Air Reconnaissance

Abstract

Air Reconnaissance is the acquisition of intelligence information by employing visual observation and/or sensors in air vehicles. It supports the intelligence warfighting function and is employed strategically, operationally, and tactically. Air reconnaissance is aviation's oldest mission area, dating back to the use of balloons to observe the adversary during the French Revolution. One of the first missions of the airplane was observation. Today, the means of observing are dramatically different from the days of the "eyeball" sensor. Sophisticated air reconnaissance sensor systems play a critical role in planning and executing military operations. Marine air reconnaissance assets collect information concerning the terrain, weather, hydrography, and enemy situation in areas of operations to provide commanders with real-time or near-real-time information. The proper use of manned and unmanned air reconnaissance assets enables commanders within the MAGTF to maximize their force's effectiveness by optimizing friendly strengths and exploiting enemy critical vulnerabilities. Marine Corps Warfighting Publication (MCWP) 3-26, "Air Reconnaissance," addresses basic air reconnaissance tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) for planning and execution. Intended for commanders and their staffs as well as aircrews, operators, and controllers, MCWP 3-26 highlights the following: the role of air reconnaissance in Marine aviation; command, control, and communications; planning; execution; and air reconnaissance in emerging concepts and capabilities. MCWP 3-26 provides the requisite information needed by commanders and staffs to understand and evaluate the operational principles and capabilities of Marine air reconnaissance. This publication supersedes Fleet Marine Force Manual (FMFM) 5-10, "Air Reconnaissance."

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 27, 2001
Accession Number
ADA493374

Entities

People

  • Lex A. Brown
  • Robert L. Rauenhorst

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • C4I
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Sensors
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Airborne Warning And Control System
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircraft Industry
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Anti-Radiation Missiles
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Control Systems
  • Detection
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Fire Control Systems
  • Intelligence Cycle
  • Military Science
  • Rotary Wing Aircraft
  • Surveillance
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Geospatial Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence Analytics
  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - UAVs