6 FUNCTIONS OF MARINE AVIATION Flashcards
What are the 6 functions of Marine aviation?
Air Reconnaissance (AR) Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) Assault Support (AS) Control of Aircraft & Missiles Electronic Warfare (EW) Offensive Air Support (OAS)
3 categories of Air Recon
Visual
Imagery - sensors
Electronic - detects enemy EM radiation
How is Imagery in Air Recon divided?
Optical - uses lens to focus light. requires visible light
Non-Optical - IR/radar sensors
What are the 3 steps in air recon?
Detection - object has becoming interesting (something is moving)
Recognition - fidelity achieved to place object into category (that is a tank)
Identification - fidelity achieved to classify object (that is a T-80 variant)
What are the 5 basic prerequisites for Air Recon to be effective?
- Air Superiority
- SEAD
- Cooperative weather
- Capable platforms and sensors
- Flexible control
How are preplanned air recon missions requested?
submit Joint Tactical Air Strike Request (JTAR) via air officer
How are immediate air recon missions requested?
via DASC
Air Recon
What does M stand for on a UA?
R?
M = multi-mission
R = reconnaissance
How are UAs categorized?
into 5 groups based on weight and operation characteristics
1 = lightest, lowest, slowest 5 = heaviest, highest, fastest
Air Recon
How is the USMC Family of System divided?
What are the differences?
Small (SUAS)
- hand launched systems (RQ-11B Raven, RQ-12A Wasp, RQ-20A Puma)
- low cost, “over the hill”
- extremely small
- Integrated by FiST, TACP, operated by 2 personnel
Small Tactical (STUAS)
- operated by VMUs
- larger, more capable than SUAS
- RQ-21A - joint group 3 asset
- 24 personnel
What 3 things must Air Recon be?
Responsive
Flexible
Survivable
Define AAW
action required to destroy or reduce the enemy air and missile threat to an acceptable level
What are the 2 purposes of AAW
Force Protection
Air Superiority
What 3 principles are AAW based on?
Destruction-in-depth
Mutual Support
Centralized Command and Decentralized control
What are the 4 operation elements of Theater Air Defense (TAD)?
Active Air and Missile Defense (AMD)
Passive Air and Missile Defense (AMD)
Attack Operations
C4I (command, control, computers, & intelligence)
What does Assault Support provide?
ability to concentrate strength against selected enemy weaknesses using speed and surprise
What are the 2 categories of Assault Support missions?
Pre-planned - within ATO cycle
Immediate - outside ATO cycle that arise suddenly
What are the 2 types of pre-planned assault support missions?
Scheduled
On-call
When does reliance on assault support increase?
when movement of personnel/equipment must be done quickly over long distances or over prohibitive terrain
What are the 6 different assault support operations?
CAT - Combat Assault Transport Air Delivery AAR - Air to Air Refueling Air Evacuation TRAP - Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel Air Logistical Support
When is TRAP conducted?
only when survivors and locations are confirmed
MAGTF aviation operates under what principle tenet?
Principle tenet of centralized command and decentralized control
What are the 2 types of control exercised by MACCS?
Air Direction
Air Control
What is NOT part of the administrative chain of MACG but integral element of MACCS?
TACP - Tactical Air Control Party
What are the principle objectives of MACCS?
Enhance unity of effort
Integrate elements of C2 system
Disseminate common situational awareness
Which is the senior MACCS agency?
TACC - Tactical Air Command Center
Which agency employs the Stinger missile system and crew-served weapons?
LAAD - Low Altitude Air Defense
What does the DASC do?
principal MACCS agency responsible for the direction of air operations directly supporting ground and maritime forces
What is the TAOC?
Primary Defensive Counterair (AAW) control agency within MAGTF
Define EW
any military action involving use of EM and directed energy to control the EMS or attack the enemy
EW is divided into what 3 subdivisions?
Electromagnetic Support (ES) Electromagnetic Attack (EA) Electromagnetic Protection (EP)
What are common types of EA
spot, barrage, and sweep jamming
What planning and considerations are included in EW
Countermeasures (CM) EM Interference (EMI) Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) Emission Control (EMCON)
Define OAS
those air ops conducted against enemy installations, facilities, and personnel to directly assist in the attainment of MAGTF objectives thru destruction of enemy resources or by isolation of enemy military forces
What are the 3 major areas of OAS
Deep
Close
Rear
What are the 2 subcategories of OAS
DAS (Deep Air Support)
CAS (Close Air Support)
Define DAS
air action against enemy targets at such a distance from friendly forces that detailed integration of each mission with fire and movement from friendly forces is NOT required
What missions are included in DAS
Air Interdiction (AI) or STRIKE Armed Reconnaissance (AR) Strike Coordination and Reconnaissance (SCAR)
Define CAS
air action by fixed or rotary wing aircraft against hostile targets in close proximity to friendly forces and requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of those forces
Who can perform TAC (Terminal Attack Control)
only certified and qualified JTAC or FAC[A] is recognized and capable
What is Terminal Attack Control (TAC)?
authority to control the maneuver of and grant weapons release clearance to attacking aircraft
What are the 3 types of TAC?
