Aviation Leadership & Functions

1) Air Logistical Support 2) Combat Assault Transport 3) Air Delivery 4) Air Evacuation 5) Battlefield Illumination 6) Aerial Refueling 7) Tactical Recovery of Aircraft & Personnel (TRAP)

- 7 categories of Assault Support

Anti-Air Warfare (AAW)

- Action required to destroy or reduce to an acceptable level the enemy air and missile threat - The primary purpose is to gain and maintain Air Superiority

1) Passive Air Defense (PAD) 2) Active Air Defense (AAD)

- Air Defense types

Deep Air Support (DAS)

- Air action against enemy targets at such a distance from friendly forces that detailed integration of each mission with fire, movement of friendly forces is not required

Close Air Support

- Air action by fixed, rotary-wing aircraft against hostile targets in close proximity to friendly forces and which require detailed integration of each air mission with fire, movement of those forces

Offensive Air Support

- Air operations conducted against enemy installations, facilities, personnel to directly assist in attainment of MAGTF objectives through destruction of enemy resources or by isolation of enemy's military forces

1) Offensive Anti-air Warfare (OAAW) 2) Air Defense (AD)

- Anti-warfare types

Electronic Warfare

- Any military action involving use of electromagnetic, directed energy to control electromagnetic spectrum or to attack enemy

1) Command Element 2) Administration (S1) 3) Intelligence (S2) 4) Operations & Training (S3) 5) Logistics (S4) 6) Civil Affairs (S5) 7) Communications (S6) 8) Safety/Standardization 9) Maintenance

- Aviation Squadron elements (shops)

F/A-18

- CAS, DAS, FAC, SEAD, anti-air warfare, fleer defense

F-35 Lightning II

- EW, lots of classified info

Marine Aircraft Group (MAG)

- Each group consists of specialized squadrons that perform one or more of the six functions of Marine aviation - Provides staff to support necessary to support subordinate commands - The smallest aviation unit that is designed to conduct operations with no outside assistance except access to a source of supply - Can be task-organized to include any combination of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, as well as other supporting units - Can also be task- organized into an ACE for a particular mission in order to provide one or more aviation functions to a MAGTF

1) Electronic Attack (EA) 2) Electronic Protection (EP) 3) Electronic Warfare Support (ES)

- Electronic Warfare types

Air Defense

- Includes all defensive measures designed to destroy attacking enemy aircraft or missiles in Earth's envelope of atmosphere or to nullify or reduce effectiveness of such an attack

- HQ - Marine Air Control Group (MACG) - Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) - Marine Wing Support Group (MWSG)

- MAW organization

1) Internal airfield communications 2) Aircraft crash, fire, and rescue services 3) Structural fire fighting services 4) Essential engineering services 5) Motor transport operations internal to the ACE 6) Messing facilities 7) Organic nuclear, biological, and chemical capabilities 8) Routine and emergency sick call services 9) Air base command functions

- MWSS tasks

Intermediate (MALS)

- Maintenance activities responsible for supporting units operating aircraft typically squadrons

Organizational

- Maintenance is usually performed at the squadron level; activities that operate the aircraft. This is performed by Maintenance Marines within the Maintenance Department. These same Marines will deploy with you.

Depot - Fleet Repair Centers (FRC)

- Maintenance performed at or by FRC sites to ensure continued flying integrity of airframes and flight systems during subsequent operational service periods - Performs major overhaul or rebuilding of parts - support both O and I-level maintenance by providing engineering assistance and performing maintenance beyond their capabilities

1) Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron (MTACS) 2) Marine Air Control Squadron (MACS) 3) Marine Wing Communications Squadron (MWCS) 4) Marine Air Support Squadron (MASS) 5) Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion (LAAD) 6) Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron (VMU)

- Marine Air Control Group (MACG) elements

1) VH (Rotary Wing MAG) 2) VF/VA (Fixed Wing MAG)

- Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) elements

Marine Wing Support Squadrons (MWSS)

- Marine Wing Support Group (MWSG) elements

The Big "A"

- Marine aviation is an integral part of the MAGTF, provides the MAGTF Commander with a complete spectrum of operational capabilities across the range of military operations

1) Close Air Support (CAS) 2) Deep Air Support (DAS)

- OAS types

Offensive Anti-air Warfare

- Operations conducted against enemy air assets, air defense systems before they can be launched or assume an attacking role - operations in or near the objective area consist mainly of air attacks to destroy or neutralize hostile aircraft, airfields, radars, air defense systems, and supporting areas - objectives include weakening the enemy's offensive air capability to a manageable level, thereby gaining access to a zone of airspace for a specified timeframe to allow friendly air operations and local air superiority in conjunction with friendly operations.

