Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command TRADOC DCSINT

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Opposing Force Operations FM OPFOR FM Opposing Force: Operations Chapter 8 Aviation

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Organization Organization Air Force National-level –Air armies subordinate to SHC –Includes bombers, interceptors, fighters, EW, transport, & tankers –Air-launched cruise missiles range 3000 km + –Supports strategic campaign

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Organization Organization Air Force (Continued) Theater-level –Air armies subordinate to theater HQ –Supports theater-level campaigns to ground tactical support –Includes fighters, interceptors, and light bombers, fixed & rotary EW, and medium/heavy-lift helicopters –Composition varies based on theater’s needs –Theater-level aviation fire support assets are part of the IFC

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Organization Organization Air Force (Continued) Operational-level –SHC may include Air Force units in the OSC –Organized to specific mission –Assets for fire support are part of the IFC

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Organization Organization Army Aviation Theater-level –Provides reconnaissance, lift, and DAS for ground forces –Composition includes aviation brigades and battalions –Assets include helicopters, drones, and light/medium transport planes Operational-level –Aviation brigade or battalion task organized under OSC –Organized to specific mission –May provide assets to DTG & BTG

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Command and Control Aviation commanders normally subordinate to theater/OSC commanders and IFC commanders Centralized control due to limited assets Airspace operations subsection at theater, OSC, and tactical group levels has primary staff responsibility for aviation Integrated C 2 between air and ground forces enhances planning and preparation

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Mission Requests Preplanned –Planned 24 hours prior to launch –Used for static targets On-call –Predesignated target –Supports maneuver forces not in contact –Establishes 4-5 hour window of availability –Planned with secondary targets Immediate –Limited number of aircraft for unplanned immediate air support

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Levels of Combat Readiness CategoryCrew and Aircraft Duration of Readiness Time Before Takeoff One Aircraft are fully serviced and armed. Combat crews are briefed on their mission and are in the aircraft ready to start engines. Ground personnel are assisting the combat crews. 1-2 hours 3-5 minutes Two Aircraft are fully serviced and armed. Combat crews are briefed and are on standby in the vicinity of the aircraft, ready to take off within a specified short period of time after receiving a mission order. 2-4 hours 15 minutes Three Aircraft are refueled and serviced. Cannons are loaded. External systems (bombs, rockets, missiles, fuel tanks, etc.) are not loaded. Combat crews are designated, but not on standby; they have not been briefed on the air and ground situation, but will be before takeoff. 2-4 days 1-2 hours

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINTCapabilities Aircraft modernization Direct air support Counterair Reconnaissance Electronic warfare Unmanned aerial vehicle

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Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINTMissions Counterair Reconnaissance Counterreconnaissance Direct air support Interdiction Helicopters as maneuver force Combat support & combat service support

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Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Principles of Employment Purpose – focus on task Coordination – with artillery, air defense, & maneuver Concentration of effects – identified goals Economy – use other means if possible Reconnaissance – timely & accurate info Surprise – maximizes effects on targets Responsiveness – agile & flexible assets

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Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Degree of Airspace Dominance Air supremacy –Enemy air force incapable of any interference –Ultimate goal of air operations Air superiority –OPFOR can operate at given time & place without enemy interference Local air superiority –Geographically based –Coincides with enemy aircraft downtime, returning sorties, etc. Air parity –Equal capability of OPFOR & enemy –OPFOR can be negatively impacted

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Strategic Context Regional operations –Air superiority prior to ground combat –Apportionment shifted to ground support Transition operations –Extraregional enemy cancels OPFOR airspace dominance –Air operations shift to access control –Support shifts to adaptive operations Adaptive operations –Aviation operations severely limited –Helicopters dominate –Higher level control of aviation assets

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Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Aviation Aviation Summary Air Force Army aviation Command and control Mission requests Levels of combat readiness Capabilities Missions Principles of employment Degrees of airspace dominance Strategic context