Talismans 

Composition and functions of the air reconnaissance group. Chapter IV Air reconnaissance. General reconnaissance objects

In the general complex of measures aimed at preparing the armed forces for new aggressive wars, the army commands of the main capitalist states give a large place to the organization of tactical aerial reconnaissance in the theater of operations, on the results of which, in their opinion, the success of military operations of the troops will largely depend. Aerial reconnaissance is conducted in the interests of all branches of the armed forces. In particular, it is designed to provide the Air Force command with the necessary data to solve the tasks of gaining air superiority, isolating the combat area and providing close air support to the ground forces.

The efforts of tactical air reconnaissance in gaining air superiority are to be directed primarily to identifying the airfield network, especially airfields and dispersal sites, as well as positions of missiles and command posts.

When isolating a combat area, the main objects of aerial reconnaissance include reserves in areas of concentration and on the march, highway junctions and railway stations, bridges, crossings, command posts and communication centers of formations and associations, warehouses and supply bases.

According to foreign military experts, especially great stress will be required from the crews of reconnaissance aircraft when providing close air support to ground forces, since ground combat operations will be characterized by transience and be conducted over large spaces under any meteorological conditions. In this case, aviation must first of all identify the positions of troops, areas of their concentration, launchers of tactical missiles, command posts and radio control facilities located in the combat formations of troops.

The main task of aerial reconnaissance in the theater, as noted by foreign military experts, is the timely detection of the location of nuclear weapons carriers and nuclear ammunition depots.

It is believed that the data obtained by aerial reconnaissance must be reliable and fully reflect the rapidly changing situation on the battlefield. Therefore, not only specially equipped, but also all combat aircraft are used for its maintenance.

Tactical reconnaissance forces carry a large load of opening objects in the tactical depth of the enemy. For example, in the last years of the aggressive war in Vietnam, out of the total number of sorties made by American aircraft for the purpose of reconnaissance of the territory of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, 97% were tactical reconnaissance aircraft (RF-4C, RF-101 and others), 1%. - for unmanned aircraft and 2% - for strategic aircraft (U-2, ). The reconnaissance crews had to not only find the object, identify it and set the coordinates, but also determine how and from what directions it is safer and more convenient to approach it.

Depending on the tasks and in whose interests aerial reconnaissance is conducted, its depth will be different. The foreign press reported that the depth of tactical reconnaissance for a field army is 300-100 km, for an army corps - 100 km, and for a division - 40 km.

To conduct tactical air reconnaissance, the US and French Air Forces also have reconnaissance aviation wings (squadrons), consisting of two or three aviation squadrons of 15-18 aircraft, and in other countries - reconnaissance squadrons. The US Air Force has formed a squadron of unmanned reconnaissance aircraft and jammers launched from the DC-130 mother aircraft. Reconnaissance aviation squadrons can independently solve the tasks of aerial reconnaissance in the theater.

Organization of air reconnaissance control in the theater

The management of reconnaissance aviation in the theater of operations in the US Air Force is carried out through the tactical aviation control system, the main bodies of which are the tactical aviation control center, which is part of the command post of the air force commander in the theater, and the close air support center created at the combat operations control center of the army corps or field army. Air reconnaissance operations are carried out on the basis of planned or urgent requests.

In the tactical aviation control center there are officers who plan the action and organize the flights of reconnaissance aircraft. Here, on the basis of approved applications, detailed planning of reconnaissance aviation sorties for the next day takes place according to planned applications that come from ground forces battalions through intelligence officers of divisions, corps and field armies. Each subsequent supervisor can approve or cancel the application. According to foreign press reports, in the Vietnam War, planned requests were implemented 4 hours or more after they were received. They accounted for 3/4 of all applications.

The air intelligence officers in the close air support center are busy summarizing urgent requests. The latter, without the consent of higher authorities, are transmitted over tactical aviation control radio networks by Air Force communications officers who are in tactical aviation control teams, or advanced aviation gunners. Having considered the application, the close air support center reports this to the tactical aviation control center, and then calls reconnaissance aircraft through the command post of aviation units and subunits. According to the experience of military operations in Southeast Asia, urgent requests were fulfilled after 2-2.5 hours when aircraft took off from airfields and after 15 minutes. when a scout is called from a duty position in the zone.

