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An army aviation unit is an aviation-related unit of a nation's army, sometimes described as an air corps. These units are generally separate from a nation's dedicated air force, and usually comprise helicopters and light support fixed-wing aircraft. Prior to the establishment of separate national air forces, many armies had military aviation units, which as the importance of aviation increased, were spun off into independent services. As the separation between a nation's army and air force led to a divergence of priorities, many armies sought to re-establish their own aviation branches to best serve their own organic tactical needs.
History
Military aviation first began as either army or naval aviation units established as force multipliers to allow armies and navies to better do what they were already doing, this taking mostly the form of reconnaissance and artillery spotting, this led to the first fighter aircraft whose purpose was to shoot down enemy reconnaissance and artillery spotting aircraft, and to protect one's own aircraft from being shot down. At this point the purpose of aircraft was still to act as an adjunct to traditional armies and fleets operating in the traditional way. However, as aircraft became more technologically sophisticated military theorists of the interwar period began to think of airpower as a means in and of itself where the critical blow could be delivered by strategic bombing, and the experience of World War II confirmed this. Post World War II air forces such as the Royal Air Force and the newly established United States Air Force concentrated on building strategic bomber forces for attack and fighter forces to defend against enemy bombers. Air forces still incorporated a significant amount of tactical missions through air interdiction and close air support missions.
In order to acquire a close air support capability armies sought to expand, establish or re-establish their own tactical aviation branches, which are usually composed of helicopters, rather than fixed-wing aircraft.
With the development of unmanned aerial vehicles some armies have begun to use small battlefield UAVs, not attached to army aviation units, but rather directly attached to artillery battalions as spotters, and with the smallest and lightest drones being deployed by individual infantry platoons to provide real time local reconnaissance.
Tasks
The tasks of each army's aviation units are defined slightly different, depending on country. Some general characteristics include:
- Tactical offensive action (anti-tank warfare, air assault, and close air support)
- ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target acquisition, Reconnaissance)
- Logistic and battlefield support
- Tactical transport both internally and externally, of personnel and material
- Search and rescue
- Medical evacuation
- Liaison
- Disaster relief
Equipment
In order to fulfill their manifold tasks, army aviation mostly uses helicopters. These helicopters can be classified into the following categories:
- Attack helicopters for close air support of ground troops and anti-tank role
- Transport helicopters
- Observation helicopters
- Utility helicopters
- Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), Casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) / Medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) helicopters
- Training helicopters
In addition to helicopters, some armies also operate fixed-wing aircraft for transport, command and control and tactical reconnaissance.
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An Argentine Army Cessna T-41D trainer aircraft, in 2009. -
A British Army Air Corps Defender.
List of army aviation units
- Argentine Army Aviation (Argentine Army)
- Army Air Corps (United Kingdom) (British Army)
- Army Aviation Corps (India) (Indian Army)
- Australian Army Aviation (Australian Army)
- Bangladesh Army Aviation Group (Bangladesh Army)
- Brazilian Army Aviation Command (Brazilian Army)
- Colombian National Army Aviation (Colombian Army)
- People's liberation army ground air force(Chinese army)
- French Army Light Aviation (French Army)
- German Army Aviation Corps (German Army)
- Hellenic Army Aviation (Hellenic Army)
- Army Aviation Corps (India)
- Indonesian Army Aviation (Indonesian Army)
- Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation (Islamic Republic of Iran Army)
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aviation (IR.SA)
- Iraqi Army Aviation Command (Iraqi Army)
- Malaysian Army Aviation (Malaysian Army)
- Nepalese Army Air Service (Nepali Army)
- Pakistan Army Aviation Corps (Pakistan Army)
- Portuguese Army Light Aviation Unit (Portuguese Army)
- Spanish Army Airmobile Force (Spanish Army)
- Royal Thai Army Aviation Center (Royal Thai Army)
- Turkish Army Aviation Command (Turkish Army)
- Ukrainian Army Aviation (Ukrainian Ground Forces)
- United States Army Aviation Branch (U.S. Army)
See also
- Military aviation
- Timeline of military aviation
- Naval aviation
References
- "Army Aviation Role". British Army. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
Further reading
- Allen, Matthew (1993), Military helicopter doctrines of the major powers, 1945-1992. Making decisions about air-land warfare, Westport (CT): Greenwood, ISBN 0-313-28522-5
- Gunston, Bill (1981), An illustrated guide to military helicopters, New York: Arco Publishing, ISBN 0-668-05345-3
- Halberstadt, Hans (1990), Army Aviation, Novato (CA): Presidio, ISBN 0-89141-251-4
- Sutton, John; Walker, John (1990), From horse to helicopter. Transporting the British Army in war and peace, London: Cooper, ISBN 0-85052-724-4
- Warner, Guy; Boyd, Alex (2004), Army Aviation in Ulster, Newtownards, Co. Down: Colourpoint Books, ISBN 1-904242-27-8