1 - when JTAC/FAC requires control of individual attacks and situation require JTAC to visually acquire attacking a/c and visually acquire target for each attack
2 - when JTAC requires control of individual attacks and unable to visually acquire attacking a/c at weapons release or unable to visually acquire the target
3 - when JTAC requires ability to provide clearance for multiple attacks within a single engagement subject to specific attack restrictions
What is BOT and BOC and difference between the two?
BOT (Bomb on Target) - requires JTAC’s intended target or mark is TALLY/CONTACT/CAPTURED by aircrew
BOC (Bomb on Coordinate) - a/c is never required to TALLY/CAPTURE the intended target or CONTACT the mark
What is the range, endurance, and payload of the RQ-21A Blackjack?
Range - 50 nm
Endurance - 10 hours
Payload - EO / IR, laser, range finder, comms relay
What are the 2 types of AAW
Offensive Counterair (OCA) Defensive Counterair (DCA)
AAW
What are active AMD (air and missile defense) measures
Aircraft
AMD weapons
Electromagnetic Warfare (EW)
Other available weapons
AAW
What are passive AMD (air and missile defense) measures
Detection and Warning Systems and Procedures
Reducing Effectiveness of Enemy Targeting
Reduce Vulnerability
Recovery and Reconstitution
Capabilities of Assault Support
Quickly move MAGTF forces/equipment throughout the battlespace
Observation
Flexibility
Limitations of Assault Support
Limited visibility Weather LZ Identification Reduced Radius of Action Communications Enemy Defense Required escort support
Describe how the control of aircraft and missiles relates to the other five functions of United States
By providing the means for the MAGTF commander to exercise C2 authority over Marine Aviation assets
Air Control includes what?
Airspace Management
Airspace Control
What does SADC do?
designated by AADC
manage available AAW assets IAW their authorities within assigned sector
coordinating and managing all active air and missile defense weapons, including a/c and S/A weapons
What does a FAC[A] do?
serves as an airborne extension of a ground TACP
Difference between a FAC[A] and a TAC(A)
A TAC(A) coordinates by serving as an extension of the DASC or TACC.
FAC’s mission is to control
What are the 2 types of airborne coordinators
TAC(A) - Tactical Air Coordinator (Airborne)
SCAR - Strike Coordination and Reconnaissance
Capabilities of Ground EW
- support ground unit’s ops directly
- provide continuous ops
- respond to EW requirements of supported ground commander
- provide EMS jamming
Limitations of Ground EW
- vulnerable to enemy attack
- can be masked by terrain
- vulnerable to EP actions employed by enemy
- vulnerable to enemy EM deception measures
Capabilities of Airborne EW
- provide direct support to other tactical aviation missions
- provide extended EW range over that offered by ground assets
- possess greater mobility and flexibility than ground assets
- support ground units/MAGTF in general support and in coordination w/ Radio Battalion (RadBn)
Limitations of Airborne EW
- limited assets
- time on station considerations
- vulnerable to enemy EP actions
- vulnerable to enemy EM deception
- LOS limitations (although far greater ranges than ground assets)
List MAGTF EW assets
Radio Battalion (RadBn)
Ground Based EW
F-35
Intrepid Tiger II (IT-II) V1 and V3
Describe
Air Interdiction/Strike
Armed Recon
SCAR
AI - destroy/neutralize/delay enemy military potential before it can be brought to bear against friendly forces. Known targets. Large strike packages
AR - targets of opportunity in assigned areas. Target locations not known or briefed in advance. Defend terrain not suited to other forces
SCAR - closely linked to AR. acquire/report/coordinate destruction of targets. Talk on other AR missions
What determines the type of control used in a given CAS attack?
will be determined through a process known as tactical risk assessment.
This tactical risk assessment is a continuous process conducted by the CO, OpsO, FSC and other key staff members.
What are the 2 methods of attack for a CAS mission
BOC - Bomb on Coordinate
BOT - Bomb on Target
Does the type of TAC incur a certain level of risk?
no
What does Aviation Ground Support provide?
Forward Aviation Combat Engineering (FACE)
Airfield Operations
Base Recovery After Attack (BRAAT)
Airfield Damage Repair (ADR) Ops
Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) Ops
Aircraft Salvage/Recovery (ACSR) Ops
Which AGS capabilities are unique to the aviation community?
EAF (expeditionary airfield) services, EFR (expeditionary firefighting and rescue), and aircraft refueling
What is MWSS’s purpose?
to enable a MAG, composite MAG, or ACE to generate combat sorties for the MAGTF from expeditionary air bases ashore
What non-vital AGS logistics support does MLG provide to the ACE?