According to the foreign press, the following aircraft can conduct reconnaissance: single ones, which are part of strike groups, specially covered from the air. The first, as a rule, are sent to areas with weak air defense. They photograph the area from medium and high altitudes. The latter are intended for shooting objects after bombing them. Reconnaissance aircraft, specially covered from the air, aim at objects with strong air defense.

Aircraft crews on routes are guided through control and warning centers, observation and warning posts, as well as through advanced aviation gunners. The pilots are given information about the air defense system of the object, attacks by enemy fighters, weather changes, the location of the drop point for the footage, the actions of their aircraft in the reconnaissance area, etc.

Preparation for air reconnaissance in the theater

Preparation for conducting aerial reconnaissance in a squadron begins with the receipt of an order from the command post of the aviation wing. On its basis, the squadron commander gives appropriate instructions to the operational officer and the photographic reconnaissance officer.

The operational officer, who controls the calculation of the required fuel supply and the time of transmission of reconnaissance reports, determines the order of following to the target, routes and time to reach the target, the conditions of radio exchange responsible for communication by flight stages, if necessary, indicates the methods of interaction between reconnaissance aircraft and cover fighters.

Assigned crews to complete the mission begin to prepare a flight plan. The route to the reconnaissance object is chosen taking into account the covert access to it and bypassing areas covered by air defense systems. It is applied to the map, on which control landmarks are clearly visible. If necessary, the plan indicates the area for in-flight refueling of aircraft on the way back. If the reconnaissance aircraft must go on a mission together with the strike group, then the place, time and height of their meeting is recorded. When reconnaissance of objects with a strong air defense system, the plan reflects the issues of interaction with the cover group.

The photo reconnaissance officer, together with specialists in electronic equipment, in accordance with the task and the weather, selects the type of AFA, the amount of film, filters and shooting intervals.

During the pre-flight preparation, which can last up to 1.5 hours, the crews are instructed. The squadron commander clarifies the task and explains it. The reconnaissance officer acquaints the crews with the credentials of the targets (if they were not studied by them during preliminary training), then informs the pilots about the enemy’s air defense systems on the route and in the target area, recommends tactics for overcoming them, names especially noticeable visual landmarks and explains the camouflage of objects enemy. He also brings to the attention of the crews (in case they find themselves on enemy territory for any reason) the possible attitude of the population towards them, how to avoid capture and how to act during rescue.

The photographic reconnaissance officer instructs the crews on the procedure for using the AFA, indicating the number of photographs that can be taken by each device, and reference points for photographing.

The radio intelligence officer from the maintenance squadron recalls the modes of operation of the equipment, the moments of its switching on and off, the features of identifying radiation sources on the on-board indicators.

The meteorological officer acquaints the crew with the weather forecast along the route and in the target area.

Crews who previously flew to a given area are specially invited to the briefing.

At the end of the briefing, the crews clarify the flight routes to and from the targets, the time of flight of reference points and the approach to targets, alternate routes in case of weather changes or unexpectedly strong opposition from enemy air defense forces.

After completing the mission, the plane is met by the duty team, which removes the film cassettes and delivers them to the photo lab. Here, the still wet film is viewed by codebreakers for a preliminary assessment and preparation of an urgent report. In addition, the crew commander submits a report on the results of visual observation. When the specified objects are detected on the film, it is sent to the photo-reconnaissance technical squadron of the reconnaissance aviation wing. If no objects are found, then the issue of a re-flight is decided. In the photo-reconnaissance technical squadron, the film is deciphered more carefully.

Foreign experts believe that the time spent on deciphering the tape is still large. Therefore, abroad they seek to learn information about the enemy from the aircraft. The value of such information lies in its timeliness and reliability, since the aircraft crew can transmit it within 3-5 minutes after the object is detected. All authorities interested in receiving them can simultaneously receive data on the target. In the Vietnam War, as the foreign press reported, the American command received by radio from reconnaissance aircraft more than two-thirds of the data on moving objects.

Rice. 1. Reconnaissance aircraft RF-4C 2

The capabilities of reconnaissance aircraft in surveying the terrain are determined by the eye by the tactical and technical characteristics of the onboard equipment.

