Army Aviation and Air Combat: Evolutionary or Revolutionary

Examines form both a historical and doctrinal perspective the use of Army Aviation resource to fight in an air-to-air combat role. A description of the threat describes Soviet helicopter design initiatives and provides an insight as to how the Soviets envision employing helicopters in an air combat role. A historical review of Army Aviation's development details how aviation has been integrated into the Army's combined arms team dedicated to winning the ground war. The use of Army assets in counterair operations is mandated by joint doctrine and the Army is responsible for developing a capability to implement that doctrine. The Army's air defense doctrine incorporates the concept of combined arms and Army Aviation has the ability to contribute as a integral member of the combined arms team. This paper acknowledges that the Army's counterair mission is doctrinally legitimate; however, the suggestion is made that the use of Army aircraft in an air combat role is a revolutionary departure from the historical evolution of Army Aviation.