Rescue plan looks ropey

SAS leaders are using a terrifying new technique to airlift troops out of combat zones.

An entire six man team can be pulled out of a “hot area” in seconds without the need for a helicopter to land.

The so-called “click and collect” Special Patrol Insertion and Extraction System involves soldiers being clipped to ropes and lifted into the air wearing their full equipment. They are flown beneath a helicopter before landing in a safe area. Developed in the United States, the system can also be used to land soldiers on tall buildings in hostage rescue situations where the element of surprise is needed.

Downed pilots can be evacuated at speed from hostile areas.

The process can also be used to get troops out of mined areas where it would be too risky to land a chopper, such as in Afghanistan.

Instead of risking the helicopter triggering a mine, the team attach to a rope and signal to the crew to be airlifted out. A source said: “In Helmand there was always a danger that after a heavy contact with the Taliban, the Chinook would come in and land on a mine – in fact several times we had to abort landings.

“This system can overcome that and be applied to a number of scenarios such as extraction from jungle where it is difficult to land a helicopter, and of course inserting forces in respect of counter-terror operations.

“There are places in London where putting in a Chinook full of troops would cause a problem. This will allow the pilot to simply hover while they are delivered.”