Attack Aviation in Dismounted Operations.

This monograph answers the research question: do published Army aviation doctrine, tactics, and techniques adequately address the infusion of attack aviation, on a conventional or unconventional low intensity conflict battlefield, in support of flight infantry in a direct fire engagement with a lightly armed dismounted enemy force? To accomplish this task the paper focused on the use of attack aviation in a conventional close battle. The paper examines the adequacy of aviation doctrine against three criteria: does doctrine acknowledge the antipersonnel mission, are specific employment tactics and techniques addressed, and are the tactics and techniques sufficiently detailed to address the requirements of minimal planning, hasty attack missions in support of dismounted forces. The monograph concludes with a list of recommended tactics and techniques which should be added, as an interim measure, to unit tactical standing operation procedures to supplement current aviation doctrine. These tactics and techniques should be studied in more detail before adopting as official doctrine, as an objective measure.