Joint Air Attack Team Tactics
Joint Air Attack Team Tactics (JAATT) was a doctrine,[1][2][3] taught by the US military Tactical Air Command "in a combined arms team concept of operations" through TRADOC. The tactic was founded on both the A-10 and the OH-58 aircraft. "Using nap-of-the-earth flying techniques, helicopters can use even small terrain features for concealment. The helicopter-borne Forward Air Controller (FAC) has better survivability than his fixed-wing FAC counterpart, near the forward edge of the battle area."[4]
Synopsis
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General Donn A. Starry at the Combined Arms Center was responsible for the promotion of the doctrine.[5][6] During his time at Fort Leavenworth the Center released many instructional films.[7]
The idea was to "locate, engage and destroy tanks and other armoured vehicles" and was taught from November 1978.[8][9][10][11]
The Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) worked together with TAC through the joint Air-Land Force Applications Agency at Langley Air Force Base, on a variety of projects. The two services continued development and training of JAATT, a team concept that had proved effective in providing Air Force A-10 aircraft and Army attack helicopters a much higher degree of survivability than when each operated independently. The Applications Agency prepared a draft joint counter-air and air defense interim operational concept, and representatives of the two services agreed to a joint operational concept for suppressing enemy air defense.[5]
The British Army would seem to have adopted these tactics,[12] especially in conjunction with the American base at RAF Bentwaters.[13] The husband of US Senator Kelly Ayotte was a key instructor of this doctrine while he served from 1990 with the Massachusetts Air National Guard.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "J". International Encyclopedia of Abbreviations and Acronyms in Science and Technology, Part I, A-Z. 2008. p. 177. doi:10.1515/9783110971774.177. ISBN 978-3-598-23515-3.
- ^ General, The Comptroller (22 February 1984). "How Well Do The Military Services Perform Jointly In Combat? DOD's Joint Test-And-Evaluation Program Provides Few Credible Answers" (PDF). GAO/C-PEMD-84-1. General Accounting Office.
- ^ "Army Aviation" (PDF). HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY. July 2015.
- ^ Kistler, CPT Charles E. III; Tway, MAJ Duane C. (17 October 1979). "The FAC and The Future ("FAC IT")". Air Land Bulletin. 1979. Air Land Sea Space Application (ALSSA) Center.
- ^ a b "Force Development, Doctrine, and Training". Department of the Army Historical Summary: FY 1980. Center of Military History, United States Army. 1983.
- ^ Press On! Selected Works of General Donn A. Starry, Volume 1. Fort Leavenworth KS: Combat Studies Institute Press, US Army Combined Arms Center. September 2009. p. 385.
- ^ "Audiovisual Catalog". Norfolk, VA: Armed Forces Staff College, Film Library. National Defense University. 1983.
- ^ United States Army Aviation Digest, Volumes 24-25. U.S. Government Printing Office. June 1978. p. 10.
- ^ Miller, LTCOL Retsae H. (March 1979). "Air Superiority at the Treetops". Military Review: Professional Journal of the United States Army. LIX (3): 2–9.
- ^ Smith, MAJ Ross L. (8 June 1979). CLOSE AIR SUPPORT - CAN IT SURVIVE THE 80s ?. Fort Leavenworth KS: ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLLEGE.
- ^ Hutchinson, Jim S. (8 June 1979). The Aerial Fire Support Team. Fort Leavenworth KS: ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLLEGE.
- ^ "The Complete MOD Abbreviation Database". Daysack Media. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
- ^ "8th Aviation Battalion". usarmygermany.com. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
- ^ "CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE" (PDF). S1192. 1 March 2012.