# Missions The primary missions of attack reconnaissance helicopter units are— * Reconnaissance. * Security. * Attack. * Movement to contact. Reconnaissance operations are conducted to obtain information about the enemy and/or terrain to assist in building and sharing the common operational picture (COP), and/or to focus combat power at the decisive point and time. Security operations provide reaction time, maneuver space, and protection to air-ground maneuver. Attack operations destroy or defeat enemy forces in order to seize, retain, or exploit the initiative. Attack/reconnaissance units conduct two basic types of attack—CCA and IA. #### Close combat attack A hasty or deliberate attack by Army aircraft providing air-to-ground fires for friendly units engaged in close combat. Due to the close proximity of friendly forces, detailed integration is required. #### Interdiction attack A hasty or deliberate attack by Army aircraft to divert, disrupt, delay, degrade, or destroy the enemy before they can be used effectively against friendly forces. IA is conducted at such a distance from friendly forces that detailed integration with ground forces is not required. Movement to contact operations are designed to develop the situation and to establish or regain contact. The commander conducts a movement to contact (MTC) when the enemy situation is vague or not specific enough to conduct an attack. A search and attack is a specialized technique of conducting a movement to contact in an environment of noncontiguous AOs. ## Attack Reconnaissance Battalion ARBs are often the division’s primary reconnaissance asset during both offensive and defensive operations and complement the armor and lethality of forces in close combat. They have decisive advantages in maneuverability and lethality over other divisional resources for many mission applications. They can easily bypass obstacles and maneuver rapidly to positions of advantage, while exploiting the greater range of Hellfire missiles maintaining standoff against enemy armor and other hardened targets. During a ground force’s defense or attack against a known enemy force, aircraft may locate to the rear of the friendly force providing the ground commander SA of both friendly and enemy locations. Other attack reconnaissance aircraft, forming lead-wingman teams, may locate forward on both flanks to provide designation for Hellfire missiles in the close combat environment. ARBs support ground force movement to contact, air assaults, and actions on contact through CCA. The reduced speed of a light infantry force's movement to contact, coupled with the need to maintain a low profile, may preclude escort by battalion aircraft. Instead, a company may operate over the supported unit or move to positions to overwatch and attack with supporting fires on one or both forward flanks. The availability of multiple ARBs permits 24-hour operations, simultaneous attack of multiple engagement areas (EAs), or massed attack of multiple targets at a critical time and place ## Air Cavalry Squadron The ACS performs the following missions in support of BCTs: * Reconnaissance. * Security. * Air assault. * Air movement * Attack. * Movement to contact. * C2. * Casualty evacuation (CASEVAC). The ACS gathers information about enemy and terrain, maintains surveillance, and provides early warning of enemy contact. It provides reconnaissance, surveillance, and security of LOCs to enhance C2 and target acquisition (TA). ACS assets have decisive advantages over other intelligence resources, as they can fight through and counter enemy deception efforts better than any sensor system. The ACS, with its organic air cavalry troops (ACTs) and assault helicopter troop (AHT) helicopters, is an excellent force for developing the situation. As such, the ACS is often given its own sector and missions. Although ground forces extend the ACS's ability for continuous operations over time, the ACS is fully capable of conducting all reconnaissance missions, screens, and limited guard and cover operations. Attachment of ground forces enables the ACS to conduct guard and cover missions. The ACS also has organic utility aircraft that can insert surveillance teams at observation posts (OPs) and dismounted patrols. The ACS generally conducts attacks as part of actions on contact to develop the situation further. The ACS may also conduct attacks to force the enemy to reveal information or continue the security mission. When the squadron can easily penetrate enemy defenses, it can more rapidly resume the advance or flank guard or screen mission. 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