Judging by reports in the foreign press, the main tactical reconnaissance aircraft in the air forces of the main capitalist countries is the RF-4C Phantom 2 (Fig. 1). The crew is two people. It is equipped with modern reconnaissance equipment. Its capabilities when surveying terrain from a height of 100 m are shown in fig. 2. As the altitude increases, the area covered by photography increases.


Rice. Fig. 2. Strips of terrain captured by the reconnaissance equipment of the RF-4C aircraft during its flight at an altitude of 100 m: 1, 2 and 3 - AFA of forward, perspective and planned surveys; 4, 5 - IR and laser equipment; 6 - side-looking radar, which takes pictures of the terrain on both sides of the aircraft; 7 - range of electronic intelligence equipment

Television reconnaissance equipment is not installed on Phantom aircraft. This is due to its weak noise immunity. However, it is used on unmanned reconnaissance aircraft. It was reported that it is planned to be used in conjunction with infrared surveillance equipment.

Thus, as can be judged from the data published in the foreign press, tactical aerial reconnaissance in the theater of operations in the armed forces of NATO countries is of paramount importance. It is organized taking into account the use of all combat aircraft and the fastest transfer of data about the enemy to commanders.

Reconnaissance aviation is the main means of operational and one of the means of tactical reconnaissance.

Troop aviation conducts reconnaissance and surveillance, corrects artillery fire, and provides communications between headquarters. However, during decisive periods of hostilities, all types of aviation, including military aviation, must concentrate their efforts on the battlefield to destroy enemy manpower and combat assets in the main direction.

The place of aviation intelligence in the general system of the intelligence service

Aerial reconnaissance does not replace other types of reconnaissance, but to a large extent supplements them, establishing with them an uninterrupted chain of reconnaissance and surveillance. In some cases, aviation may be the only possible means of obtaining the necessary data about the enemy.

Possessing the ability to quickly penetrate the enemy's disposition to great depths, quickly explore vast areas and quickly deliver the obtained data to the command, aviation has become an indispensable means of reconnaissance of large groups of troops, such as armies, corps and divisions.

Air reconnaissance occupies, as it were, an intermediate place between agents operating on enemy territory and military reconnaissance of ground forces. In the process of combat work, the actions of all types of reconnaissance in collecting data on the enemy are closely intertwined, creating conditions for a consistent succession of types of reconnaissance.

The detected object, having fallen into the sphere of observation of reconnaissance ortans, cannot and must not disappear from their field of vision. Undercover, air and ground reconnaissance sequentially intercept by observation the detected object when it enters their zone of action, passing it on to each other.

Types of aerial reconnaissance

According to the combat value, aerial reconnaissance is divided into:

  • a) operational
  • b) tactical.

Operational aerial reconnaissance is carried out in the interests of front and army commands to ascertain the enemy's operational plans (grouping and redeployment of enemy forces and assets, preparation of probable areas of operations within the front or army theater).

The tasks performed by reconnaissance aviation are determined by the nature of the operation being carried out.

Operational aerial reconnaissance, carried out in the interests of the front command, must penetrate into the depth of enemy territory by 200-500 km (the zone of the rear area of ​​the front and the depth reached by a series of successive operations).

Aerial reconnaissance, carried out in the interests of the army command, is conducted at the enemy's location to a depth of 100-200 km, covering the army's rear area with surveillance.

Operational aerial reconnaissance is carried out by order of the army and front commands.

Tactical aerial reconnaissance is carried out in the interests of the troops and the command of corps and divisions (where the division is the highest tactical formation) to ascertain the size, position and actions of the enemy grouping in front of the front of a given military formation.

The tasks of tactical aerial reconnaissance are determined by the nature of combat operations.

Reconnaissance in the interests of the Corps Command is carried out to a depth of 60 km in order to timely detect suitable reserves, especially fiercely mechanized formations.

Reconnaissance in the interests of the division command is carried out to a depth of 30-40 km, which ensures that the command makes the necessary decision in a timely manner and puts it into practice (oncoming combat with an open flank, combat in the presence of enemy mechanized formations).