1) Air Reconnaissance 2) Assault Support 3) Anti-air Warfare 4) Offensive Air Support 5) Electronic Warfare 6) Control of Aircraft & Missiles

- Six Functions of Marine Aviation

Electronic Protection (EP)

- The division of EW involving actions taken to protect personnel, facilities, and equipment from any effects of friendly or enemy employment of EW that degrade, neutralize, or destroy friendly combat capability

Electronic Warfare Support (ES)

- The division of EW involving actions taken under direct control of an operational commander to search for, intercept, identify, and locate sources of radiated electromagnetic energy for the purpose of immediate threat recognition

Electronic Attack (EA)

- The division of EW that involves the use of electromagnetic energy, directed energy, or antiradiation weapons to attack personnel, facilities, or equipment with the intent of degrading, neutralizing, or destroying enemy combat capability

Visual Reconnaissance

- The gathering of information by aircrew by looking through the window of the cockpit, or through a sensor, and verbally passing what is seen to the ground forces. It consists of an observer or pilot visually searching a route, point, or area. This type of reconnaissance is verbal in nature (only provides a word picture) and does not provide any sort of visible imagery - is frequently used in support of the delivery of offensive fires such as artillery support, naval surface fire support, or CAS - is a secondary mission assigned to all USMC aircraft.

Electronic Reconnaissance

- The gathering of information on how the enemy is utilizing the electromagnetic spectrum - is used to detect, locate, identify, and evaluate enemy electromagnetic radiation. This can be used for threat warning as well as creating/updating the electronic order of battle.

Preemptive Measures

- The objective is to weaken the enemy air threat before the enemy can make effective use of their air defense systems (air-to-air elements, ground-to-air elements, and support command, control, and communications (C3) structure) and prevent attainment of MAGTF objectives - are required in the early phase of an amphibious operation and in sustained operations ashore - allow subsequent air and ground operations to proceed without prohibitive interference

Assault Support

- The use of aircraft to provide tactical mobility and logistic support for the MAGTF, the movement of high-priority cargo and personnel within the immediate area of operations, in-flight (air-to-air) refueling, and the evacuation of personnel and cargo.

Multi-Sensor Imagery Reconnaissance

- This involves the passing of imagery from aircraft to ground forces. This can be real-time/near real-time through the use of data (rover) feeds from visual sensors to ground forces or can be included as part of a post-mission report where images are attached to a mission report - is used to detect and pinpoint the location of enemy installations, facilities, and concentrations of forces. It is also used to support terrain analysis.

Air Evacuation

- This is the transportation of personnel and equipment from a forward operating base or remote areas. This includes flights from areas of operations to secure areas, CASEVAC, extraction of forces, and non-combatant evacuation operations (NEO)

Marine Air Control Group (MACG)

- To coordinate all aspects of air command and control, air reconnaissance, and air defense within the MAW - contains the bulk of the MAW's command and control assets

Squadron Maintenance Department

- To maintain aircraft and equipment in a full mission capable status while improving local maintenance processes - Line operations (inspections, servicing, handling, etc.) and periodic inspections of aircraft, equipment, and associated tests - Repairs, removal/reinstallation of components, and minor adjustments that do not require shop facilities - Permanently assigned Marines normally perform organizational maintenance. These same Marines will also go on deployments and detachments for training (DFT)

Marine Wing Support Group (MWSG)

- To provide aviation ground support for the MAW and to provide command and control, administration, supply, and logistic support assets to subordinate units performing aviation ground support for Marine aviation - primary task is to provide the capability to establish and maintain airfields and FOBs, and their associated aviation ground support requirements, for the conduct of ACE operations in support of the MAGTF

