AVIATION TRAINERS

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ATTACK HELICOPTERS

IN THE

RECONNAISSANCE ROLE

LEADER TRAINING PROGRAM

AVIATION TRAINERS

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PURPOSE

PROVIDE A BASIS FOR DISCUSSION TO ADDRESS TTPs FOR EMPLOYMENT OF ATTACK HELICOPTERS IN THE RECONNAISSANCE ROLE

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BLUF

“SUCCESSFUL RECONNAISSANCE IS THE PRECURSOR TO ALL SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS.” FM 100-5

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AGENDA

• RECONNAISSANCE DEFINITIONS

• FUNDAMENTALS OF RECONNAISSANCE

• MISSIONS

• PLANNING

• EXECUTION

• CONCLUSION

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RECONNAISSANCE DEFINITIONS

“RECONNAISSANCE IS A DIRECTED EFFORT TO COLLECTINFORMATION ABOUT ENEMY AND THE FRIENDLY COMMANDER’S AREA OF OPERATIONS.” FM 100-40

“RECONNAISSANCE IS A MISSION UNDERTAKEN TO OBTAIN INFORMATION BY VISUAL OBSERVATION, OR OTHER DETECTION METHODS, ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES OF AN ENEMY, OR ABOUT THE METEOROLOGIC, HYDROGRAPHIC, OR GEOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF A PARTICULAR AREA.” FM 17-95

“THE MAIN PURPOSE OF RECONNAISSANCE IS TO GAIN INFORMATION OF TACTICAL IMPORTANCE ABOUT THE ENEMY, TERRAIN, AND WEATHER.” FM 1-114

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FUNDAMENTALS OF RECONNAISSANCE

“MORRGD”“MORRGD”

• CONTINUOUS AND MMAXIMUM RECONNAISSANCE FORCES FORWARD

• OORIENT ON THE RECONNAISSANCE OBJECTIVE

• RREPORT INFORMATION RAPIDLY AND ACCURATELY

• RRETAIN FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT

• GGAIN AND MAINTAIN ENEMY CONTACT

• DDEVELOP THE SITUATION RAPIDLY

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GAIN AND MAINTAIN ENEMY CONTACT

• PARAMOUNT TASK FOR RECONNAISSANCE UNITS• MUST DETERMINE SIZE, COMPOSITION, STRENGTH, AND INTENTIONS OF ENEMY FORCES• SURVEILLANCE COMBINED WITH STEALTH IS THE PRIMARY TECHNIQUE, COUPLED WITH TARGET HANDOVERS TO ASSETS IN DEPTH• FIRE AND MOVEMENT IS UTILIZED IAW METT-T• ONCE GAINED, CONTACT IS NOT BROKEN

“IF YOU DON’T HOLD THE ENEMY BY THE NOSE, YOU CAN’T KICK HIMIN THE ASS.” PATTON

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ORIENT ON THE RECONNAISSANCE OBJECTIVE

• COMMANDER’S FOCUS THEIR RECON EFFORTS THROUGH RECON OBJECTIVES• CLEAR TASK AND PURPOSE IS DELINEATED TO THE SCOUTS• RECONNAISSANCE OBJECTIVES MAY BE TERRAIN OR ENEMY ORIENTED• ASSIGNED WITH THE LOOKERS / SHOOTERS CAPABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS IN MIND• IPB AND PIRs HELP IDENTIFY THE COMMANDER’S RECON OBJECTIVES

AVIATION TRAINERS

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ORIENT ON THE RECONNAISSANCE OBJECTIVE

• COMMANDER’S MUST REMAIN FOCUSED ON THE RECON OBJECTIVE REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS ENCOUNTERED DURING THE MISSION. FM 100-40/17-95/1-114

“THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW THE CONDITIONS OF THE MOUNTAINS AND FORESTS, HAZARDOUS DEFILES, MARSHES AND SWAMPS, CANNOT CONDUCT THE MARCH OF AN ARMY.” SUN TZU

(CONT’D)

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RETAIN FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT

• RECONNAISSANCE ASSETS MUST BE ABLE TO MANEUVER ON THE BATTLEFIELD• SCOUTS MUST NOT BECOME DECISIVELY ENGAGED• INITIATIVE, TERRAIN, AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE ENEMY FACILITATES MANEUVER• PRIMARY MEANS OF RECONNAISSANCE IS BY STEALTH

