Army Attack Aviation Shift of Training and Doctrine to Win the War of Tomorrow Effectively
Abstract
Army attack aviation leaders, through Training and Doctrine Command, should re-focus its primary mission in doctrine from the strategic/operational deep attack operations or deep interdiction attacks to close combat attacks (CCA) in order to support the ground commander's operational objectives in the current and future irregular warfare and conventional operations. Since the introduction of the AH-64A Apache Helicopters in the mid-1980s, the tank-killing Apaches trained to conduct deliberate deep attack operations 80 to 100 kilometers across the forward line of troops (FLOT) to destroy Soviet second echelon forces in order to prevent re-enforcement to the first echelon forces. This coincided with the Army's new AirLand Battle doctrine. The first battle in which the AH-64A Apache helicopter fought the deep attack mission was in Operation Desert Storm in 1991 against the Iraqi anti-aircraft radar systems to "close the eyes" of the enemy in order for the Air Force to conduct strategic attacks deep in Iraq. Since 2001, in Operation Enduring Freedom, the Apaches are fighting against an asymmetric warfighting enemy. This is a similar enemy where the first armed helicopter fired its first weapons platform against an insurgent enemy in Vietnam in 1962. The first armed helicopters provided close-armed protection in Vietnam and in today's battles, the attack aviation units are providing CCA. The Army conducted a deep attack mission during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 during the initial phase to destroy elements of the Medina Division, but the lack of updated intelligence, bad weather, and misuse of SEAD ending up many aircraft damaged and one aircraft shot down with two POWs. The friction and fog of war will ultimately prevent the units from conducting the high-risk mission of crossing the FLOT deep into enemy territory.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA519290
Entities
People
- Todd G. Thornburg
Organizations
- Marine Corps University