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Aviation adds recon team to ranks

by Staff Sgt. Marcia Triggs

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Jan. 13, 2003) - As the Army transforms, the aviation field plans to add to its ranks a reconnaissance team that will include manned and unmanned aerial vehicles and Comanche helicopters, announced Lt. Gen. Johnny Riggs, the director of the Objective Force Task Force.

During the annual Association of the United States Army Aviation Symposium Jan. 6-8 in Alexandria, Va., Riggs told attendees that aviation will be an important part of the Army's new "Units of Action" which will be ready and equipped in 2010.

In late November, an aviation detachment was added to the makeup of Units of Action, which is roughly a joint-service, brigade-sized unit that will be decisive in any operation, against any threat level, in any environment, according to the Operational and Organizational Plan.

The aviation detachment would be made up of three troops, 12 Comanche helicopters and eight UAVs, Riggs said. Its mission would be to conduct reconnaissance, provide aerial close support and engage and destroy when necessary, Riggs added.

This year's Defense Appropriations Bill and Authorization Act authorized the purchase of 650 Comanche helicopters and in fiscal year 2008, they will be the first aviation platforms for the Objective Force. The Comanche is being named by some the "eyes and guide" of the joint force.

Long-time advocate of the Comanche, retired general and president of AUSA Gordon Sullivan said the Comanche is the key to winning the information war, owning the night and ensuring defeat of America's future enemies.

What role the UAVs will play in the Units of Action are the near-term challenges, said Lt. Gen. Benjamin Griffin, the G8 deputy chief of staff. Everything from surveillance to attack to re-supply is what UAVs will be expected to do, officials said.

"Technology has an impact on how we shape the force," Riggs said. "Technology itself is not the solution, but it provides you the menu for the solution. ... I'm proud to say that we have a phenomenal amount of money to go toward research, development and acquisition -- $28.5 billion. But the soldier is really the integral part of the formation."