Army aviation

Army Aviation
U.S. soldiers in OH-58D Kiowa and AH-64 Apache helicopters conduct a combat air patrol in Iraq.

Soldiers rapelling from a JGSDF UH-1H at Camp Matsudo, Japan, in 2007

CH-53G helicopter of the German Army Aviators Corps during Operation Provide Comfort in Northern Iraq

French Army Light Aviation Eurocopter Cougar in Afghanistan

Army Aviation refers to aviation-related units of a nation's army, often 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.

Tasks

The tasks of each army's aviation units are defined slightly different, depending on nationality. Some general characteristics, however, apply to all army aviation units regardless of provenience:

• Logistic and battlefield support
• Tactical transport both internally and externally, of personnel and material
• Assault duties and anti-tank warfare
• Search and rescue
• Medical evacuation
• Reconnaissance and fire support in a combined arms team
• Surveillance
• Liaison
• Flying training
• Disaster relief

Equipment

In order to fulfill their manifold tasks, army aviation mostly uses helicopters. These helicopters can be classified into the following types:

• Attack helicopters for close air support of ground troops and anti-tank role
• Transport helicopters
• Observation helicopters
• Utility helicopters
• CSAR, Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC)/MEDEVAC helicopters
• Training helicopters

List of national army aviation components

• Argentine Army Aviation
• Army Air Corps (United Kingdom)
• German Army Aviation Corps
• Army Aviation Corps (India)
• Australian Army Aviation
• Brazilian Army Aviation Command
• Colombian National Army Aviation
• French Army Light Aviation
• Indonesian Army Aviation
• Iranian Army Aviation
• Italian Army Aviation
• Malaysian Army Aviation
• Portuguese Army Light Aviation Unit
• Pakistan Army Aviation Corps
• Spanish Army Airmobile Force
• Republic of Korea Army Aviation
• United States Army Aviation Branch

See also

• Military aircraft
• Timeline of military aviation

Further reading

• Allen, Matthew (1993), Military helicopter doctrines of the major powers, 1945-1992. Making decisions about air-land warfare, Westport (CT): Greenwood, ISBN 0-3132-8522-5 
• Gunston, Bill (1981), An illustrated guide to military helicopters, New York: Arco Publishing, ISBN 0-6680-5345-3 
• Halberstadt, Hans (1990), Army Aviation, Novato (CA): Presidio, ISBN 0-8914-1251-4 
• Sutton, John; Walker, John (1990), From horse to helicopter. Transporting the British Army in war and peace, London: Cooper, ISBN 0-8505-2724-4 
• Warner, Guy; Boyd, Alex (2004), Army Aviation in Ulster, Newtownards, Co. Down: Colourpoint Books, ISBN 1-9042-4227-8 
• Young, Ralph B. (2000), Army aviation in Vietnam. An illustrated history of unit insignia, aircraft camouflage and markings, Ramsey (NJ): Huey Co., ISBN 0-9671-9801-1