EXPANDING THE ROLE OF ADVANCED ATTACK HELICOPTERS IN MILITARY OPERATIONS OTHER THAN WAR

The use of attack helicopters in the anti-tank role has been extensively documented in both doctrine and experience. In ‘Military Operations Other Than War’ (MOOTW), the role of the advanced attack helicopter is much less defined and it’s capabilities less than optimised in current doctrine and operational employment. In fact it seems that the inherent tactical advantages that accompany advanced helicopters are often deliberately ignored in MOOTW. With the death of the cold war and the increase in MOOTW, it is time to review the role of advanced attack helicopters and their related systems. Military planners need to consider new and innovative ways to employ these tremendous assets to their best tactical advantage. The United States Army should expand the role of advanced attack helicopters in MOOTW to capitalise on the capabilities that they can bring to virtually all missions. One possible new role is to employ advanced attack helicopters in a similar manner as the U.S. Air Force employs the AC-130 gunships.