Army aviation

Army aviation
	Soldiers in OH-58D Kiowa and AH-64 Apache helicopters from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment conduct a combat air patrol near Tal Afar, Iraq.

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Soldiers rapelling from a JGSDF UH-1H at Camp Matsudo,Japan, in 2007

An RAF Aérospatiale Puma with a US Army UH-60 Blackhawk

CH-53G helicopter of the German Army Aviators Corps during Operation Provide Comfort in Northern Iraq

French Army Light Aviation Eurocopter Cougar in Afghanistan

Army aviation refers to aviation-related units of a nation's army. These units are generally separate from a nation's dedicated air force, and usually comprise helicopters and light support fixed-wing aircraft.

1 Tasks
2 Equipment
3 National army aviation components
4 See also
5 References
6 Further reading
7 External links

The tasks of each army's aviation units are defined slightly different, depending on nationality. Some general characteristics, however, apply to all army aviation units regardless of provenience:

Logistic and battlefield support
Tactical transport both internally and externally, of personnel and material
Assault duties and anti-tank warfare
Search and rescue
Medical evacuation
Reconnaissance and fire support in a combined arms team
Surveillance
Liaison
Flying training
Disaster relief

In order to fulfill their manifold tasks, army aviation mostly uses helicopters. These helicopters can be classified into the following types:

Attack helicopters for close air support of ground troops and anti-tank role
Transport helicopters
Observation helicopters
Utility helicopters
CSAR, CASEVAC/MEDEVAC helicopters
Training helicopters

Allen, Matthew (1993), Military helicopter doctrines of the major powers, 1945-1992. Making decisions about air-land warfare, Westport (CT): Greenwood, ISBN 0-3132-8522-5
Gunston, Bill (1981), An illustrated guide to military helicopters, New York: Arco Publishing, ISBN 0-6680-5345-3
Halberstadt, Hans (1990), Army Aviation, Novato (CA): Presidio, ISBN 0-8914-1251-4
Sutton, John; Walker, John (1990), From horse to helicopter. Transporting the British Army in war and peace, London: Cooper, ISBN 0-8505-2724-4
Warner, Guy; Boyd, Alex (2004), Army Aviation in Ulster, Newtownards, Co. Down: Colourpoint Books, ISBN 1-9042-4227-8
Young, Ralph B. (2000), Army aviation in Vietnam. An illustrated history of unit insignia, aircraft camouflage and markings, Ramsey (NJ): Huey Co., ISBN 0-9671-9801-1