Reconnaissance in the interests of independently operating large motorized mechanized formations and cavalry is carried out to a depth that ensures their fulfillment of tasks.

Tactical aerial reconnaissance is conducted by order of the command of the corresponding formation, which includes, is attached to or serves the aviation reconnaissance unit.

A special type of tactical reconnaissance is the observation of the battlefield, maintenance of artillery and escort of tanks.

Characteristics of aerial reconnaissance and its various types

1. Positive properties of aerial reconnaissance

  • 1) rapid penetration into the depths of the enemy location;
  • 2) rapid survey (for one purpose or another) of large areas;
  • 3) fast delivery of the obtained data to the command;
  • 4) documentary reliability of photographic reconnaissance data;
  • 5) objective impartiality of photographic reconnaissance.

2. Negative properties of aerial reconnaissance

  • 1) difficulty in recognizing camouflaged enemy targets;
  • 2) the impossibility of obtaining other data in excess of those that can be detected by the eye or a camera (documents, interviewing prisoners, studying the mood of residents, etc.);
  • 3) the impossibility of long-term and continuous observation of the same object (technical conditions: limited stay in the air, dependence on atmospheric and meteorological conditions).

However, the planned and systematic conduct of aerial reconnaissance, supplemented by other types of reconnaissance, makes it possible for the command to accumulate certain data on the position of the enemy at a certain moment and reveal the dynamics of the situation over a certain period of time.

Characteristics of various types of aerial reconnaissance. reconnaissance aviation

I. Subordination of reconnaissance aviation units

Reconnaissance aviation units are subordinate to the chief of staff of the army and receive tasks from him.

2. Tasks of aerial reconnaissance in the most characteristic operations

Counter operation:

  • a) determination of the intensity of transportation and areas of concentration of the main mass of enemy troops;
  • b) search for the main groupings of enemy troops, as well as its fast-moving units, establishing the mode of their actions (standing, concentrating, advancing, deploying);
  • c) determination of the deployment line;
  • d) determining the location of the army reserve, its strength and composition;
  • e) observation of the flanks;
  • f) monitoring the activities of control stations, supply stations and railways and ordinary roads;
  • g) reconnaissance of the airfield network and the enemy air force.

Offensive:

  • a) reconnaissance of the main defensive line;
  • b) determining the location of the enemy's operational reserves and the direction of their movement;
  • c) monitoring of traffic on railways and ordinary tracks;
  • d) reconnaissance of rear defensive lines;
  • e) reconnaissance of the enemy's airfield network.

Defensive operation:

  • a) establishing the enemy grouping during its operational deployment;
  • b) establishing the location of reserves;
  • c) observation of the rear of the enemy to determine the nature of the offensive (preparation of a defensive line, equipment of crossings, etc.);
  • d) observation of the enemy's railway maneuver;
  • e) reconnaissance of the airfield network.

Retreat operation:

  • a) monitoring the advance of the enemy (forward units and the main grouping);
  • b) observation of the flanks;
  • c) special observation of the motorized troops and cavalry of the enemy;
  • d) reconnaissance of the airfield network.

In all types of operations, the tasks of reconnaissance army aviation include servicing political agencies by carrying out propaganda flights and scattering propaganda literature and leaflets at the location of friendly troops and the enemy.

Additional tasks of reconnaissance aviation

In addition to aerial reconnaissance, surveillance and communications, reconnaissance aircraft in some cases may also be involved in solving other tasks inherent in other types of aviation.

In exceptional circumstances, it can be used as ground attack, bomber and fighter aircraft.

During the actions of troops in the mountains, in addition to general tasks, they are responsible for:

  • a) the tasks of maintaining communications between groups of troops operating in isolated directions;
  • b) observation of the routes leading to these directions both from the side of the enemy and from the flanks;
  • c) reconnaissance of valleys, mountain ranges, passes and mountain narrowness;
  • d) delivery of ammunition and other types of supplies to groups of troops cut off from their supply routes both by the enemy and by terrain conditions, as well as establishing communication between them and the Command.

During the actions of troops in the sands on reconnaissance aircraft, in addition to the tasks specified in paragraphs. a, b and d, the search for water sources, easily visible (in the absence of previous sandstorms) along the paths and traces left by caravans, may be entrusted.

