Make US Army Aviation More Lethal
A few tweaks—and one big move—could dramatically increase the combat power available to commanders.
R.D. Hooker, Jr. | June 18, 2021 10:00 AM ET
For speed, lethality and decisive influence on the land battle, Army Aviation is the Army’s crown jewel. Yet a few changes could dramatically increase the aerial force’s lethality and survivability, and do so without breaking the bank.
First, a primer of sorts. Army Aviation’s principal platforms—the AH-64E attack helicopter, the UH-60M assault helicopter and the CH-47F heavy lift helicopter—are proven, reliable and effective, able to operate day or night and in all weather. Army divisions today include a combat aviation brigade with 48 AH-64s, 30 UH-60s, and 12 CH-47s. This brigade also fields eight UH-60 command-and-control aircraft and 12 HH-60 medevac aircraft, as well as 12 RQ-7 and 12 MQ-1C unmanned aerial vehicles.
Given the decline in field artillery, Army attack aviation is the most powerful striking weapon available to division commanders. Each AH-64E can carry 16 Hellfire missiles in addition to a lethal 30mm chain gun. The division’s 48 Apaches can thus launch up to 768 fire-and-forget anti-tank missiles at targets out to 8 km. Operating at stand-off ranges, they are survivable and, with cruise speeds of 150 knots, they can be rapidly repositioned to engage and destroy massed enemy armor. The Apache can also control the MQ-1C, which can also be armed.
https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2021/06/make-us-army-aviation-more-lethal/174819/