“COMMANDER’S MANEUVER THEIR FORCES TO CREATE THE CONDITIONSFOR TACTICAL AND OPERATIONAL SUCCESS.” FM 100-5

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REPORT INFORMATION RAPIDLY AND ACCURATELY

• RECONNAISSANCE INFORMATION LOSES VALUE AS TIME PASSES• COMMANDER’S REQUIRE INFORMATION QUICKLY TO MAKE DECISIONS• SCOUTS MUST REPORT EXACTLY WHAT THEY SEE• NEGATIVE SPOT REPORTS OR SEEMINGLY UNIMPORTANT INFORMATION MAY BE CRITICAL TO THE FIGHT

AVIATION TRAINERS

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REPORT INFORMATION RAPIDLY AND ACCURATELY

• IPB AND CCIR DELINEATE TO THE SCOUTS WHAT THE RECONNAISSANCE FOCUS IS FOR REPORTING• BATTLE AND TARGET HANDOVERS ARE CRITICAL FOR INFORMATION FLOW AND SUSTAINMENT OF EFFORT FM 100-40 / 17-95

(CONT’D)

“TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT YOU SEE AND WHAT YOU DO. THERES AN ARMY DEPENDING ON US FOR CORRECT INFORMATION.” STANDING ORDER, ROGER’S RANGERS

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DEVELOP THE SITUATION RAPIDLY

• QUICK SITUATION DEVELOPMENT FACILITATES RECONNAISSANCE• RECON ASSETS MUST DEPLOY IMMEDIATELY UPON CONTACT• MUST AGGRESSIVELY SCOUT FOR GAPS, WEAKNESS, AND FLANKS OF ENEMY• RECONNAISSANCE BY FIRE MAY BE NECESSARY TO GAIN REQUIRED INFORMATION• MUST HAVE BATTLE DRILLS AND SOPs THAT ADDRESS ACTIONS ON CONTACT• FIRE AND MANEUVER

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AIRCRAFT CAPABILITIES

WEAPONSSUPPRESSION POINT TGT FLIR DTV

TGT RECFLIR DTVTGT ACQ

ENDURANCEAIRCRAFT

30MM2.75” RKT

HELLFIRE 2 HR 10 MIN 6.5 KM 3.5 KM 6.0 KM8.0 KMAH-64AW/ 1 AUX TANK 3 HR 40 MIN

UHF/VHF/SINCGARS

(127X)

HELLFIRE 2 HR 10 MIN50 CAL

2.75” RKT 8+ KM 8+ KM 8+ KM5.0 KMOH-58D KW

UHF/VHF/SINCGARS

(25X)(37.3X)

(39.8X)

72 MIN VIDEO RECORD

8MM VIDEORECORD

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MISSIONS

• RECONNAISSANCE–ZONE–AREA–ROUTE–RECON IN FORCE

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PLANNING

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BATTALION PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS

• CDR’S INTENT • CRITICAL TASKS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED• TASK ORGANIZATION• START POINT, RELEASE POINT, AND DESIGNATION OF THE OBJECTIVE MISSION• CONSTRAINTS/RESTRICTIONS• CRITICAL POINTS IDENTIFIED AS CHECKPOINTS• NAIs• IPB• FARP EMPLOYMENT

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BATTALION PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS

• GROUND COMMANDER’S SCHEME OF MANEUVER• LOCATION OF FRIENDLIES• FIRE (FA, MORTARS, CAS)• CCIRs• FOLLOW-ON MISSION• PASSAGE OF LINES / BHO

(CONT’D)

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R&S PLANNING

• NORMALLY PLANNED BY THE S2 AND COORDINATED WITH THE S3 TO CONFIRM OR DENY THE S2’s TEMPLATING• TREND: R&S PLANNING NOT FOCUSED• TREND REVERSAL - APPOINT “CHIEF OF RECONNAISSANCE” WHO IS NOT THE S2 OR S3, BUT HAS TASKING AUTHORITY • RECOMMEND A/S3 AS CHIEF OF RECON• PLANNING CELL INCLUDES A/S2, A/FSO, A/S4• CHIEF OF RECON RESPONSIBLE FOR PLAN/PREPARATION/EXECUTION OF RECON EFFORT

AVIATION TRAINERS

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R&S PLANNING

• INTELLIGENCE REQUIREMENTS ARE PRIORITIZED FOR R&S MISSIONS AND REFINED AS SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION ORDERS• ECONOMY OF EFFORT IS NECESSARY WHEN REQUIREMENTS OUTWEIGH ASSETS• S2 PLANS SECONDARY REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL ASSETS

(CONT’D)

“COMMANDERS MUST FOCUS INTELLIGENCE. THEY MUST DECIDE WHAT THEY NEED TO KNOW FOR THE OPERATION TO SUCCEED. THIS INCLUDES ESTABLISHING CLEAR PRIORITIES FOR INTELLIGENCE AND TARGETS. MY GOAL WAS TO LIMIT MY QUESTIONS TO SIX.” GENERAL FREDRICK FRANKS JR.