Intelligence objects

Railways. On railways, aerial reconnaissance must inspect railway junctions, stations and stages between them.

Intelligence goal:

  • a) determining the schedule of movement and establishing the intensity and nature of enemy transportation;
  • b) study of the structure and operation of the operational rear of the enemy;
  • c) checking the increase in the capacity of railways;
  • d) preparation of a bombing raid on railway junctions, stations, bridges and spans.

The schedule of movement can be determined by observing a railway section 400-500 km long, simultaneously flying over with continuous photographing of it, which will allow lit take into account the number and nature of the rolling stock following it during the day, since the average speed of routes per day does not exceed this distance.

Viewing a site in flight

If it is impossible to view a section of this size, one should limit oneself to a section of 250-300 km, viewing it twice a day every 12 hours.

The nature of transportation is determined by the presence of military, supply, passenger and sanitary trains on the examined section, which differ from each other in type of wagons and their distribution in the train.

Military trains differ from supply trains in that they have approximately the same number of cars (about 50); this number includes 1-2 class cars in the middle of the train for command staff, 8-10 platforms and the rest of the covered cars. On the way and in the parking lots, military trains can impersonate the smoke of camp kitchens located in the cars, open doors and the presence of a large number of people near the cars.

Supply trains differ from each other in the number of cars, and trains with ammunition have no more than 25-30 cars, and trains with other goods normally have about 45-50 cars (covered and platforms).

Sanitary trains differ from passenger trains in color and signs of a red cross or crescent.

The device and operation of the operational rear are established by determining the location on the railways of various warehouses, shops and repair bodies, which are unmasked by the unloading and loading of rolling stock, the presence of composed and finished trains on the railway tracks, the presence of automobile and horse transport, the emergence of new unpaved, heavily rutted roads, and sometimes by the presence of goods located on the ground in the form of long and relatively narrow stacks.

The increase in the capacity of the railway and a large hub is determined by: the opening of sidings and the construction of new ones; excavation work on hauls and stations for widening and lengthening of station sites and laying new tracks; construction of new depots and expansion of existing ones; the appearance of cranes, racks, etc. at sorting and freight stations for the mechanization of loading and unloading operations.

The preparation of a bombing raid on a railway junction is carried out by aerial photography, determining the area

bombing and recognition of structures (depot, station building, water tower, water tower, rotary device, building with central control of arrows), bridges, overpasses, etc.

Highways and dirt roads

When reconnaissance of unpaved and highway roads, it is necessary to determine:

  • a) the nature of traffic on the roads (composition, depth of columns, time and place of detection, direction, and, if possible, speed of movement);
  • b) the location of the rear bodies (warehouses, storage facilities, repair shops, medical and transit institutions, exchange offices, etc.);
  • c) areas and settlements occupied by operational and strategic reserves.

The movement of columns is unmasked in summer in dry weather by dust, in summer after rains and in winter - by changing the tone of the road where troops or carts are moving; in the summer after the rains, with alternating areas of dry and wet, the latter, as more sharply protruding, can be easily confused with columns of troops.

Particular attention is drawn to the narrowness of the roads: bridges, gati, crossings, gorges, dams and roads going through swamps, where it is difficult for troops to apply camouflage measures.

Forest roads, roads planted with trees, as well as those near which bushes and small groups of trees grow, present a significant difficulty for reconnaissance.

The location of the rear organs is found by automobile and horse transport, the busy movement of convoys along the roads departing from the settlement, smoke from kitchens and fires, sometimes by herds of large and small lambing.

The areas and settlements occupied by operational and strategic reserves are distinguished by: the presence of shooting ranges, engineering camps (trenchments and fortifications with artificial barriers built for training purposes) and field arenas; the accumulation of a large number of people, horses, carts and cars; significant traffic in and between settlements; laying new roads and widening the rutted part of the old ones; the appearance of trodden places, causing lightening in summer and darkening of the area in winter, and sometimes the appearance of a large number of dugouts and various earthen buildings, and at night fires.

Fortified rear lines. Fortified rear lines are normally located at a distance of 50-100 km from the line of contact with enemy troops, providing

the possibility of organized resistance in the event of a forced withdrawal.

