfliegertruppe) is a special unit within the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr). The German Army Aviation Corps is a branch of the German Army (Heer), containing all its helicopter units. The German Air Force and the German Navy both also have their own helicopter units.
The coat of arms of the German Army Aviation Corps depicts a red eagle, swooping down whilst carrying a sword in its claws. Members of the Army Aviation Corps wear a burgundy-coloured beret. The badge on the beret is a wing, crossed vertically by a sword, surrounded by oak leaves. The Waffenfarbe of the German Army Aviation Corps (a means the German military uses to distinguish between different corps or troop functions in its armed services) is silver-grey. The epaulettes of members of the German Army Aviation corps are lined in silver-grey. The gorget patches are held in the same color with two vertical cords. The sleeves of the uniforms display the flying wings, emphasising their main task.
The main tasks of the Army Aviation Corps are:
Due to their manifold tasks, the German Army Aviation Corps cannot be classified as having any of the classic tasks of army units, namely leading and supporting the leadership, fighting and supporting the fighting force.
Most units of the Army Aviation Corps are incorporated into the Airmobile Operations Division (Division Luftbewegliche Operationen). This division was founded on 1 July 2002 and became operational on 8 October 2002.
See main article: History of the German Army Aviation Corps.
After the foundation of the Bundeswehr in 1955, the first head of the department of the German Army Aviation Corps, Colonel Horst Pape, was appointed on 7 November 1956.During the next ten years, a great number of bases all over the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany were founded.
In the first instance, all the equipment was acquired from allied nations. However, from the late 1960s onwards, more emphasis was put on developing new technology with other European partners. Until 1990, the German Army Aviation Corps was restricted to see active service only during aid mission within Germany and NATO countries.
Since the unification of the Federal Republic of Germany with the German Democratic Republic in 1990, there have been several rounds of re-organizations within the Bundeswehr, also affecting the German Army Aviation Corps. A number of bases were closed down, and their units either dissolved or merged with other units. In 2002, most remaining units of the German Army Aviation Corps were incorporated into the Airmobile Operations Division (Division Luftbewegliche Operationen) .
Furthermore, the role of the German Army Aviation Corps changed as well. Since the mid-1990s, it has been increasingly deployed in a support rôle in several countries for as varying bodies as the United Nations, NATO and the EU, first in Iraq after the 1st Gulf War, then on the Balkans with IFOR, KFOR, SFOR and EUFOR, and most recently in Afghanistan as part of ISAF and most recently in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of EUFOR RD Congo to support the UN mission MONUC to monitor the general elections in 2006. This mission began in June 2006 and ended with the last soldiers returning in December of the same year.
In October 2011 the German Federal Ministry of Defence announced a reorganisation/reduction of the German Armed Forces. As a consequence, the strength of Germany Army Aviation Corps was reduced. Flying operations at a number of air bases ceased and the respective units were dissolved. Other units were transferred to the German Air Force.[2]
Since 2020 the German Army Aviation Corpse consits of one brigade level unit called Helicopter Command. This Brigade belongs to the Rapid Forces Division and is made up of three rgiments, one school, brigade staff HQ and central support and maintenance center.[3]
The German Army Aviation Corps is equipped with:
Currently active regiments as part of Helicopter Command:
| Name of unit | Flying | Based at | Insignia | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transport Helicopter Regiment 10 Lüneburger Heide | NH90 | Faßberg | ||
| Transport Helicopter Regiment 30 Tauberfranken | NH90 H145 | Niederstetten | ||
| Attack Helicopter Regiment 36 Kurhessen | Eurocopter Tiger | Fritzlar | ||
The following units were subordinate to Airmobile Operations Division, the division's headquarters being in Veitshöchheim:
| Name of unit | Flying | Based at | Insignia | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medium Transport Helicopter Regiment 15 Münsterland | Sikorsky CH-53G/GS | Rheine | Disbanded | |
| Medium Transport Helicopter Regiment 25 Oberschwaben | Sikorsky CH-53G/GS | Laupheim | Transferred to German Air Force | |
| Transport Helicopter Regiment 30 Tauberfranken | NH90 H145 | Niederstetten | ||
The following units were part of Airmobile Brigade 1 of Airmobile Operations Division. The division's headquarters was in Fritzlar:
| Name of unit | Flying | Based at | Insignia | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light Transport Helicopter Regiment 10 Lüneburger Heide | NH90 | Faßberg | ||
| Attack Helicopter Regiment 26 Franken | MBB Bo 105P | Roth | Disbanded 30 June 2014 | |
| Attack Helicopter Regiment 36 Kurhessen | Eurocopter Tiger | Fritzlar | ||
The following unit was not part of the Airmobile Operations Division but part of Air Transport Wing 62:
The following units operated independently:
| Name of unit | Flying | Based at | Insignia | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Army Aviation Maintenance Squadron 100 | Celle | Disbanded | ||
| Army Aviation Squadron 109 | Celle | Disbanded | ||
| Army Aviation Liaison and Reconnaissance Squadron 109 | MBB Bo 105M | Celle | Disbanded | |
The following units are or were part of the Army Aviation School. The school's headquarters is in Bückeburg:
| Name of unit | Based at | Insignia | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instruction Group A (flying instruction) | Bückeburg | ||
| Instruction Group B (non-flying instruction) | Bückeburg | ||
| Training Centre C (flying instruction) | Celle | To be disbanded | |
| Army Aviation Test Squadron 910 | Bückeburg | Disbanded on 31 December 2008 | |
| Research And Development Group | Bückeburg | ||
| Technical Maintenance Department | Bückeburg | ||
| Franco-German Training Centre | Le Luc (France) | ||