HST (helicopter support teams)
AD (air delivery)
A/DACG (arrival/dep airfield control group)
What is the FARP mission?
to provide fuel and ordnance necessary for a highly mobile and versatile helicopter, tiltrotor, and fixed-wing operations which enables increased sortie generation for the ACE
What is the objective of a FARP?
to minimize response time and decrease turnaround time in support of sustained operations ashore
List some MCMs (Maneuver Control Measures)
Boundaries
Phase Lines (PL)
Fire Support Areas (FSA)
List some ARMs (Airspace Reference Measures)
Air Control Point (ACP) Bullseye Contact Point (CP)
What do FSCMs do? (Fire Support Coordination Measure)
enhance expeditious attack of targets and provide safeguard for friendly forces
What 2 categories do FSCMs fall into?
Permissive
Restrictive
How many FSCMs are considered permissive?
5
What are the 5 permissive FSCMs?
Free Fire Area (FFA) Fire Support Coordination Line (FSCL) Battlefield Coordination Line (BCL) Coordinated Fire Line (CFL) Kill Box
Where can an enemy sanctuary exist?
between the maximum range of IDF and the FSCL
Which coordination measure overlies the area between the BCL and FSCL?
Airspace Coordination Area (ACA)
What are the 2 types of Kill Boxes? Differences?
Blue Kill Box - permits DAS w/o further coordination from establishing HQ
Purple Kill Box - permits DAS w/o further coordination from establishing HQ while allowing land and maritime components to employ fires. Max use of fires
What is the standard size of a kill box?
30 minutes by 30 minutes
How is a kill box broken down by sizes?
single cell = 30 min x 30 min
quadrant = 15 min x 15 min
keypads = 5 min x 5 min
Kill Boxes will be inactive until an airspace control agency changes it to active.
What are the 4 different statuses that a Kill Box can have?
Airspace Status
“Open” - Aircraft admitted w/ coord.
“Closed” - Aircraft prohibited.
Fires Status
“Hot” - Fires require no further coord.
“Cold” - Fires require coord.
How many FSCMs are considered restrictive?
4
What do restrictive FSCMs provide?
safeguards to friendly forces
What are the 4 restrictive FSCMs?
Restrictive Fire Line (RFL)
Airspace Coordination Area (ACA)
Restrictive Fire Area (RFA)
No-Fire Area (NFA)
What are the 2 exceptions for firing into an NFA?
- when establishing HQ approves fires w/i the NFA on a mission-by-mission basis
- when enemy force w/i NFA engages a friendly force. Responds with minimal force needed to defend
What are the 3 types of Airspace Coordinating Measures (ACM)?
Air Corridor (AIRCOR)
Restricted Operations Zone (ROZ)
Stand Alone
What are 3 stand alone ACMs?
Coordinating Altitude (CA) Coordinating Level (CL) High-Density Airspace Control Zone (HIDACZ)
What are some Airspace Defense Measures (ADM)
Fighter Engagement Zone (FEZ)
Missile Engagement Zone (MEZ)
Joint Engagement Zone (JEZ)
Base Defense Zone (BDZ)
When should a JEZ be broken into a MEZ and FEZ?
If without sensors or IFF
What are some Air Traffic Control Measures (ATCM)
Controlled Firing Area (CFA)
MOA
Prohibited Area
Restricted Area
Define EMS
the range of all types of EM radiation
radio, microwave, infrared, visible, UV, x-rays, gamma rays
Define Cyberspace
man-made global domain within the information environment consisting of:
- interdependent networks of information technology infrastructures and resident data
- internet
- telecommunications networks
- computer systems
- embedded processors and controllers
What are some characteristics and challenges to Space:
- No Geographical Boundaries
- Orbital Mechanics
- Environmental Considerations
- EMS Dependency
Define Information Environment (IE)
the aggregate of individuals, organizations, and systems that collect, process, disseminate, or act on information
What are the dimensions of the IE
physical - tangible, real world
informational - data-centric
cognitive - human-centric
What is the mission of MAWTS-1
What else does it do?
provided standardized, advanced tactical training, and certification of unit instructor qualifications IOT support Marine Aviation T&R
provides assistance in the development and employment of aviation weapons and tactics
What is the MAWTS-1 CO responsible for?
accomplishes the mission through the WTI course, held twice a year
- conducts aviation and ground safety courses, instructor certifications, and supplementary courses of instruction
- serves as the syllabus sponsor for all aviation T&R manuals
- assists with development/employment of aviation weapons and tactics
WTTP assigns responsibilities at every level of Marine Aviation from the unit WTI to the Deputy Commandant for Aviation IOT achieve what?
support training that increases the combat readiness of aviation units
What are the responsibilities of the squadron/unit CO?
-ensure a professionally managed WTTP is conducted
- nominate qualified officer/enlisted PWTIs
- assign WTIs to each WTI T/O billet
- select candidates for unit instructor certifications
- authorize MAWTS-1 officer aircrew, who are current and proficient in their model aircraft, to act as PIC and Mission Commander when requested for instructor certifications or unit training support
