Military choppers about to invade Gold Coast sky for Commonwealth Games

AN Australian Defence Force Major says don’t be surprised by a lot of military choppers overhead between now and during the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

Australian Army soldiers from the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment conduct a search, at night, of the 2018 Commonwealth Games Athletes Village recently. PICTURE: Sgt. W Guthrie, Commonwealth of Australia, Dept. of Defence

THE Commonwealth Games cavalry are coming.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has told Gold Coasters not to be surprised by the regular sound and sight of military choppers in the sky in the lead-up to the April 4 Games kick off.

Military vehicles have already started popping up on the Gold Coast, which is expected to host more than 3000 extra police and military during the Games.

Australian Army soldier, Sapper John Murrell and his Explosive Detection Dog Elvis from 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment searches for explosives residue during a combined training exercise with the Queensland Police Service. PICTURE: Sgt. W Guthrie, Commonwealth of Australia, Dept. of Defence

Police and Defence Force staff have already worked closely together during a recent security and bomb sweep of the Athletes’ Village at Parklands.

A fleet of army helicopters will provide Queensland Police and partner organisations additional flexibility and agility to respond to a range of security situations.

Major General Paul McLachlan, Commander of the ADF’s support to the Games, said locals and visitors should expect Army helicopters flying over the Gold Coast from now and during the Games.

Queensland Police Service Special Emergency Response Team Tactical Operators conduct on-load and off-load drill rehearsals from a Australian Army Multi Role Helicopter (MRH90) aircraft as part of familiarisation training for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. PICTURE: Sgt. W Guthrie, Commonwealth of Australia, Dept. of Defence

“Army helicopters will be flying during the day and night starting with familiarisation training before the Games commence. The rehearsals will help minimise the impact to the public should the Army be called on to support the Queensland Police response to an incident during the Games,” Major General McLachlan said.

The most common model will be the Taipan, or MRH90 chopper, which Major General McLachlan said was the “workhorse of Army aviation and “well suited to ADF activities in support of Queensland Police during the Games.

Originally published as Military choppers about to invade Gold Coast sky for Commonwealth Games