ARMY AVIATION - Army Publishing Directorate

FM 3-04 ARMY AVIATION

APRIL 2020

DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION:

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. This publication supersedes FM 3-04, dated 29 July 2015.

HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

This publication is available at the Army Publishing Directorate site (. army. mil),

and the Central Army Registry site (. train. army. mil/catalog/dashboard)

Field Manual No. 3-04

*FM 3-04

Headquarters Department of the Army Washington, DC, 06 April 2020

Army Aviation

Contents

Page

Chapter 1 Chapter 2

PREFACE................................................................................................................... vii

INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... ix

ARMY AVIATION'S ROLE IN UNIFIED LAND OPERATIONS ............................... 1-1

Section I ? Unified Land Operations...................................................................... 1-1

Section II ? Challenges for Army Aviation ............................................................ 1-1

Section III ? Core Competencies of Army Aviation.............................................. 1-2 Provide Accurate and Timely Information Collection ................................................ 1-3 Provide Reaction Time and Maneuver Space........................................................... 1-3 Destroy, Defeat, Disrupt, Divert, or Delay Enemy Forces......................................... 1-4 Air Assault Ground Maneuver Forces ....................................................................... 1-4 Air Movement of Personnel, Equipment, and Supplies ............................................. 1-5 Evacuate Wounded or Recover Isolated Personnel ................................................. 1-6 Enable Command and Control over Extended Ranges and Complex Terrain ......... 1-7

Section IV ? Army Aviation in the Operational Framework................................. 1-7 Area of Operations .................................................................................................... 1-7 Close, Deep, Support, and Consolidation Areas....................................................... 1-8 Decisive, Shaping, and Sustaining Operations ....................................................... 1-10 Main and Supporting Efforts .................................................................................... 1-10

Section V ? Operational Environment ................................................................. 1-10 Threat ...................................................................................................................... 1-11 Multi-Domain Extended Battlefield .......................................................................... 1-14

Section VI ? Aviation in Deception Planning ...................................................... 1-20

ARMY AVIATION ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMAND AND CONTROL ............. 2-1

Section I ? Operational Framework ....................................................................... 2-1

Section II ? Aviation Brigades ................................................................................ 2-2 Combat Aviation Brigade........................................................................................... 2-2 Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade.................................................................... 2-3 Theater Aviation Brigade ........................................................................................... 2-4

Section III ? Enabling Aviation Groups ................................................................. 2-6 Theater Airfield Operations Group ............................................................................ 2-6 Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group .................................................. 2-7

DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

*This publication supersedes FM 3-04, dated 29 July 2015. i

Contents Chapter 3

Section IV ? Aviation Battalions and Squadrons................................................. 2-7 Air Cavalry Squadron ................................................................................................ 2-7 Attack Battalion ......................................................................................................... 2-8 Assault Helicopter Battalion ...................................................................................... 2-9 General Support Aviation Battalion........................................................................... 2-9 Aviation Support Battalion....................................................................................... 2-10 Security and Support Battalion ............................................................................... 2-11 Airfield Operations Battalion ................................................................................... 2-12 Theater Fixed-Wing Battalion ................................................................................. 2-12

Section V ? Aviation Squadron/Battalion Task Forces ..................................... 2-13

Section VI ? Command and Support Relationships .......................................... 2-14 Command Relationships ......................................................................................... 2-15 Support Relationships ............................................................................................. 2-17

Section VII ? Aviation Command Posts .............................................................. 2-18 Main Command Post............................................................................................... 2-18 Tactical Command Post .......................................................................................... 2-18 Command Post Survivability ................................................................................... 2-19

Section VIII ? Aviation Brigade Special Staff ..................................................... 2-19 Aviation Safety Officer............................................................................................. 2-19 Aviation Standardization Officer.............................................................................. 2-19 Unmanned Aircraft System Standardization Operator............................................ 2-19 Aviation Mission Survivability Officer ...................................................................... 2-20 Aviation Master Gunner .......................................................................................... 2-20 Brigade Aviation Maintenance Officer..................................................................... 2-20 Flight Surgeon ......................................................................................................... 2-20 Medical Operations Officer ..................................................................................... 2-20

Section IX ? Brigade Aviation Element ............................................................... 2-20 Organization ............................................................................................................ 2-21 Capabilities.............................................................................................................. 2-21

