Joint Air Attack Team Tactics (JAATT) was a doctrine,[1][2][3] taught by the US military Tactical Air Command "in a combined arms team concept of operations" through TRADOC. The tactic was founded on both the A-10 and the OH-58 aircraft. "Using nap-of-the-earth flying techniques, helicopters can use even small terrain features for concealment. The helicopter-borne Forward Air Controller (FAC) has better survivability than his fixed-wing FAC counterpart, near the forward edge of the battle area."[4]
The idea was to "locate, engage and destroy tanks and other armoured vehicles" and was taught from November 1978.[8][9][10][11]
The Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) worked together with TAC through the joint Air-Land Force Applications Agency at Langley Air Force Base, on a variety of projects. The two services continued development and training of JAATT, a team concept that had proved effective in providing Air Force A-10 aircraft and Army attack helicopters a much higher degree of survivability than when each operated independently. The Applications Agency prepared a draft joint counter-air and air defense interim operational concept, and representatives of the two services agreed to a joint operational concept for suppressing enemy air defense.[5]
The British Army would seem to have adopted these tactics,[12] especially in conjunction with the American base at RAF Bentwaters.[13] The husband of US Senator Kelly Ayotte was a key instructor of this doctrine while he served from 1990 with the Massachusetts Air National Guard.[14]
^"Army Aviation"(PDF). HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY. July 2015.
^Kistler, CPT Charles E. III; Tway, MAJ Duane C. (17 October 1979). "The FAC and The Future ("FAC IT")". Air Land Bulletin. 1979. Air Land Sea Space Application (ALSSA) Center.
^Miller, LTCOL Retsae H. (March 1979). "Air Superiority at the Treetops". Military Review: Professional Journal of the United States Army. LIX (3): 2–9.
^Smith, MAJ Ross L. (8 June 1979). CLOSE AIR SUPPORT - CAN IT SURVIVE THE 80s ?. Fort Leavenworth KS: ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLLEGE.
^Hutchinson, Jim S. (8 June 1979). The Aerial Fire Support Team. Fort Leavenworth KS: ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLLEGE.