Advanced PO Flashcards
What are some problems that we may face if illumination is combined with smoke and dust?
Can further degrade visibility.
What advantages does Laser Guided Systems give the ground force?
The ability to locate and engage high priority targets with an increased first-round hit probability.
Basic Considerations for Night CAS
- Limited visibility operations require additional coordination and equipment
- IR marking systems can quickly pinpoint targets
- During periods of low illumination and reduced visibility both CAS aircrew and ground forces may have difficulty in acquiring targets and accurately locating enemy and friendly forces
- Selectively placed illumination may degrade enemy NVD while enhancing ours
- Low ceilings may require CAS aircraft to operate in low to very low altitude environment depending on the sensor on board and the weapons being used
- Accurate target marking plays a vital role in target acquisition at night and during adverse weather
- CAS aircraft operating in low to very low environment will also have reduced target acquisition times
- Illumination and flares combined with smoke and dust can further degrade visibility
Equipment for Night CAS
- Glint tape
- Glow sticks (buzz saw)
- IR pointer
- Beacon
- Laser Target Designator
Three Types of Night CAS Employment Methods
- Visual employment on illuminated battle field
- System-aided employment
- Night vision device employment
Two Methods of Visual Employment
- Illumination
- Marking
Five Methods of System-aided Employment
- Laser
- IAM
- HMCS
- EO/IR
- RADAR
NVD Advantages
- Enhanced situational awareness and crew confidence levels on the ground and in the air
- Increases surprise and survivability in threat environment, key role in minimizing the risk of fratricide
- Selectively placed airborne and ground illumination may further degrade enemy night vision capabilities while preserving or enhancing those of friendly forces
NVD Disadvantages
- Reduced illumination levels may degrade the ability to effectively employ NVDs without artificial illumination
- Limited field of view NVGs can lead to loss of SA
- Enemy may possess night vision devices
- Enemy decoy deceptive lighting can easily be employed
CAS
Close air support is air action by fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft on hostile targets within close proximity to friendly forces and requires detailed integration of each mission with the fires and movement of those forces.
Target Mark Options
- Laser designators (ground/airborne)
- Airborne illumination
- Surface delivered illumination
- Smoke RP
- Direct fire weapons
- IR pointers
- RADAR
- Enemy ground fire
Adverse Weather CAS Considerations
- High or low level tactics
- IP/BP Selection
- Type of control
- Difficulty in assessing Battle Damage Assessment
- UAV missions may be restricted
- Methods of attack
- LGB deliveries
Autonomous LGB Employment
Uses the CAS aircraft’s onboard LTD for terminal weapons guidance.
Assisted LGB Employment
Uses an off-board LTD for terminal weapons guidance.
Five Basic Considerations for Laser Mission
- A line of sight must exist
- Direction of attack
- The laser designator must designate the target at the correct time
- PRF codes must be compatible
- Delivery system must release the weapon within the specific weapon’s delivery envelope
Environmental Factors that Affect Laser Operations
- Clouds and fog
- Darkness
- Obstructions
- Temperature Extremes
- Solar saturation
- Smoke and haze
- Non-reflecting/refracting targets
Three Phases of a LGB Flight Path
- Ballistic
- Transition
- Terminal
Airborne and Ground Designators Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Increased standoff
- Larger target area footprint
Disadvantages
- Larger laser spot size
- Increased susceptibility to podium effect
JTAC
A qualified (certified) service member who, from a forward position, directs the action of combat aircraft engaged in close air support and other offensive operations.
Airborne and Ground Designators Trail Position Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Increased probability of success (spot detection)
- Increased standoff
Disadvantages
- Axis restrictive
- Increased platform predictability
Airborne and Ground Designators Overhead Wheel Position Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Decreased platform predictability
- Good standoff
Disadvantages
- Decreased effectiveness in target area with varying vertical development (podium effect)
Airborne and Ground Designators Offset or Opposing Wheel Position
Advantages
- Decreased platform predictability
- Excellent standoff
Disadvantages
- Axis restrictive
- Increased susceptibility to podium effect
- Coordination intensive
Two Types of Surfaces to Avoid Designating
- Mirror-like surfaces
- Surfaces that may absorb most of the laser energy
Type of Reflection Best for LST or LGW Seeker Acquisition
Scattered
Beam Divergence Formula
_ mill radian x _ km = _ meter
Danger Close
A term that is used to alert ground commanders, fire direction centres, and aircrews of the proximity of the intended weapon impact point to the closest friendly forces.
Danger Close Ground Commanders Initials
Indicated the ground commander’s acceptance of the increased risk due to proximity of weapons effects to friendly forces.
Explain 0.1% Pi
The probability that a soldier will suffer an incapacitating injury. A Pi value of 0.1 percent can be interpreted as being less than or equal to one chance in one thousand.
