Summary:
The helicopter has demonstrated in the combat role to be a great benefit in the battlefield. Throughout history, helicopters has been modified to support several missions such as supply, close air support, medical extraction, surveillance, extraction and infiltration of armed forces members. The apache helicopter has proven to be a major asset in the US Army in combat. Since its first flight in 1975, the apache has shown its versatility and capability in the combat field.
II. Problems:
The Apache Helicopter has presented reliability problems in the combat role. In Operation Desert Storm, the Apache helicopter demonstrated their combat skills but it had limited role due to its logistical support problems. The US Army has addressed problems such as “the tail rotor swash plate, shaft- driven compressor, main rotor strap pack, main rotor blades, 30 millimeter gun, and target acquisition and designation site were examples of key components that were experiencing frequent failures and adversely affecting availability” (United States General Accounting Office, 1991, p. 4). These problems affect the reliability of the aircraft and it hinders the capability to perform the mission and provide air support to the ground troops.
III. Significance of the problem:
The Apache Helicopter has suffered
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Disadvantages: The helicopter industry is advancing at an accelerated rate. With programs like the future vertical lift program, the V-22 program and new variations of helicopters such as the S 97 from Sikorsky Helicopters it hinders the development of the Apache and it makes the helicopter industry insecure. Performing routine, preventive maintenance and inspecting and overhauling components it can be time consuming and it affects the capability and the percentages of mission capable aircraft when they are in a combat zone. It is crucial to provide the support and to maintain a fleet of helicopters mission capable aircraft in order to perform a successful
In 2008 I served as an AH-64D Maintenance Test Pilot /Battalion Maintenance Officer in Delta Company 4-227TH Aviation Regiment in Camp Taji, Iraq. Delta Company was responsible for supervising Dyna Corp. Contractors at Camp Taji were conducting all AH-64 scheduled phase maintenance in theater. While there, the company ran into challenges meeting phase deadlines assigned by the Brigade Aviation Maintenance Officer due to the amount of flight time being flown and manpower assigned to complete phases.
In Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Iraqi forces fired 93 Scud missiles at coalition forces in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Israel. (Rostker) Air Defense Artillery (ADA) played an immensely significant role in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm with units from 11th Brigade Air Defense Artillery and the 32d Air Defense Command rapidly deploying into theater. The effectiveness of the units and their roles in fighting this war proved that Air Defense Artillery was critical to the success of the campaign. Although Patriot Batteries placed strategically throughout Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Israel played a tremendous tactical role in these wars, High-Medium Air Defense (HIMAD) was not the only type of surface to air missile system in place to protect ground forces and valuable military assets. Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) units also deployed with the air defense units. These weapon systems, integrated with ground forces, provided air defense to dominate against aircraft and Tactical Ballistic Missiles (TBM) on the front lines.
Operations forces and UAV’s has been a key role in operations to counteract al-Qaeda lead
In all US wars throughout history, the US Army Infantryman has played a crucial role in the success or failure of every battle. Typically, in any major battle when a country has stood toe to toe with the Army Infantryman, they have failed. The 173rd Airborne Brigade during the Vietnam War was no exception. The 173rd Infantryman accounted for more kills on the battlefield in Operation Hump than any other US asset.1 In this paper, we’ll review the 173rd Airborne Brigades mission, objectives, situation and outcome of their success in Operation Hump.
The United States launched an operation known as Operation Desert Shield, also known as the Persian Gulf War, in August of 1990 in response to Saddam Hussein’s order to the Iraqi forces to take over Kuwait. President George Herbert Walker Bush made the decision to send American troops to Saudi Arabia to form an international coalition that would eventually turn into an operation known as Operation Desert Storm. The United States Army had not witnessed an event of such international and Homefront importation since the Cold War.
The airmobility concept is one of Army Aviation’s most prominent battlefield innovations, almost single handedly shaping the Vietnam War and in many ways, helping to influence how we fight wars today. In its essence, airmobility is a concept that utilizes Army aircraft in order to enhance the ground forces’ ability to perform the five fundamentals of combat: command and control, firepower, intelligence, mobility, and communications (Rottman, 2007). At the zenith of the airmobility concept is the airmobile assault or commonly known today as, the air assault. The airmobile assault was more than just moving troops from point A to point B; it involved intense planning and preparation. When implemented correctly, the airmobile assault provided light infantry greater mobility on the battlefield, along with the ability to seize the initiative and to synchronize attacks.
