CONNAN
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CLOSE AIR SUPPORT
The determining factor for CAS is detailed integration, not proximity. CAS may need to be conducted not in close proximity to friendly forces, if the mission requires detailed integration with the fire and movement of these forces. A closely related subset of air interdiction, battlefield air interdiction denotes interdiction against units with near-term effects on friendly units, but which does not require integration with friendly troop movements.
In mid-1999, the Indian air force conducted military operations to evict guerillas who had infiltrated the Kargil region of Kashmir from Pakistan. These operations were also in an alpine environment but even more so. In addition the insurgents had a significant ground based air defense capability including SAMs. Thus the operations provided a very rigorous test for the aircraft and equipment of the Indian armed forces. Aircraft used also included a mix of helicopters and fixed-wing warplanes. However its Mi-25/35 combat helicopters were limited by their operational ceiling. Instead Mi-17s were used in the gunship role. The air forces attack aircraft include the MiG-21 and MiG-27. But the Mirage 2000 with excess power and good low speed, close-to-the-ground handling, performed the best among the fixed-wing types.
WORLDS ONLY DEDICATED BATTLE PROVEN CAS FIXED WING CAS AIRCRAFT
SU 25 RUSSIA
A10 USAF
C130 GUNSHP
The harsh physical environment meant that deficiencies in technology, tactics, techniques and procedures were readily exposed. One conclusion was that a CAS aircraft operating in mountainous areas requires good acceleration. This in fact is one of the major drawbacks of the A-10. The USAF has found itself fighting in mountainous regions in Yugoslavia. And significant mountains exist in other conflict-prone parts of the world such as Central Asia, East Africa and western South America. So US air force units could again see combat in this type of environment. On the plains SAM operators will have more time to acquire attacking aircraft in their sights so good acceleration is also an advantage there. Even today, the A-10s low acceleration would be a cause for concern.
Apart from the A-10 and Su-25/39, aircraft currently used by the worlds air arms in CAS have not been designed exclusively for this role. In many cases they have been light attack designs that have been designated to perform CAS (in addition to other attack roles). They have therefore been less radical but less effective. They include the Jaguar used by the British and French air forces and AMX used in Italy and Brazil. The former, now a dated design, has good agility and rough field performance and is also highly maintainable. The AMX, conceived as a simple, low-cost, attack aircraft, has a notable level of redundancy and modularity. They are both faster than the A-10 or Su-25/39 but cannot compare with the sheer power (and hence acceleration) of aircraft like the Mirage 2000. Also neither of them can endure the AAA punishment that the A-10 or Su-25/39 can withstand. The ability to operate from helipad-sized areas allowing deployment near the frontline was assessed as important by both the British and the Marines in their decisions to acquire the Harrier even though initial versions of the aircraft had limited payload/range. Todays Harrier has performance comparable to more conventional aircraft and has made vectored thrust vertical/short take-off and landing (V/STOL) operations a tried and proven operational concept.
USAF experiments have included modifying the F-16 for the CAS mission as the A-16. However, although the original design per se was brilliant, it was never designed for close support and even the tested variant did not adhere to all of the air forces own (1960s) requirements for CAS aircraft.
SO GUYS AND GURUS WHAT DO YOU THING REGARDING THIS SECTOR ?
DO WE NEED A DEDICATED CAS AIRCRAFT PLEASE EXPRESS YOUR VIEWS
DO YOU THINK WE NEGLECTED THIS PART OR WHAT AND HOW DO WE FACE THE FUTURE CHALLENGES?
The determining factor for CAS is detailed integration, not proximity. CAS may need to be conducted not in close proximity to friendly forces, if the mission requires detailed integration with the fire and movement of these forces. A closely related subset of air interdiction, battlefield air interdiction denotes interdiction against units with near-term effects on friendly units, but which does not require integration with friendly troop movements.
In mid-1999, the Indian air force conducted military operations to evict guerillas who had infiltrated the Kargil region of Kashmir from Pakistan. These operations were also in an alpine environment but even more so. In addition the insurgents had a significant ground based air defense capability including SAMs. Thus the operations provided a very rigorous test for the aircraft and equipment of the Indian armed forces. Aircraft used also included a mix of helicopters and fixed-wing warplanes. However its Mi-25/35 combat helicopters were limited by their operational ceiling. Instead Mi-17s were used in the gunship role. The air forces attack aircraft include the MiG-21 and MiG-27. But the Mirage 2000 with excess power and good low speed, close-to-the-ground handling, performed the best among the fixed-wing types.
WORLDS ONLY DEDICATED BATTLE PROVEN CAS FIXED WING CAS AIRCRAFT
SU 25 RUSSIA
A10 USAF
C130 GUNSHP
The harsh physical environment meant that deficiencies in technology, tactics, techniques and procedures were readily exposed. One conclusion was that a CAS aircraft operating in mountainous areas requires good acceleration. This in fact is one of the major drawbacks of the A-10. The USAF has found itself fighting in mountainous regions in Yugoslavia. And significant mountains exist in other conflict-prone parts of the world such as Central Asia, East Africa and western South America. So US air force units could again see combat in this type of environment. On the plains SAM operators will have more time to acquire attacking aircraft in their sights so good acceleration is also an advantage there. Even today, the A-10s low acceleration would be a cause for concern.
Apart from the A-10 and Su-25/39, aircraft currently used by the worlds air arms in CAS have not been designed exclusively for this role. In many cases they have been light attack designs that have been designated to perform CAS (in addition to other attack roles). They have therefore been less radical but less effective. They include the Jaguar used by the British and French air forces and AMX used in Italy and Brazil. The former, now a dated design, has good agility and rough field performance and is also highly maintainable. The AMX, conceived as a simple, low-cost, attack aircraft, has a notable level of redundancy and modularity. They are both faster than the A-10 or Su-25/39 but cannot compare with the sheer power (and hence acceleration) of aircraft like the Mirage 2000. Also neither of them can endure the AAA punishment that the A-10 or Su-25/39 can withstand. The ability to operate from helipad-sized areas allowing deployment near the frontline was assessed as important by both the British and the Marines in their decisions to acquire the Harrier even though initial versions of the aircraft had limited payload/range. Todays Harrier has performance comparable to more conventional aircraft and has made vectored thrust vertical/short take-off and landing (V/STOL) operations a tried and proven operational concept.
USAF experiments have included modifying the F-16 for the CAS mission as the A-16. However, although the original design per se was brilliant, it was never designed for close support and even the tested variant did not adhere to all of the air forces own (1960s) requirements for CAS aircraft.
SO GUYS AND GURUS WHAT DO YOU THING REGARDING THIS SECTOR ?
DO WE NEED A DEDICATED CAS AIRCRAFT PLEASE EXPRESS YOUR VIEWS
DO YOU THINK WE NEGLECTED THIS PART OR WHAT AND HOW DO WE FACE THE FUTURE CHALLENGES?