AVIATION TRAINERS

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PLANNING TREND REVERSAL

AIR / GROUND INTEGRATION

• C2 RELATIONSHIP OF AIR / GROUND TROOPS... NORMALLY SQDNs HAVE CONTROL. AIR / GROUND TEAMS MAY BE FORMED AS NECESSARY DURING THE MISSION• AIR TROOP ROTATION PLAN AND MISSIONS• GROUND TROOP MISSIONS • CRITICAL TASKS TO BE PERFORMED BY EACH AIR AND GROUND ELEMENT

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PLANNING TREND REVERSAL

FIRE SUPPORT PLANNING

• OBSERVER PLAN

• COMMUNICATIONS PLAN FROM OBSERVER TO FSO

• FIRE SUPPORT COORDINATION MEASURES

• TARGETING PROCESS

• TASK AND PURPOSE OF EACH TARGET (CDR’S CONCEPT / INTENT FOR FIRES)

AVIATION TRAINERS

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PLANNING TREND REVERSAL

COMMANDER’S GUIDANCE / INTENT

• CRITICAL TASKS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED

• ENGAGE / BYPASS CRITERIA

• TASK AND PURPOSE OF RECONNAISSANCE FORCE / SECURITY FORCE

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CONTROL MEASURES• LATERAL BOUNDARIES• START POINT (SP)• CONTACT POINTS (CP)• COORDINATION POINTS• CHECK POINTS• PASSAGE POINTS (PP)• LINE-OF-DEPARTURE (LD)• BATTLE HANDOVER LINE• AIR CORRIDOR• PHASE LINES (PL)• TRPs• TIRS• LIMIT-OF-ADVANCE (LOA)• NAIs

AVIATION TRAINERS

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CONTROL MEASURES

A B

B C

LD/BHL

PLMIKE

PLPETE (LOA)

LD/BHL

PLMIKE

PLPETE (LOA)

SP

RP

20

SP

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LOA

LD LD

LOARECON FORCE

HA/FAA

BATTALION EMPLOYMENTTECHNIQUES

AVIATION TRAINERS

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LOA

LD LD

LOA

RECON FORCES

A B

HA/FAA

BATTALION EMPLOYMENTTECHNIQUES

AVIATION TRAINERS

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LOA

LD LD

LOA

RECON FORCES

A B B C

BATTALION EMPLOYMENTTECHNIQUES

AVIATION TRAINERS

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COMPANY PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS

• BATTALION TASK ORGANIZATION• OPTICS AND WEAPONS RANGES OF AIRCRAFT• WEAPONS LOAD• STATION TIME VS WEAPONS LOAD• RELIEF / BHO PLAN• ALL CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE BATTALION

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WEAPONS LOAD

• WEAPONS SHOULD BE CONFIGURED TO PROVIDE SUPPRESSIVE FIRES TO ALLOW FREEDOM TO MANEUVER AND INCREASED STATION TIME

AVIATION TRAINERS

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ACTIONS ON CONTACT

• DEPLOY / REPORT • DEVELOP THE SITUATION

• CHOOSE COA

• RECOMMEND COA

AVIATION TRAINERS

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RECONNAISSANCE METHODS

• STEALTH • AGGRESSIVE RECON

AVIATION TRAINERS

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EXECUTION

AVIATION TRAINERS

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ZONE \ AREA RECONNAISSANCE

CRITICAL TASKS• RECONNOITER ALL TERRAIN WITHIN THE ZONE / AREA• INSPECT AND EVALUATE BRIDGES WITHIN THE ZONE / AREA• FIND AND REPORT ALL ENEMY FORCES WITHIN THE ZONE / AREA• LOCATE ALL FORDS AND CROSSING SITES• LOCATE ALL MINES AND OBSTACLES WITHIN THE ZONE / AREA• LOCATE BYPASSES AROUND BUAs, OBSTACLES, AND CONTAMINATED AREAS• REPORT RECONNAISSANCE INFORMATION