Missions of the AC-130
- Close Air Support
- Interdiction
- Point Defence
- Armed Recce
- Infiltration
- Combat Recovery
- Ex-filtration
- Surveillance
- Limited Airborne C2
- Hel ops
- Urban CAS
- Armed Escort
Advantages of Using Gunships
- Precision firepower
- Limited collateral damage
- Long loiter time
- Flexible weapons system
- Dual target attack
Disadvantages of Using Gunships
- No hard target kill capacity
- Must operate in low to medium threat
- Weather limited
- Operates strictly at night
- Very limited number of aircraft
- Must calibrate guns for precision fires
Weapons on AC-130 U
- 25mm
- 40mm
- 105mm
Collateral Damage
The unintentional or incidental injury or damage to persons or objects that would not be lawful military targets in the circumstances ruling at the time.
Types of Imagery
- Visual (electro-optical or EO)
- Infrared
- RADAR
- Multi-spectral
Fratricide
The employment of friendly weapons and munitions with the intent to kill he enemy, destroy his equipment or facilities, which results in the unforeseen and unintentional deaths or injury to friendly personnel.
Four Steps to Mitigate Collateral Damage and Fratricide
- Appropriate weapons selection
- Training and strict adherence of ROE
- Positive terminal control of CAS assets
- Displace non-combatants to a protected location
Categories of ISR
- Visual
- Imagery
- Electronic
Two Most Fundamental and Important LOW and LOAC Concepts
- Distinction
- Proportionality
Population Density Structural Density
- Dense random construction
- Closed-orderly block
- Residential area
- High rise area
- Industrial/transportation
Classifying the Size of Urban Areas
- Strip Area
- Villages (100k)
Urban Environment Considerations
- Operations in urban canyons
- De-confliction in confined airspace
- Difficulty in threat analysis
- Restrictive ROE
- Increased risk of fratricide
- The presence of non-combatants
- The potential for collateral damage
Urban Target Marking
- IR Pointer
- Smoke/Arty/Illume
- Tracer
- Overt Pointers
- LASER
Urban CAS Difficulties
- Collateral Damage
- Unintentional fratricide of civilians
- Communications
- LOS (LASER, IR, Visual)
- Unintentional secondary effects of weapons
- Positive ID of targets
- Threats to Aircraft
- Situational awareness of FR forces
Urban FR Marking
- Mirror
- Smoke
- VS17
- IR Pointer
- GLINT tape
- Electronic Beacons
- Chem lights
Three Methods to Assist Talk-on in Urban Environment Without ROVER
- Urban grid
- Building grid reference
- Target Reference Point
Advantages and Disadvantages of UAS
Advantages
- Long loiter time
- Expendable
Disadvantages
- Narrow FOV
- Slow transit time
Check Capture
Target appears to be no longer tracked by sensor.
Check Focus
Sensor image appears to be out of focus.
Declutter
Authorization request for the pilot/operator to remove targeting symbology to allow the user to see a better picture of the target area.
Handshake
Video data link established. Opposite of HOLLOW.
Expect Hollow
A condition will likely exist that limits video link reception.
Set
No longer slewing sensor and awaiting further updates.
Overwatch aircraft is in position.
Shadow
Follow indicated target.
Slew
Move sensor in direction indicated.
Stake
A full-motion video system mark has been set and is used as a frame of reference.
Switch Camera
Switch full-motion video to electro-optical or infrared.
Switch Polarity
Switch IR polarity to black hot or white hot.
Zoom (IN/OUT)
Increase/decrease the sensor’s focal length.
SPARKLE
Mark/marking target by infrared (IR) pointer. Proper aircrew response is CONTACT SPARKLE or NO JOY.
SNAKE
Oscillate an IR pointer in a figure eight about the target. Proper response is CONTACT SPARKLE, STEADY or NO JOY.
PULSE
Illuminate/illuminating a position with flashing IR energy. Proper aircrew response is CONTACT SPARKLE, STEADY or NO JOY.
STEADY
Stop oscillation of IR pointer.
CEASE SPARKLE
Discontinue sparkle activity.
ROPE
Circling an IR pointer around an aircraft to help the aircraft identify the friendly ground position.
CONTACT SPARKLE
Acknowledges sighting of SPARKLE. Call acknowledging the sighting of specified reference point.
MATCH SPARKLE
Overlay requested target designator type.
TEN SECONDS
Stand by for LASER ON call in approximately 10 seconds.
LASER ON
Directive call to start laser designation.
SHIFT (direction)
Directive call to shift laser/IR/radar/device energy/aim point.
SPOT
Acquisition of laser designation.
CEASE LASER
Discontinue lasing.
DEADEYE
Laser designator system is inoperative.
NEGATIVE LASER
Laser energy has not been acquired.
