Army aviation
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Army aviation | |
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Soldiers in OH-58D Kiowa and AH-64 Apache helicopters from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment conduct a combat air patrol near Tal Afar, Iraq. |
Army aviation refers to aviation-related units of a nation's army. These units are generally separate from a nation's dedicated air force, and usually comprise helicopters and light support fixed-wing aircraft.
Contents |
[edit] Tasks
The tasks of each army's aviation units are defined slightly different, depending on nationality. Some general characteristics, however, apply to all army aviation units regardless of provenience:
- Logistic and battlefield support
- Tactical transport both internally and externally, of personnel and material
- Assault duties and anti-tank warfare
- Search and rescue
- Medical evacuation
- Reconnaissance and fire support in a combined arms team
- Surveillance
- Liaison
- Flying training
- Disaster relief
[edit] Equipment
In order to fulfill their manifold tasks, army aviation mostly uses helicopters. These helicopters can be classified into the following types:
- Attack helicopters for close air support of ground troops and anti-tank role
- Transport helicopters
- Observation helicopters
- Utility helicopters
- CSAR, CASEVAC/MEDEVAC helicopters
- Training helicopters
[edit] National army aviation components
- Army Air Corps (United Kingdom)
- Australian Army Aviation
- Brazilian Army Aviation
- Colombian National Army Aviation
- French Army Light Aviation
- German Army Aviators Corps
- Iranian Army Aviation
- Italian Army Aviation
- Malaysian Army Aviation
- Portuguese Army Light Aviation Unit
- Republic of Korea Army Aviation
- United States Army Aviation Branch
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] Further reading
- Allen, Matthew (1993), Military helicopter doctrines of the major powers, 1945-1992. Making decisions about air-land warfare, Westport (CT): Greenwood, ISBN 0-3132-8522-5
- Gunston, Bill (1981), An illustrated guide to military helicopters, New York: Arco Publishing, ISBN 0-6680-5345-3
- Halberstadt, Hans (1990), Army Aviation, Novato (CA): Presidio, ISBN 0-8914-1251-4
- Sutton, John & Walker, John (1990), From horse to helicopter. Transporting the British Army in war and peace, London: Cooper, ISBN 0-8505-2724-4
- Warner, Guy & Boyd, Alex (2004), Army Aviation in Ulster, Newtownards, Co. Down: Colourpoint Books, ISBN 1-9042-4227-8
- Young, Ralph B. (2000), Army aviation in Vietnam. An illustrated history of unit insignia, aircraft camouflage and markings, Ramsey (NJ): Huey Co., ISBN 0-9671-9801-1
[edit] External links
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