AVIATION TRAINERS

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ZONE RECONNAISSANCE

LOA

PL

LD

PL

PL

PL

LOA

LD

NAI

NAI

NAI

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AREA RECONNAISSANCE

ALT LZ

PAMLZ

SUE

OBJ GOLD

3020

PL

PL

LDLD

PL

PL

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ROUTE RECONNAISSANCECRITICAL TASKS

• RECON AND DETERMINE TRAFFICABILITY OF THE ROUTE• RECON ALL TERRAIN THE ENEMY CAN USE TO DOMINATE• MOVEMENT ALONG THE ROUTE• RECON ALL BUAs ON THE ROUTE• RECON ALL LATERAL ROUTES• INSPECT AND EVALUATE BRIDGES AND FORDS

AVIATION TRAINERS

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ROUTE RECONNAISSANCECRITICAL TASKS

• RECON ALL DEFILES, OBSTACLES, AND BARRIERS• LOCATE BYPASSES FOR ALL OBSTACLES AND BUAs• FIND / REPORT ALL ENEMY THAT INFLUENCES ROUTE• REPORT ROUTE INFORMATION

(CONT’D)

AVIATION TRAINERS

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ROUTE RECONNAISSANCE

SP

RPLOALOA

PL

LD LD

PL

PLPL

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RECON IN FORCE

HA/FAA

AVIATION TRAINERS

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MOVEMENT TO CONTACT

EA SMASH

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CONCLUSION

• RECONNAISSANCE IS A MISSION, NOT A PLATFORM• ATTACK HELICOPTERS PROVIDE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO RECONNAISSANCE THROUGH FLEXIBILITY, SPEED, OPTICS, AND FIREPOWER• PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS MUST INCLUDE ORGANIC WEAPONS RANGES AND OPTICS CAPABILITIES/LIMITATIONS• R&S PLANNING IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS

AVIATION TRAINERS

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ENGAGEMENT TECHNIQUES

10

2030

40

50

SECURITY

REMOTE SHOOTERS

REMOTE SHOOTERSSCOUT DESIGNATORS

LEAD WING

RED TM FIRESFOR LEAD SCOUT

BLUE TM FIRES FORWING SCOUT

SCOUTs PROVIDEFIRE DISTRIBUTIONUSING TRP 30

AVIATION TRAINERS

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ENGAGEMENT TECHNIQUES

1020 30

40

SECURITYREMOTE SHOOTERS

REMOTE SHOOTERS

LEADRED TM FIRESFOR LEAD SCOUT

BLUE TM FIRES FORCHALK 3 SCOUT

SCOUT PLT LDR CONTROLSFIRE DISTRIBUTIONUSING TRPs 20 & 30 AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FIRE SUPPORT

PLT LDR

AVIATION TRAINERS

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ENGAGEMENT TECHNIQUES

REMOTE SHOOTERS REMOTE SHOOTERS

LEADWING

AH-64D

LEAD LBA W/RADAR SCANS EA

WING LBA W/RADARPROVIDES SECURITY AND SCANS IN ATM

AVIATION TRAINERS

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ENGAGEMENT TECHNIQUES

REMOTE SHOOTERS REMOTE SHOOTERS

LEADWING

AH-64D

PF1 PF2 OWN PF4 PF5 PF6LEAD LBA W/RADAR ASSIGNSPRIORITY FIRE ZONESAND TRANSMITS TOLBA W/O RADAR FORRF MSL REMOTE ENGAGEMENTS

PF1 PF2

OWN PF4

PF5 PF6

AVIATION TRAINERS

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MOVEMENT TECHNIQUESTRAVELING

TMs TOGETHER IN COMPANY FORMATION

TMs SEPARATE INCOMPANY FORMATION

AVIATION TRAINERS

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MOVEMENT TECHNIQUESTRAVELING OVERWATCH

LOALOA

HVY PLT OVERWATCHSLT PLTs MOVE FORWARD

LT PLT MOVES FORWARD

AVIATION TRAINERS

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MOVEMENT TECHNIQUESBOUNDING OVERWATCH

LOALOA

HVY PLT OVERWATCHSLT PLTs BOUND

SUCCESSIVE

LT PLT BOUNDS FORWARD

AVIATION TRAINERS

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MOVEMENT TECHNIQUESBOUNDING OVERWATCH

ALTERNATING

LOALOA

LT TM SETS, THENOVERWATCHES HVYTMs BOUND

HVY TM WAITS FORLT TM TO CALL SET,THEN BOUNDS