Fortified rear lines consist of fortified lanes and barrier zones

The characteristic features of the border equipment are:

  • a) excavation of trenches of all types and purposes, communications, shelters and shelters;
  • b) laying new roads and widening existing ones due to the movement of vehicles transporting building materials; the appearance of treads from the walking of people working on buildings;
  • c) deforestation and bushes (clearing shelling); the latter is especially characteristic when creating a blockhouse system of defense and notches;
  • d) demolition of various buildings in settlements located both on the territory of the border itself and in its immediate vicinity (clearing shelling);
  • e) the presence and construction of building materials warehouses near the borders;
  • f) the presence of a large amount of delivered building materials (barrels of cement, logs, rails, boards, coils of barbed wire);
  • g) availability of special land management machines (excavators, concrete mixers, stone crushers, etc.);
  • h) the presence in some cases of a narrow-gauge field railway connected with the nearest railway station.

Air reconnaissance must establish:

  • a) the general outline of a fortified or fortified line, its extension along the front and in depth;
  • b) the degree of development of engineering structures in various directions;
  • c) type of natural and artificial obstacles;
  • d) if possible, the nature of the work to prepare the barrier zones.

Airfields and air hubs

Characteristic features of airfields are:

  • a) flat and unobstructed terrain used for airfields;
  • b) traces from the wheels of aircraft, crutches and skis (in winter);
  • c) the presence on the ground of aircraft, tents;
  • d) heavy traffic of personnel, and sometimes cars;
  • e) aircraft takeoffs and landings.

Airfield configuration and terrain cover are not distinguishable; in addition, the widely used natural and artificial camouflage largely eliminates all unmasking signs of airfields. One should also take into account the fact that numerous false airfields will be set up to mislead the air reconnaissance. All this taken together complicates reconnaissance of airfields and requires it to be carried out by means of continuous, systematic observation of the area where, according to a number of signs, the presence of airfields is assumed. While conducting systematic observation of enemy airfields, the main goal should be to establish the time when enemy aircraft will be on the ground, presenting a good object for their destruction by air attack.

Military aviation. Subordination

Troop aviation, organizationally included in the composition of a military formation, in various armies is subordinate either directly to the commander of the formation or to his chief of staff.

Artillery aviation is subordinate to the chief of artillery of the military formation to which it is attached or to which it is a member.

on issues of withdrawal of airfield areas, recruitment, special training and special aviation and technical supply, military aviation is subordinate to the head of the army air force.

Troop aviation units temporarily assigned to military formations are subordinate to the same commanders, respectively, but only in operational terms.

General tasks of military aviation and general reconnaissance and surveillance facilities

  • 1. Intelligence in the interests of the command of a combined arms formation or units. Reconnaissance objects: enemy troops, especially motorized mechanized units, located on the move or in place.
  • 2. Intelligence for the chiefs of the armed forces. Reconnaissance objects: enemy troops on the move or in place, but at a depth of no more than 15-20 km, especially artillery and motorized units.
  • 3. Observation of the battlefield. Objects of observation: enemy and friendly troops in combat formations, regimental, divisional and corps reserves.
  • 4. Artillery fire control. Objects: artillery batteries in firing positions, tanks in concentrated formations or columns, enemy reserves, both suitable from the depths and located on the battlefield, headquarters, ammunition supply routes.
  • 5. Air communication, transmission of orders to troops and receipt of reports from them,
  • 6. Checking the camouflage of your troops.
  • 7. Air delivery of ammunition and other items in the following cases:

a) the environment of individual parts,

b) actions with a large separation from the front and c) combat with the crossing of large river barriers. In some cases of a combat situation (fighting an enemy airborne landing, when mechanized units have broken through to the rear of their defense), military aviation assists ground troops in the fight against ground targets, and in rare cases is also involved in the fight against an air enemy.

General reconnaissance objects

The objects of aerial reconnaissance are enemy troops both on the move and located in place (halt, overnight stay, area of ​​concentration).