Section X ? Aviation Liaisons .............................................................................. 2-21 Duties ...................................................................................................................... 2-21 Capabilities.............................................................................................................. 2-22

Section XI ? Airspace Considerations ................................................................ 2-22

ARMY AVIATION OPERATIONS ............................................................................ 3-1

Section I ? Core Competencies ............................................................................. 3-1

Section II ? Movement to Contact ......................................................................... 3-1

Section III ? Attack .................................................................................................. 3-3 Attacks Against Enemy Forces in Close Friendly Contact........................................ 3-4 Attacks Against Enemy Forces out of Friendly Contact............................................ 3-8 Employment Methods ............................................................................................. 3-12 Strike Coordination and Reconnaissance Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures .. 3-14 Rotary-Wing Close Air Support............................................................................... 3-15 Unique Planning Considerations for Attacks .......................................................... 3-15

Section IV ? Reconnaissance .............................................................................. 3-16 Zone Reconnaissance ............................................................................................ 3-17 Area Reconnaissance ............................................................................................. 3-18 Route Reconnaissance ........................................................................................... 3-19 Reconnaissance in Force ....................................................................................... 3-20 Special Reconnaissance......................................................................................... 3-21 Fundamentals of Reconnaissance.......................................................................... 3-21

ii

FM 3-04

6 April 2020

Chapter 4 Chapter 5

Contents

Section V ? Security .............................................................................................. 3-22 Screen ..................................................................................................................... 3-26 Guard....................................................................................................................... 3-29 Cover ....................................................................................................................... 3-29 Fundamentals of Security........................................................................................ 3-29

Section VI ? Air Assault ........................................................................................ 3-30

Section VII ? Air Movement .................................................................................. 3-34 Internal Load Operations ......................................................................................... 3-35 External Loads......................................................................................................... 3-35 Unique Planning Considerations for Air Movement ................................................ 3-35

Section VIII ? Aeromedical Evacuation ............................................................... 3-36 Provision of En-Route Care..................................................................................... 3-38 Receipt of the Evacuation Plan from Higher ........................................................... 3-38 Aeromedical Evacuation Mission Planning ............................................................. 3-41 Aeromedical Evacuation Requests ......................................................................... 3-42 Authorization............................................................................................................ 3-44 Medical Operations Cell .......................................................................................... 3-44 Aerial Casualty Evacuation...................................................................................... 3-45

Section IX ? Command and Control Support ..................................................... 3-45 Command, Control, and Communications Aircraft .................................................. 3-46 Unmanned Aircraft System Communications Relay Packages .............................. 3-47

Section X ? Personnel Recovery ......................................................................... 3-47 Personnel Recovery Methods ................................................................................. 3-48 Personnel Recovery Officer/Unit Personnel Recovery Representative .................. 3-49

Section XI ? Aerial-Delivered Mine Operations .................................................. 3-50

Section XII ? Counter-Air Considerations........................................................... 3-50 Pre-Mission Planning............................................................................................... 3-51 Operations ............................................................................................................... 3-51

ARMY AVIATION SUSTAINMENT........................................................................... 4-1

Section I ? Overview................................................................................................ 4-1

Section II ? Maintenance and Logistics ................................................................ 4-1 Field-Level Maintenance ........................................................................................... 4-1 Sustainment-Level Maintenance ............................................................................... 4-2 Battle Damage Assessment and Repair ................................................................... 4-2 Downed Aircraft Recovery Team .............................................................................. 4-2 Supply........................................................................................................................ 4-3 Operational Contract Support.................................................................................... 4-3 Key Aviation Maintenance Personnel........................................................................ 4-3

Section III ? Operational Reach.............................................................................. 4-6 Force Projection ........................................................................................................ 4-6 Sustaining Operational Tasks.................................................................................... 4-6 Forward Arming and Refueling Point ........................................................................ 4-8

Section IV ? Health Service Support ..................................................................... 4-9 Aviation Medicine ...................................................................................................... 4-9 Medical Evacuation ................................................................................................... 4-9 Aerial Casualty Evacuation...................................................................................... 4-10 Medical Logistics ..................................................................................................... 4-10

Section V ? Personnel, Legal, and Religious Services...................................... 4-10

ARMY AVIATION CAPABILITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS ............................... 5-1 AH-64D/E Apache Characteristics ............................................................................ 5-1

6 April 2020

FM 3-04

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