As a result of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait on August 2nd 1990, Operation Desert shield was implemented by the United States on August 7th. Trying to deter Iraq from advancing farther into the country the U.S. began staging troops, equipment and other supplies needed to sustain a military in war time. Moving resources by air and sea the American armed forces presence was made known in the region with resources being staged in the allied countries of Saudi Arabia These later we mobilized initiating operation Desert Storm on January 17th 1991 at 3am Arabia Time when the first tanks rolled across the Saudi border, this conflict would continue until the official cease fire would take effect on April 11th of the same year (Operation). During the 10 month time span of the Persian Gulf War I, Military Sealift Command had conducted the largest modern sealift operation of war materials of the American military. The ability for the United States to mobilize and sustain during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm displays America’s national security goals of forward power projection, maritime supremacy and the effective planning of their sealift strategy.
In 1957, the army began developing a new fighting force based on the helicopter. ...
This plan turned out to become the largest helicopter evacuation in American history and lasted less than forty eight hours. It consisted of sixteen Sikorsky CH-53 “Sea Stallions”, sixteen Boeing CH-46 “Frogs”, four Bell AH-1J “Snakes”, and two Bell UH-1E “Hueys” and became officially designated as Provisional Marine Air Group Thirty-nine (MAG-39), with other assets from 3rd Air Division, nineteen different Wings, and three Squadrons. Operation Frequent Wind was the last official American Operation in the Vietnam War.
In 1968, the United States Army activated the 123rd Aviation Battalion, creating a remarkable unit that was comprised of several Army assets. The design of the battalion revolutionized how assets could be combined to complete many missions by mixing infantry, signal, aviation, and support units. The 123rd’s mission ranged from was to collect intelligence, deliver supplies, insert and extract infantrymen, and provide air support. In addition to their primary mission they also participated in medical evacuation, an invaluable asset on the battlefields of Vietnam.
The Strengths and Weaknesses of Joint Warfare Armed with numerous studies, and intensive public hearings, Congress mandated far-reaching changes in DOD organization and responsibilities under the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986. This landmark legislation significantly expanded the authority and responsibility of the chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. Included in this expanded authority and responsibility was the requirement for the chairman to develop a doctrine for the joint employment of armed forces. As operations Urgent Fury, Just Cause, and Desert Storm have vividly demonstrated, the realities of armed conflict in today's world make the integration of individual service capabilities a matter of success or failure, life or death. Furthermore, the operation Desert One demonstrated the need for a strengthened Joint Warfare Doctrine and the consequent change in Joint Warfare Employment.
“The US army used many different types of helicopters like the HU-1A. It had a T53-6-5 motor, which put out 700 horsepower and could hold up to 8,500 pounds. It was used as a transport and medical vehicle that was equipped with a 30 mm”. Bishop) “The US also used Agent Orange to kill the trees and plants in the area so it would be easier to spot the enemy from the air and the ground.” (History.com)
Air Force Special Operations The United States of America is a powerful and well known force throughout the world. It has become a superpower of nations in just about three hundred years, being one of the newest nations in existence today. Its military reaches out into several countries in the globe and holds a presence as a peacekeeper and wielder of democracy. Of the US military’s five branches, the Air Force is the ruler of the skies, keeping control of the earth’s aerospace. Without the Air Force Special Operations, the military could not complete operations as effectively or efficiently as it potentially could.
Tice, Brian P. (1991). Unmanned Aerial Vehicles – The Force Multiplier of the 1990s. Airpower Journal.
...intainer. Our work has a major effect in the efficiency of the helicopter. Pilots, troops, and flight crews’ lives are in our hands. Causing harm to anyone by not doing my job correctly is not something that I would want to live with on my back. This is why we need to ensure we are complying with book standards to provide best quality of work in the safest way possible.