Marine Wing Support Squadrons (MWSS)

- To provide for all essential aviation ground support requirements for a designated fixed-wing or rotary-wing component of an ACE

Strike Coordination & Reconnaissance (SCAR)

- a mission flown for the purpose of acquiring and reporting deep air support targets and coordinating armed reconnaissance or air interdiction missions on those targets

Aerial Refueling

- allows MAGTF aircraft, both fixed- and rotary-wing, to conduct flight-ferrying operations, extend time on station, and extend mission range

Marine Air Wing (MAW)

- are designed to provide units in support of MAGTF or other operations - may be reinforced with assets from other ___ to provide the necessary assets to meet mission requirements - is capable of performing all six functions of Marine aviation

Scheduled Missions

- are executed at a specific time against a specific target at a known location; they provide the most economical use of aircraft and ordnance

MAW Headquarters

- are task-organized based on the assigned mission. When the MAW is deployed as the ACE for a MEF, this becomes the ACE's command element

UH-1Y Huey

- assault support, CAS, DAD, FAC, escort, TRAP

Battlefield Illumination

- can be provided by both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft - may be IR or visible to the naked eye or invisible - can last for a few minutes or several hours

Passive Air Defense

- constitutes all measures, other than active air defense, taken to minimize the effects of hostile air action. These measures include the use of cover, concealment, camouflage, deception, dispersion, and protective construction

1) Air Direction 2) Air Control

- functions of Control of Aircraft and Missiles

Control of Aircraft & Missiles

- integrates the other five functions - providing means for MAGTF Commander to exercise C2 authority over Marine aviation assets - encompasses the coordinated employment of facilities, equipment, communications, procedures, and personnel in order to enable the ACE commander to plan, direct, and control the efforts of the ACE to support the MAGTF

On-Call Missions

- involve aircraft that are preloaded for a particular target or array of targets and target area and placed in an appropriate ground/air alert status

Active Air Defense

- is direct defensive action taken to destroy attacking enemy aircraft or missiles or to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of such an attack. It includes such measures as the use of aircraft, interceptor missiles, air defense artillery, non-air defense weapons in an air defense role, and electronic countermeasures

Preplanned Air Support

- is in accordance with a program and planned in advance of operations - these are either scheduled or on-call

Air Logistical Support

- is performed by fixed wing aircraft and delivers troops, equipment and supplies to areas beyond helicopter range and lift capability or when surface transportation is slow or unavailable

Air Control

- is the authority to direct the physical maneuver of aircraft in flight or to direct an aircraft or surface-to-air weapon unit to engage a specific target - includes airspace management and airspace control which involves the coordination, integration and regulation of the use of airspace of defined dimensions and the positive identification, tracking, and direction of aircraft within a particular airspace through positive and procedural control

Air Direction

- is the authority to regulate the employment of air resources, including both aircraft and surface-to-air weapons, to maintain a balance between their availability and the priorities assigned for their use - the purpose is to achieve a balance between the MAGTF's finite aviation resources and the accomplishment of the ACE mission - includes developing air tasking orders, processing air support requests, collecting information concerning mission status, and changing or altering prescheduled missions

Tactical Reconnaissance

- is the use of air vehicles to obtain information concerning terrain, weather, and the disposition, composition, movement, installations, lines of communications, electronic and communication emissions of enemy forces - also included are artillery and naval gunfire adjustments, and systematic and random observation of ground battle areas, targets, and/or sectors of airspace

Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD)

- is to gain access to a defined zone of airspace that will allow MAGTF operations to proceed - may become periodic in nature, applied at a critical time that will allow air and ground forces to proceed without prohibitive interference from the enemy's air defense systems - is an important part of any campaign and the MAGTF must plan a coordinated effort against the enemy air defense threat

Local Air Superiority Measures

- is to prevent the enemy's residual air threat from affecting the execution of friendly operations to the point of prohibitive interference in a specific zone of action - may be used separately or in conjunction with preemptive measures and SEAD - can include the use of offensive combat air patrols, escort and self-escort tactics, and the use of aircraft onboard countermeasures and maneuvers

