Close air support: Difference between revisions
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'''Close air support''' is defined, by the U.S. Department of Defense, as | '''Close air support''' (CAS) is defined, by the U.S. Department of Defense, as "air action by fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft against hostile targets that are in close proximity to friendly forces and that require detailed integration of each air mission with the fire and movement of those forces."<ref name=JP1-02>{{citation | ||
in close proximity to friendly forces and that require detailed integration of each air mission with the fire and movement of those forces.<ref name=JP1-02>{{citation | |||
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It is distinguished from [[battlefield air interdiction]], which attacks forces that are not in close proximity to friendly units, but are a potential threat to those units, or support the attacking forces. | It is distinguished from [[battlefield air interdiction]], which attacks forces that are not in close proximity to friendly units, but are a potential threat to those units, or support the attacking forces. | ||
==Tactics== | |||
Originally, CAS used bombs, machine guns, and autocannon, aimed purely by the pilot's vision and awareness of friendly and hostile units. Especially in the early parts of the Second World War, when the supported ground troops and the aircraft had no radio communications, there was a very significant danger of [[fratricide]] unless the aircraft stayed a significant distance from friendly units. | |||
Precision improved with the advent of [[forward air controller]]s (FAC), who were pilots or otherwise trained to direct, by a shared radio channel, the aircraft's path against the target. While FACs first used only descriptions of landmarks to orient the attack pilot, smoke grenades, high-visibility colored panels spread on the ground, or other visual references were soon deployed by supported troops. | |||
Another advancement was having FACs in aircraft, typically small and slow, from which they could observe the position of their own troops and the enemy, and then fire marking rockets at the target. The marking rockets, usually with a filler of [[white phosphorus]], produced a highly visible cloud of glowing smoke. | |||
It is fair to say that the advent of [[precision guided munition]]s was a revolution for CAS. With some weapons, the pilots had a television link that let them see where the weapon was going. In the [[Vietnam War]], [[laser]]s were used to designate a precise location; the weapon homed on the laser reflection. The laser designator was first in other aircraft, but designators suitable for use from the ground came into use. | |||
==Aircraft for CAS== | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
Revision as of 18:36, 10 May 2008
Close air support (CAS) is defined, by the U.S. Department of Defense, as "air action by fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft against hostile targets that are in close proximity to friendly forces and that require detailed integration of each air mission with the fire and movement of those forces."[1]
It is distinguished from battlefield air interdiction, which attacks forces that are not in close proximity to friendly units, but are a potential threat to those units, or support the attacking forces.
Tactics
Originally, CAS used bombs, machine guns, and autocannon, aimed purely by the pilot's vision and awareness of friendly and hostile units. Especially in the early parts of the Second World War, when the supported ground troops and the aircraft had no radio communications, there was a very significant danger of fratricide unless the aircraft stayed a significant distance from friendly units.
Precision improved with the advent of forward air controllers (FAC), who were pilots or otherwise trained to direct, by a shared radio channel, the aircraft's path against the target. While FACs first used only descriptions of landmarks to orient the attack pilot, smoke grenades, high-visibility colored panels spread on the ground, or other visual references were soon deployed by supported troops.
Another advancement was having FACs in aircraft, typically small and slow, from which they could observe the position of their own troops and the enemy, and then fire marking rockets at the target. The marking rockets, usually with a filler of white phosphorus, produced a highly visible cloud of glowing smoke.
It is fair to say that the advent of precision guided munitions was a revolution for CAS. With some weapons, the pilots had a television link that let them see where the weapon was going. In the Vietnam War, lasers were used to designate a precise location; the weapon homed on the laser reflection. The laser designator was first in other aircraft, but designators suitable for use from the ground came into use.