Forward Air Controller Supporting U.S. Army (1968)

Forward Air controllers are positioned with army Brigade and Battalion maneuver elements to advise ground commanders on close air support capabilities and to control air strikes from the air and from the ground the Forward Air controller fact is an indispensable part of Tactical Air power in support of ground forces never before has the capability of the fact been more exploited or has any phase of combat operations prove more effective and necessary facts are experienced fighter pilots who know tactical reconnaissance and airlift capabilities as members of Battalion and Brigade Tactical Air Control parties the fact knows Army capabilities and is familiar with the ground scheme of maneuver when Airborne the fact is always in radio contact with ground elements and ready to control air strikes requested by the Army the Army needs an an expert in Tactical Air Firepower to advise Ground Force commanders on close air support capabilities and to recommend the appropriate ordinance load of bombs Rockets guns and other weapons for specific targets the majority of Tactical Air Support used by the Army is pre-planned the fax assistance is needed to determine the air support requirements for both the pre-planned and immediate requests upon Army request the fact transmits immediate requirements for close air support reconnaissance and tactical airlift to the direct air support center or desk the Army calls on the fact to control close air support strikes from ground or air observation posts to accomplish this he must maintain contact with strike pilots and fire support coordinators of the army when does the army use close air support against targets that are beyond the range of organic surface fire or when targets are inaccessible Beyond artillery range or when added Firepower and ordinance delivery by tactical aircraft is necessary to achieve decisive results how does the army acquire close air support Battalion commanders request immediate close air support and the fact who also functions as the Battalion Air liaison officer or Alo transmits the request to the desk at the desk the air request net operator receives the request hands it to the director and a copy to the Army tactical air support element known as the taste monitoring the request during transmission Brigade and division Tactical Air Control parties in coordination with army G3 and S3 Air elements indicate approval or disapproval after taste approval the request is submitted to the Air Force fighter duty officer in the desk the fighter duty officer scrambles the fighter aircraft and the strike is on [Music] the fighter pilots contact a radar element of the Tactical air control system for radar guidance to the Target area arriving in the Target area they coordinate their strike with the ground Commander through the Tactical Air Control party how do the Alo and F coordinate and how does the fact control air strikes from the ground after the TCP receives Mission data the fact plans the strike and the Alo coordinates artillery fires the fact briefs the flight leader and request Target marking through the artillery forward Observer or fo the fo radios for smoke marking on the target the Forward Air controller then requests marking of friendly positions for troop safety with Target and friendly positions marked the fact is ready to direct the strike utilizing Visual and reference control techniques [Music] [Music] the mission completed the fact passes bomb damage assessment or BDA to the Army commander and others concern Forward Air controllers use specialized Tactical Air Support aircraft to control air strikes greatly expanding their capability to support multiple ground units in the battle area when controlling a strike a f can position himself in the most suitable place to control and observe the attack yet remain clear of attacking aircraft the fact when Airborne has many advantages yet his responsibilities and procedures are identical to those when he is operating on the ground from the aircraft he can see terrain not visible to ground observers he can position himself quickly and easily over difficult terrain and mark the [Music] target he can establish radio contact more easily with attacking aircraft and he can observe and transmit strike results directly into Army and Air Force channels an aerial platform is an essential part of the Forward Air controller's Equipment for example the 01 aircraft is an allmetal high-wing two-place monoplane powered by a 23 horsepower 6-cylinder engine this multi-purpose aircraft is used for reconnaissance observation and strike control with a limited marking capability it Communications equipment consists of a UHF command radio VHF command set interphone FM liazon set and it is equipped with a low frequency automatic direction finder under normal conditions the 01 bird dog requires 400 ft to take off climbs at 1,000 ft per minute and lands in 300 ft it has a maximum range of approximately 400 m the o2a super skym is a two engine propell driven aircraft in pushpull configuration it is equipped with a full complement of avionic equipment and can carry cargo and external stores rocket pods are attached to pylons on both Wings to facilitate Target marking the O2 was selected to enhance the fact Mission its communication equipment consists of an interphone system UHF VHF and FM radios if s radar transponder x-band radar Beacon and Provisions for a speech security system for navigation the O2 has a low frequency direction finder and tactical navigation system a non-computing optical site an Armament control panel and Trigger button complete the marking rocket delivery system the o2a is an off-the-shelf aircraft with a high wi and retractable tricycle landing gear its tandem engines add speed safety for the pilot and reduces reaction time the aircraft takes off in less than 1,000 ft travels at speeds of 80 to 200 mph it has significantly increased range and loer characteristics over earlier 01 F aircraft a smoke generator system is available to facilitate Rendevous of the fact and incoming strike a aircraft the OB 10A Bronco designed as a multi-mission counterinsurgency aircraft has been converted to a fact aircraft ruggedness and simplicity of operation allow it to be maintained at forward operating areas for maximum visibility the cockpit is positioned well forward of the wing when carrying an army Observer or other crew member the overlap of visibility facilitates AC position of the Target and friendly forces improved visibility plus the range and loer characteristics of the turboprop engines make this aircraft well suited to the fact Mission the OB 10A is capable of carrying Target marking ordinance ranging from 2.75 in Rockets to bombs and the 106 mm recoiless rifle the 7.62 machine guns in the sponson also provide the fact with a limited fire capability when marking hostile targets the ob10 radio equipment is compatible with tactical air control party Communications and ground forces Nets it consists of UHF FM VHF and HF single Side Band improved design features of the ob10 permit operations from short semi-prepared air strips and increase its low level maneuverability low slow close-end search is possible in rugged terrain if the situation warrants high-speed Dives and zooms to safe altitudes are possible aircraft performance and overall mission capability Mark the OB 10A as a much improved aerial platform for the fact when using this aircraft how does the fact control strikes from the air first using low-level navigation techniques and detailed maps he navigates to the Target area he knows the location of friendly ground forces and nature of the enemy he radios the Battalion Tactical Air Control party and receives the current tactical situation carefully identifying and authenticating messages the fact must have compatible Communications with his ground forces the fighters tacp and the Air Force Air request net Target determined the Battalion Air liaison officer coordinates artillery fires and arranges for friendly position marking the dask and Alo coordinate the fighter Time On Target rendevu and working frequency the fighters check in by radio with the fact the fact and Fighters Rondevu at a predetermined area the Forward Air controller coordinates last minute details with the Battalion Alo or the Army fire support coordinator the fighters relay the number and type of aircraft frag order mission number ordinance load time they can loiter altitude and present location the fact relays the nature of the target terrain features in the Target area weather and surface winds nearest friendly positions best bailout area and anticipated ground fire he recommends the order in which the ordinance be expended and plans last minute details of attack the fact requests friendlies to mark their positions identified he marks the target when the target is clearly established the fighters [Music] attack Forward Air controllers while on the ground or Airborne are the eyes of the strike pilot he must keep the Target in sight the fighters appraised of the combat situation and plan efficient distribution of ordinance a strike can be no better than the directions transmitted and received the successful application of Tactical Air Power by a Forward Air controller lies in the man his ability to reason to use the facilities at hand and to be self-sufficient make him an essential element in close air support the highest degree of aggressiveness discipline and leadership are demanded of him for success in this important role the Forward Air controller is combat proven he is a vital part of tactical air operations in support of the United States Army