Close air support

Close air support (CAS) is defined as <a href="/facts/Aerial_warfare/DrDhkkQ1">aerial warfare</a> actions—often air-to-ground actions such as <a href="/facts/Strafing/uUY2MbX7">strafes</a> or <a href="/facts/Airstrike/FehKpSt5">airstrikes</a>—by <a href="/facts/Military_aircraft/hG80LP2F">military aircraft</a> against hostile targets in close proximity to friendly forces. A form of <a href="/facts/Fire_support/10XyVgHn">fire support</a>, CAS requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of all forces involved. CAS may be conducted using <a href="/facts/Aerial_bomb/3vhocvAF">aerial bombs</a>, <a href="/facts/Glide_bomb/8kHYdVGQ">glide bombs</a>, <a href="/facts/Missile/C5VwQClz">missiles</a>, <a href="/facts/Rocket_(weapon)/yTtyeLsj">rockets</a>, <a href="/facts/Autocannon/5QLv3cUj">autocannons</a>, <a href="/facts/Machine_gun/JPXmy1zR">machine guns</a>, and even <a href="/facts/Directed-energy_weapon/lcBdDTLf">directed-energy weapons</a> such as <a href="/facts/Laser/jk6PTvvT">lasers</a>.
The requirement for detailed integration because of proximity, fires or movement is the determining factor. CAS may need to be conducted during shaping operations with <a href="/facts/Special_forces/KzAwTazD">special forces</a> if the mission requires detailed integration with the fire and movement of those forces. A closely related subset of <a href="/facts/Air_interdiction/6RM1Dv9J">air interdiction</a>, battlefield air interdiction, denotes interdiction against units with near-term effects on friendly units, but which does not require integration with friendly troop movements. CAS requires excellent coordination with ground forces, typically handled by specialists such as <a href="/facts/Artillery_observer/K3EkPLL8">artillery observers</a>, <a href="/facts/Joint_terminal_attack_controller/GLHt0QEa">joint terminal attack controllers</a>, and <a href="/facts/Forward_air_control/eYq2xFwE">forward air controllers</a>.
<a href="/facts/World_War_I/vITTUanQ">World War I</a> was the first conflict to make extensive use of CAS, albeit using relatively primitive methods in contrast to later <a href="/facts/Military_tactics/gm9zr57y">military tactics</a>, though it was made evident that proper coordination between aerial and ground forces via <a href="/facts/Radio/XFr909M2">radio</a> made attacks more effective. Several conflicts during the <a href="/facts/Interwar_period/EWLuS41R">interwar period</a>—including the <a href="/facts/Polish%25E2%2580%2593Soviet_War/qSYxdmcs">Polish–Soviet War</a>, the <a href="/facts/Spanish_Civil_War/YykcMvC5">Spanish Civil War</a>, the <a href="/facts/Iraqi_Revolt/yqK2KFC9">Iraqi Revolt</a>, and the <a href="/facts/Chaco_War/1E8qf3mo">Chaco War</a>—made notable use of CAS. <a href="/facts/World_War_II/2efV5L1U">World War II</a> marked the universal acceptance of the integration of air power into <a href="/facts/Combined_arms/qHuvIueq">combined arms</a> warfare, with all of the war's major combatants having developed effective air-ground coordination techniques by the conflict's end. New techniques, such as the use of <a href="/facts/Forward_air_control/eYq2xFwE">forward air control</a> to guide CAS aircraft and identifying <a href="/facts/Invasion_stripes/xS6sC933">invasion stripes</a>, also emerged at this time, being heavily shaped by the <a href="/facts/Italian_campaign_(World_War_II)/FwY1HJDM">Italian Campaign</a> and the <a href="/facts/Operation_Overlord/fcx7BD00">invasion of Normandy</a>. CAS continued to advance during the conflicts of the <a href="/facts/Cold_War/spJdJQ3q">Cold War</a>, especially the <a href="/facts/Korean_War/Qo93pNhE">Korean War</a> and the <a href="/facts/Vietnam_War/W0gfbGTE">Vietnam War</a>; major milestones included the introduction of <a href="/facts/Attack_helicopter/c12bKhvd">attack helicopters</a>, <a href="/facts/Gunship/xmS4cHEF">gunships</a>, and dedicated CAS <a href="/facts/Attack_aircraft/Rkc7Ft5I">attack</a> <a href="/facts/Jet_aircraft/esXNnbbg">jets</a>.

Close air support open-in-new

Close air support