When deploying troops on the spot:

  • a) when located in settlements: roads suitable for a settlement, streets, gardens, vegetable gardens and yards for detecting wagon trains, artillery pieces, cars, tents, hitching posts, camp kitchens, etc .;
  • b) when bivouacking:

1) groves, forest edges and bushes to detect tents, carts, cars, tanks, artillery pieces, camp kitchens, hitching posts and groups of people;

2) the banks of rivers and lakes and the space between them and the nearest natural shelters (forests, groves) to identify the horse composition at a watering place or while traveling to it.

Unmasking signs of military branches when located on the spot.

Infantry; a large crowd of people with a relatively small number of horses and carts, the latter being separate small groups.

Artillery: A large collection of horses, ammunition boxes, tractors and some vehicles.

Aviation Reference

Motor transport: accumulation of trucks in the parking lot and in motion on adjacent roads; the usual location is settlements near large dirt roads and highways, near railway stations.

Motomechanical parts: accumulation of vehicles, tanks, armored vehicles and artillery on self-propelled units, significant groups of people.

Troops on the move. The object of reconnaissance is unpaved paths in the zone of action of one's military formation, and with open flanks and beyond the boundaries of this zone for at least 60 km, in order to timely detect enemy columns, especially motorized mechanized troops.

When troops are detected on the roads, aerial reconnaissance must determine and record:

  • a) time of observation;
  • b) direction of movement;
  • c) the place of the head of the column;
  • d) the composition of the column (infantry, cavalry, artillery, mixed formation, motorized units);
  • e) the length of the road section occupied by the column;
  • f) the distances between the constituent parts of the columns, if they exceed the normal ones;
  • g) the behavior of troops during a reconnaissance flight (camouflage, air defense).

Unmasking signs of military branches during movement

The infantry looks like points - dark in winter, light or gray in summer. From a height of 1,000 m or more, the points merge and form an elongated rectangle; color - depending on the season; gaps are visible between the individual units.

The infantry column is characterized by a small number of horsemen and carts.

The cavalry unmasks itself due to the large size of each individual rider, and partly by the different colors of the horses (if the cavalry unit is not on horses of the same color). Visibility is the better, the more the color of the soil of the road differs from the color of the horse composition.

From a height of 1,000-1,500 m, small groups of horsemen (10-20 people) are easily distinguishable, and with good visibility, individual asa signs; from a height of more than 1,500 meters, the cavalry column presents elongated bands, better or worse observed 8 depending on the color of the road soil, with small gaps between units.

It is difficult to detect cavalry movement in bushes and forest growths. It is impossible to detect cavalry in the forest if there is no dust, which especially unmasks them.

Horse-drawn artillery is detected by the typical appearance of teams, especially in the presence of a shadow.

In some cases, teams of pontoon troops may be mistaken for artillery.

Mechanical-drawn artillery is more difficult to detect than horse-drawn artillery, especially! if she has special covers that mask the guns.

Individual guns differ from a height of 1,200-1,500 m.

The characteristic contours of the gun are also preserved when observed from high altitudes.

intelligence organization

The organization of reconnaissance in a meeting engagement by means of military aviation is in charge of the corps headquarters.

Part of the aircraft should be placed at the disposal of the divisions.

If this is not possible, the corps headquarters must take into account the requirements of air reconnaissance divisions.

The use of military aviation in offensive combat

Air reconnaissance tasks. In offensive combat, military aviation is assigned the following tasks:

  • a) establish the outlines of the forward edge and determine the depth of the enemy's defensive line;
  • b) determine the nature of enemy engineering defense throughout the entire depth of the defensive zone;
  • c) establish a second defensive strip;
  • d) determine the location of the reserves;
  • e) identify communication nodes;
  • e) direct their tanks to the objects of their attacks;
  • g) to ensure the fight against enemy artillery by controlling the fire of their own artillery;
  • h) observe the battlefield, paying special attention to the advancement of friendly troops and the movements of the enemy;
  • i) observe the rear of the enemy.

These tasks are carried out in a certain sequence, partly during the preparation of the offensive (tasks according to paragraphs a, b, c, d, g, h, i), partly in the process of the offensive itself (tasks according to paragraphs c, d, e, f, g , h, i).

In addition, before a decision is made by the corps commander, military aviation must ensure that the corps headquarters check all types of reconnaissance data from the aircraft.

