ARMY AVIATION

1 FM 3-04 ARMY AVIATION APRIL 2020 DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION:Approved for public release; distribution is publication supersedes FM 3-04, dated 29 July 2015. HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMYThis publication is available at the Army Publishing Directorate site (https://armypubs. army. mil), and the Central Army Registry site (https://atiam. train. army. mil/catalog/dashboard) *FM 3-04 DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. *This publication supersedes FM 3-04, dated 29 July Field Manual No. 3- 04 HeadquartersDepartment of the Army Washington, DC, 06 April 2020 Army AVIATION Contents Page vii INTRODUCTION.

2 Ix Chapter 1 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.

3 1-7 Section IV Army AVIATION in the Operational 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 Chapter 2 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.

4 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 Contents ii FM 3-04 6 April 2020 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.

5 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 2- 18 Tactical Command Post .. 2- 18 Command Post Survivability .. 2- 19 Section VIII AVIATION Brigade Special Staff .. 2- 19 AVIATION Safety 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 2- 20 Flight Surgeon .. 2- 20 Medical Operations Officer.

6 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 Chapter 3 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 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.

7 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 Contents 6 April 2020 FM 3-04 iii 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.

8 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 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.

9 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 Chapter 4 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 4-6 Forward Arming and Refueling Point.

10 4-8 Section IV Health Service Support .. 4-9 AVIATION Medicine .. 4-9 Medical Evacuation .. 4-9 Aerial Casualty 4- 10 Medical Logistics .. 4- 10 Section V Personnel, Legal, and Religious Services .. 4- 10 Chapter 5 ARMY AVIATION CAPABILITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS .. 5-1 AH-64D/E Apache Characteristics .. 5-1 Contents iv FM 3-04 6 April 2020 UH-60/HH-60 L/M Blackhawk Characteristics .. 5-2 CH-47F Chinook Characteristics .. 5-4 MQ-1C Gray Eagle Characteristics .. 5-5 RQ-7BV1/V2 Shadow Characteristics .. 5-7 C- 12 Series Aircraft .. 5-8 UC-35 Aircraft .. 5- 10 AN/MSQ-135 Mobile Tower System.