ATP-3-09-90 Division Artillery Operations and Fire Support Download
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Division Fire Support ATP 3-09.90 2-13 delivery clearance to CAS aircraft. FAC(A) supplements and enhances the ground JTAC capabilities, and operates as an extension of the TACP. Tactical Air Coordinator (Airborne) (referred to as TAC[A]) missions provide communications relay between the TACP and attack aircraft, as well as other agencies of the theater air control system. The TAC(A) ensures the attacking CAS aircraft maintain linkages to the TACP in instances of extreme distances or terrain interfering with radio communications. CAS planning is an integral part of the MDMP and is crucial in developing the overall division fire support plan. (See JP 3-09.3) During MDMP the division commander, FSCOORD and fires cell planners must ensure that CAS planners from the TACP understand the division commander’s desired effects, schemes of maneuver and fires, control requirements, and specific rules of engagement. Because the joint forces air component commander determines the ordnance CAS aircraft will carry, once the MDMP and the targeting boards are complete, it is critical that the division commander clearly articulates the desired targets and desired effects on those targets. The division commander presents target nominations to the JFLCC. The division commander needs to provide sufficient information outlining the desired effects, rationale and purpose and any external or self-initiated tactical restrictions or limitations to the approving authority of the division’s ASRs. Failure to develop this level of detail will result in the division’s target nominations and CAS requirements not competing well against the requirements of other divisions when the JFLCC develops the overall JFLCC target nomination list and ASRs for CAS. The division commander must also provide the risk assessment determination, identifying specific guidance for types of terminal attack control. A major challenge in the process is integrating and coordinating air support with other airspace users and surface-to-surface fires. The JAGIC in coordination with other members of the fires cell and ASOC can help address this challenge. For information on the JAGIC, see ATP 3-91.1. The overarching goal is to integrate all supporting air assets with fires and maneuver to create the desired effects without suspending the use of indirect fire assets, CAS, AI, UAS, or Army attack aviation or unnecessarily delaying the scheme of maneuver. Effective CAS requires detailed planning to include: commander’s intent and desired effects, CAS distribution decision (which unit has priority for CAS), positioning of JTACs and JFOs, synchronization of CAS with surface-to-surface fires, observation plan, and unit airspace plan. During this step, CAS planners with the TACP: Analyze relative combat power. Generate options used to develop possible courses of action. Develop the CAS employment concept for best use of CAS aircraft. Develop detailed control plan (Types of control, frequencies, call-signs). Develop observation plan for placement of JTAC, JFOs, or other terminal guidance operations assets. Consider FAC(A) or TAC(A) aircraft requirements. Coordinate with the ALO in developing engagement areas, target areas of interest, triggers, objective areas, obstacle plan, and movement plan. Integrate CAS into the airspace plan; submit airspace control measures requests (referred to as ACMREQs) for ACM required in the theater ACO. Prepare COA statements and sketches (battle graphics). All division target nominations to be prosecuted by AI are prioritized by the JFLCC. All components turn in their target nomination lists to the target effects team within the JAOC. The personnel in the target effects team, with the assistance of the component liaisons (for example the BCD, and SOLE) compare the target nomination lists to the targeting guidance, objectives and tactical tasks documented in the AOD that the JAOC publishes for a specified period of time, normally one ATO period of 24 hours, to identify the priority of use of joint air assets. The Army sends preplanned ASRs with HPTs to the BCD at the JAOC to be considered for inclusion in the JIPTL. The BCD is the ARFOR commander’s representative while working in and among the JFACC’s staff in the JAOC. The BCD receives, submits, and advocates support for the ARFOR commander’s ASRs and target nominations. For more information on the BCD see ATP 3-09.13. Army target nominations must include purpose or rational to validate each target with the approved and prioritized objectives and tasks associated with each ATO period. It is more likely to get target nominations approved when properly aligned with the AOD tactical tasks and annotated in the preplanned ASR. 12 October 2017