- Young, Ralph B. (2000), Army aviation in Vietnam. An illustrated history of unit insignia, aircraft camouflage and markings, Ramsey (NJ): Huey Co., ISBN 0-9671980-1-1
External links
This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Army aviation news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2017 Learn how and when to remove this message An army aviation unit is an aviation related unit of a nation s army sometimes described as an air corps These units are generally separate from a nation s dedicated air force and usually comprise helicopters and light support fixed wing aircraft Prior to the establishment of separate national air forces many armies had military aviation units which as the importance of aviation increased were spun off into independent services As the separation between a nation s army and air force led to a divergence of priorities many armies sought to re establish their own aviation branches to best serve their own organic tactical needs U S soldiers in OH 58D Kiowa and AH 64 Apache helicopters conduct a combat air patrol in IraqHistoryMilitary aviation first began as either army or naval aviation units established as force multipliers to allow armies and navies to better do what they were already doing this taking mostly the form of reconnaissance and artillery spotting this led to the first fighter aircraft whose purpose was to shoot down enemy reconnaissance and artillery spotting aircraft and to protect one s own aircraft from being shot down At this point the purpose of aircraft was still to act as an adjunct to traditional armies and fleets operating in the traditional way However as aircraft became more technologically sophisticated military theorists of the interwar period began to think of airpower as a means in and of itself where the critical blow could be delivered by strategic bombing and the experience of World War II confirmed this Post World War II air forces such as the Royal Air Force and the newly established United States Air Force concentrated on building strategic bomber forces for attack and fighter forces to defend against enemy bombers Air forces still incorporated a significant amount of tactical missions through air interdiction and close air support missions In order to acquire a close air support capability armies sought to expand establish or re establish their own tactical aviation branches which are usually composed of helicopters rather than fixed wing aircraft With the development of unmanned aerial vehicles some armies have begun to use small battlefield UAVs not attached to army aviation units but rather directly attached to artillery battalions as spotters and with the smallest and lightest drones being deployed by individual infantry platoons to provide real time local reconnaissance TasksSoldiers rappelling from a JGSDF UH 1J The tasks of each army s aviation units are defined slightly different depending on country Some general characteristics include Tactical offensive action anti tank warfare air assault and close air support ISTAR Intelligence Surveillance Target acquisition Reconnaissance Logistic and battlefield support Tactical transport both internally and externally of personnel and material Search and rescue Medical evacuation Liaison Disaster reliefEquipmentA US Army CH 47 Chinook sling loads a Humvee In order to fulfill their manifold tasks army aviation mostly uses helicopters These helicopters can be classified into the following categories Attack helicopters for close air support of ground troops and anti tank role Transport helicopters Observation helicopters Utility helicopters Combat Search and Rescue CSAR Casualty evacuation CASEVAC Medical evacuation MEDEVAC helicopters Training helicopters In addition to helicopters some armies also operate fixed wing aircraft for transport command and control and tactical reconnaissance An Argentine Army Cessna T 41D trainer aircraft in 2009 A British Army Air Corps Defender List of army aviation unitsArgentine Army Aviation Argentine Army Army Air Corps United Kingdom British Army Army Aviation Corps India Indian Army Australian Army Aviation Australian Army Bangladesh Army Aviation Group Bangladesh Army Brazilian Army Aviation Command Brazilian Army Colombian National Army Aviation Colombian Army People s liberation army ground air force Chinese army French Army Light Aviation French Army German Army Aviation Corps German Army Hellenic Army Aviation Hellenic Army Army Aviation Corps India Indonesian Army Aviation Indonesian Army Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation Islamic Republic of Iran Army Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aviation IR SA Iraqi Army Aviation Command Iraqi Army Malaysian Army Aviation Malaysian Army Nepalese Army Air Service Nepali Army Pakistan Army Aviation Corps Pakistan Army Portuguese Army Light Aviation Unit Portuguese Army Spanish Army Airmobile Force Spanish Army Royal Thai Army Aviation Center Royal Thai Army Turkish Army Aviation Command Turkish Army Ukrainian Army Aviation Ukrainian Ground Forces United States Army Aviation Branch U S Army See alsoMilitary aviation Timeline of military aviation Naval aviationReferences Army Aviation Role British Army Retrieved 1 August 2016 Further readingAllen Matthew 1993 Military helicopter doctrines of the major powers 1945 1992 Making decisions about air land warfare Westport CT Greenwood ISBN 0 313 28522 5 Gunston Bill 1981 An illustrated guide to military helicopters New York Arco Publishing ISBN 0 668 05345 3 Halberstadt Hans 1990 Army Aviation Novato CA Presidio ISBN 0 89141 251 4 Sutton John Walker John 1990 From horse to helicopter Transporting the British Army in war and peace London Cooper ISBN 0 85052 724 4 Warner Guy Boyd Alex 2004 Army Aviation in Ulster Newtownards Co Down Colourpoint Books ISBN 1 904242 27 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 9671980 1 1External linksMedia related to Army aviation at Wikimedia Commons
