Groups of "Hunter Killer" teams of AH-1S "Cobras" And OH-58A "Kiowas" thundered over the hot deserts en route to their targets deep into the barren wasteland. Their target were enemy troop concentations, specifically Mechanized Formations. Their major goal this day? To eliminate at least 70-80% of them. It was a concept which proved already in South East Asia it`s effectiveness. Teams of "Cobras" and "Kiowas" on the hunt for enemy tanks and armoured vehicles. Something which US Armed Forces perfected during Operation "Desert Storm" in early 1991, at that time with another team constellations. "Apaches" and "Kiowas", a much deadlier formation as decades earlier.
But these great photos were not made in South East Asia, nor in Iraq or Kuwait. But in the deserts of Southern California in July 1986 during the exercise "Gallant Eagle 86`". A truly interesting exercise series which was launched for the first time in 1981, but evolved during the following years to one of the largest military exercises within the United States. In 1986 it had a pretty interesting purpose. Just three years earlier USCENTCOM was officially created, the US Central Command for Armed Forces in the Middle Eastern region, already during the 1980s a global hot spot.
Just recall the bloody civil war in Lebanon which was still ongoing mid of the 1980s, the tense situation with Iran, but also Syria and of course Libya, which became to one of the major threats for US forces in the region at that time. Just few months before "Gallant Eagle 86`" was launched, US Air and Naval forces conducted massive Air strikes against Libya as part of Operation "El Dorado Canyon". Libyan dictator Gaddafi even threatened Ronald Reagan openly with his assassination. It was the peak of tensions between the two nations.
So "Gallant Eagle 86" trained and prepared US Air Force, Army, Navy and USMC assets for possible Operations in envoirements similar to the Middle East and surely specifically Libya. There were plans of the Reagan administration to use ground forces as the last option, if tensions with Libya increased in a major way. But the exercise was also a strong signal to Gaddafi that US forces were prepared. It were the times as the US openly and often "flexed its muscles", not only towards the USSR, but also Libya or Iran.
"Gallant Eagle 86" included over 35.000 soldiers of all branches of the US Armed Forces with a fictional training scenario of an Allied nation in the Middle East, which requested US support for its defense against an invader. Part of it were also large numbers of helicopters which supported the forces on the ground.
Visible on the photos were dozens of AH-1S "Cobras", a improved second generation version of the AH-1. The "S" version got several sub-versions, each with specific improvements like more powerful engines or the capabiltiy to carry and operate the TOW anti tank wire guided missile system. The latter one is also visible on the photos. The OH-58A "Kiowa" entered service already during the late 1960s and was used in a very effective way together with AH-1G`s in South East Asia during the early 1970s. The "Kiowas" which were operated during the 1980s were upgraded "A" versions of the helicopter.
"Gallant Eagle 86`" was one of several large US exercises which were more as just exercises. They were a show of force and power and a major signal to dictators, thugs and communists all over the world. No matter if Libya, Nicaragua, Iran or the USSR.
