Close air support

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Close air support (abbreviated as CAS) is the use of military aircraft in a ground attack role against targets in close proximity to friendly forces requiring detailed integration and in support of ground combat operations. In this role, aircraft serve a purpose similar to that of artillery.

Close air support is a part of modern combined arms doctrine. It should be noted that military aircraft can also attack tactical ground targets that are not in close proximity to one's own troops; such attacks deeper in the enemy's rear are now referred to as air interdiction.

Close air support requires excellent coordination with ground forces. In advanced modern militaries, this coordination is typically handled by specialists such as Forward Air Controllers or Joint Terminal Attack Controllers.

1 History
2 Aircraft
3 See also
4 External links

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History

The Luftwaffe were early pioneers of close air support, integrating it heavily into the doctrine of blitzkrieg used in World War II. Artillery was slow and required time to set up a firing position. Aircraft were better able keep up with the fast advances of the German panzer columns. The aircraft used most famously in this role was the Ju 87 Stuka, famous as much for its psychological effect as for its direct military capabilities.

The German invasion of Russia saw the development of increased air-land force cooperation. Luftwaffe personnel travelled with Wehrmacht units to maintain communications links with reconnaissance and ground attack aircraft. Visual ground signals were devised to mark friendly units and to indicate direction and distance to enemy emplacements. Specially-equipped ground attack squadrons (Schlachtgeschwader) were formed to support army operations. Some special squadrons were equipped as anti-tank units and purpose-designed aircraft utilized.

The Red Air Force was not slow to recognize the value of ground support aircraft. Even as far back as the Nomonhan incident, Russian aircraft were tasked with disrupting enemy ground operations. This use increased markedly after the German invasion. Purpose-built aircraft such as the Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik were highly effective in blunting the activity of the Panzers. Night harassment squadrons made the work of ground units even more difficult than they ordinarily were.

In the North African desert the RAF developed its air-ground anti-armour tactics. These tactics were notably well used in the cab rank strategy, on D-Day and afterwards.

Close air support was also important in American operations during World War 2 amphibious operations, where aircraft carriers could provide support for soldiers landing on the beaches.

In Korea and Vietnam, close air support proved vital to saving the lives of U.S. troops, and also gave birth to the forward air controller, or FAC. The U.S. Army wanted a dedicated U.S.A.F. presence on the battlefield to reduce fratricide, or the harm of friendly forces. The Air liaison officer or ALO was born. The ALO is an aeronautically rated officer that spent a tour away from the cockpit, serving as the primary advisor to the ground commander on the capabilities and limitations of airpower.

In the mid 1970's, after Vietnam, the USAF decided to train an enlisted force to handle many of the tasks the ALO was saturated with, to include terminal attack control. Now the ALO mainly serves in the liaison role, the intricate details of mission planning and attack guidance left to the enlisted members of the Tactical Air Control Party.

The air contingent of the United States Marine Corps also specializes in close air support, using primarily the AV-8B Harrier V/STOL fighter, the F/A-18 C and D, and the AH-1 Cobra gunship in this role.

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Aircraft

Various aircraft can fill close air support roles. Helicopters are often used for close air support and are so closely integrated with ground operations that in most countries they are operated by the army rather than the air force. Fighters and ground attack aircraft like the A-10 Thunderbolt II provide close air support using rockets, missiles, small bombs, and strafing runs.

In World War II, dive bombers and fighters were used in close air support. Today, close support is typically carried out by fighter-bombers or dedicated ground attack aircraft, but even large high-altitude bombers can occasionally fill close support roles thanks to precision guided munitions.

In the Vietnam War, the United States introduced fixed-wing gunships, cargo aircraft refitted as gun platforms to serve as close air support and air interdiction aircraft. The first of these was the AC-47 Spooky. Later models include the AC-119 and the AC-130.

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