Armed Reconnaissance

- locating and attacking targets of opportunity (i.e., enemy material, personnel, and facilities) in assigned general areas or along assigned ground communication routes. This type of operation is a response to targets that are not known or briefed in advance

Immediate Air Support

- meets requests that arise during battle, strike unanticipated targets, and are generally urgent in nature. Aviation assets are diverted from other missions via the MACCS to execute immediate requests. These missions require that those aircraft be re-tasked in air via radio in order to support a different mission

CH-53 Super Stallion

- military's largest, fastest, and strongest helicopter

Destruction

- missions destroy enemy forces, equipment, supplies, and installations - ___ of the target may be difficult to achieve contingent upon the threat, target composition, MAGTF aviation assets, and available weapons.

Neutralization

- missions render areas, weapons, or enemy forces ineffective for a specified time - ___ may be applied when we cannot afford to dedicate the assets to destroy our opponent, or when we decide that the most efficient application of force would be to "shut them down" for a set period of time, rendering the requirement for destruction unnecessary.

Air Reconnaissance

- obtain information: terrain, weather, enemy forces - mitigate fog of the unknown - achieve information advantage - provide commander with educated, calculated courses of action

Air Interdiction

- operations conducted to destroy, neutralize, or delay the enemy's military potential before it can be brought to bear effectively against friendly forces. This type of operation is a response to a known target that is briefed in advance.

AH-1Z Cobra

- primary attack helicopter. CAS - cannon, hellfire, rockets

Combat Assault Transport (CAT)

- provides mobility for the MAGTF. It is used to rapidly deploy forces, bypass obstacles or redeploy forces to meet the enemy threat. All of these actions provide the MAGTF commander with more diverse options for operational planning - allows commanders to affect a rapid force build up at a specific time and place of their choosing

KC-130J/T Super Hercules

- refueling, support, recon, aerial delivery - battlefield illum - Harvest HAWK

Tactical Recovery of Aircraft & Personnel (TRAP)

- subcomponent of combat search and rescue (CSAR) and/or joint combat search and rescue (JCSAR) missions, but it is only executed once the location of survivors is confirmed. It does not involve dedicating aircraft assets to locating survivors. Marine Corps tactical aircraft are not normally equipped to conduct the search portion of CSAR or the over water portion of search and rescue missions. Tactical recovery occurs once the general location of survivors is confirmed - may include personnel to conduct a local ground search if required. The composition of a tactical recovery mission may vary from a single aircraft and aircrew to an assault support mission package that consists of multiple fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft with an onboard compliment of security, ground search, and medical personnel

Strategic Reconnaissance

- the gathering of information, which is used to affect policy on the national or international level - is conducted mostly by national or theater assets

Air Delivery

- the transportation of equipment and supplies to FOBs or remote areas, it can be accomplished with helicopters or loads can be air dropped from fixed-wing aircraft such as the KC-130. Air drops are normally used when surface or helicopter transports cannot be used because of range, closed lines of communications, a lack of adequate airfields, a prohibitive ground tactical situation, high tonnage, or reduced response time

1) Preemptive Measures 2) Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) 3) Local Air Superiority Measures

- three areas of offensive anti-air warfare

1) Visual Reconnaissance 2) Multi-Sensor Imagery Reconnaissance 3) Electronic Reconnaissance

- three types of air reconnaissance based on method of collection and distribution

MV-22 Osprey

- tiltrotor - golden hour, CASEVAC

1) Destruction 2) Neutralization

- two OAS tactical tasks

1) Strategic 2) Tactical

- two categories of air reconnaissance

1) Preplanned Air Support 2) Immediate Air Support

- types of CAS

1) Air Interdiction 2) Armed Reconnaissance 3) Strike Coordination & Reconnaissance (SCAR)

- types of DAS

AV-8B Harrier

- vertical takeoff / landing, CAS/SCAR/AR. air-to-air defense - phased out 2028/2029 - many features to talk to JTAC on ground

Air Superiority

-is that degree of dominance in the air battle of one force over another which permits the conduct of operations by the former and its related land, sea, and air forces at a given time and place without prohibitive interference by the opposing force