LASING
The speaker is firing the laser.
STARE (with laser code and reference point)
Cue the laser spot search (LSS) function on the specified laser code in relation to the specified reference point.
Five Line RW CAS Brief
- Observer/Warning Order/Gameplan
- Friendly Location/Mark
- Target Location
- Target Description
- Remarks and Restrictions
Five Line CCA/AC-130 Brief
- Observer/Warning Order (Callsigns, FIRE MISSION, OVER)
- Friendly Location/Mark
- Target Location
- Target Description
- Remarks, OVER.
Classes of a UAS
Man-portable - 500-1000 AGL
Tactical - 5000-29,000 MSL
Theatre - up to 60,000 MSL
FAC(A)
A specially trained and qualified aviation officer who exercises control from the air of aircraft and indirect fires engaged in close air support of ground troops.
JFO
A Joint Fires Observer is a trained service member who can request, adjust and control surface-to-surface fire, provide targeting information in support of Type 2 and Type 3 close air support terminal attack control, and perform autonomous terminal guidance operations. Must be connected to a JTAC.
Four Phase Targeting Cycle
- Decide if it fits the commanders intent
- Detect the target
- Deliver the appropriate ordnance
- Assess for re-attack
Combat Assessment/Measure of Performance
- Battle Damage Assessment (BDA)
- Munitions Effects Assessment (MEA)
- Re-attack Recommendation
Four Steps of IPD
- Define the battle space
- Describe the battle space
- Detect
- COA
Holding Area (HA)
- Located between the forward assembly area (FAA) and the objective area
- Occupied for short periods of time
- Used to conduct final coordination and reconnaissance
- Provides good cover and concealment and an area for the aircraft to hover or land
Close Combat Attack
Hasty or deliberate attack in support of units engaged in close combat. During CCA armed helicopters engage enemy units with direct fire that impact near friendly forces. Targets may range from a few hundred meters to a few thousand meters. Close combat attack is coordinated and directed by a team, platoon or company level ground unit soldiers using standardized CCA procedures in unit SOPs.
CCA vs CAS
Close Combat Attack is coordinated and directed by a member of a team, platoon or company level ground unit; Close Air Support required detailed integration and is controlled by a trained individual.
Battle Position
- Located in vicinity of an engagement area or where attack helicopters can engage targets of opportunity
- Used when the enemy situation is clear
- Restrictive in that the unit assigned the battle position operates within the general outline of the battle position
Attack By Fire (ABF) Postion
- A location from which a unit will engage a target, but will not maneuver over it or occupy the objective
- Used when the enemy situation is vague and the commander has been assigned his own sector
- Less restrictive than battle positions, better suited for a fluid battlefield
Support By Fire (SBF)
- A location normally used in conjunction with an ABF position, as base of fire or overwatch position
- Used to engage targets while ground or air assets move to or around it
- May range from suppression to destruction of the target but primary mission is to fix the target so another force may maneuver
Three Modes of Helicopter Firing
- Hovering Fire
- Running Fire
- Diving Fire
Ground Designator - Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Smaller laser spot size
- Decreased targeting ambiguity
- Rapid BDA
Disadvantages
- Axis restrictive
- Increased designator exposure
- Coordination intensive
FAC(A) Objectives
- Achieve the ground commander’s intent
- Maximize and integrate fires on the battlefield
- Mitigate friendly fire
FAC(A) Capabilities
- TAC (Type 1, 2, and 3)
- Radio Relay
- Reconnaissance
- Indirect Fires Calls for Fire
- Asset Coordination/Deconfliction
- BDA
- Target Marking/Designation/Coordinate Generation
- SEAD Coordination Efforts
Bomber Phases
- En Route Phase
- Pre-Attack Phase
- Attack Phase
- Post-Attack Phase
Bomber Patterns
- Line
- Cross
- Rectangle
- 5 of Die
- Arc
- Multiple Impacts
Bomber Correlation
- Radar
- Radar Beacon
- POD Talk-On
- Laser Mark
EW for SEAD - Four Key Things
- Locate critical C2 nodes
- Detect
- Disrupt
- Target
Three Components of Electronic Warfare
- Electronic Attack (EA)
- Electronic Protection (EP)
- Electronic Support (ES)
Six Uses for Electronic Warfare
- Communications Denial
- Communications Herding
- Communications Conditioning
- Communications Monitoring
- PSYOP Message Broadcasts
- Airborne IED Pre-Detonation
Artificial Illumination
- Ground-Delivered Flares
- LUU-2 Flares
- LUU-19
- LUU-1/5/6 Flares
- Illumination Rockets
IAMs Advantages
- Accuracy
- Standoff
- All-Weather Capability
- Multiple Target Capability
- Modifiable Impact Angle
IAMs Limitations
- Moving Targets
- Location Error
- Malfunctions