Air reconnaissance objects:

  • a) engineering structures of the defender throughout the entire depth of the defensive zone;
  • b) artillery in firing positions;
  • c) enemy reserves;
  • d) tanks in waiting positions;
  • e) headquarters and communication centers;
  • e) rear roads;
  • g) crossings behind enemy lines.

Unmasking signs

The enemy defense zone is unmasked by trenches. In open areas, solid lines of trenches are perfectly visible from a height of 5,000 m, and in the future

observed at a distance of 7-10 km. In winter, the visibility of the trenches increases.

In a closed area (wooded and mountainous), the trenches are clearly visible from a height of 2,000-3,000 m.

Separate details in the system of trenches are observed only from a height of 800-1,200 m; the presence of people can be determined only in the event of significant movement in the trenches.

The main method of reconnaissance is photography.

Photographing the enemy's defensive line is especially important. Photo schemes are being multiplied in such a way as to, if possible, supply them first of all with artillery, battalions and tank companies operating in the direction of the main attack.

Photo schemes should have a scale of 1: 5,000.

Reconnaissance of well-camouflaged reserves can be carried out not only by observation from the air, but also by the use of bombs and machine-gun fire in order to force the enemy who has taken cover to reveal himself.

Artillery positions are recognized by a number of signs, such as the road traffic leading to firing positions, paths, muzzle cones (white in summer, black in winter), clearings in the forest (clearing shelling).

Aerial reconnaissance

Aerial reconnaissance

type of military intelligence. It is conducted over the sea and over land by reconnaissance aircraft, by all crews performing combat missions, as well as by unmanned aerial vehicles. The main methods of conducting aerial reconnaissance: visual observation, aerial photographic reconnaissance and reconnaissance using electronic means.

Edwart. Explanatory Naval Dictionary, 2010


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Books

  • All reconnaissance aircraft of the USSR. "Eyes" of the army and navy, Yakubovich N.V. The first "military profession" of the newborn aviation was aerial reconnaissance. The R-1 reconnaissance aircraft became the first mass airplane of the USSR. The first combat aircraft developed under the leadership of A. N. ...
  • All reconnaissance aircraft of the USSR Eyes of the Army and Navy, Yakubovich N. The first "military profession" of the newborn aviation was aerial reconnaissance. The R-1 reconnaissance aircraft became the first mass airplane of the USSR. The first combat aircraft developed under the leadership of A. N. ...

Aerial reconnaissance arose almost immediately after the advent of aircraft. The information received from the cockpit influenced not only the results of individual battles, but also the course of history.

Secret mission "Heinkel-111"

After the defeat of the Third Reich and the capture of numerous archives (including the Luftwaffe) by the Soviet military, it turned out that starting from 1939, specially trained Heinkel-111 medium bombers flew at a thirteen-kilometer altitude right up to Moscow. To do this, the cockpits of the pilots were sealed, and cameras were placed in the bottom of the aircraft. In particular, photographs of some areas of Krivoy Rog, Odessa, Dnepropetrovsk and Moscow dated August 1939 were found. However, not only the Germans photographed objects in the USSR. In March-April 1940, a Lockheed-12A twin-engine aircraft flew over Baku at an altitude of eight thousand meters and photographed the oil fields.

Air scout war

On June 13, 1949, US Air Force Major General Cabell ordered Lieutenant Colonel Tauler, head of US air intelligence, to begin an "aggressive intelligence program." As a result, over the next 11 years, the Americans made about ten thousand reconnaissance flights, mainly along the borders of the USSR. For this, the Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer monoplane was used. He was opposed by the Soviet Il-28R, at that time the best air reconnaissance aircraft in the world.

During the Cold War, the fate of many reconnaissance pilots, both American and Soviet, turned out to be tragic. Thus, the authoritative American publication United States News and World Report reported that before 1970, “252 American pilots were shot down during spy air operations, of which 24 died, 90 survived, and the fate of 138 aviators has not yet been clarified. ".

As for the Soviet air reconnaissance, many tragic incidents are still unknown. The incident that took place in the neutral waters of the Sea of ​​Japan on September 4, 1950, when the plane of Lieutenant Gennady Mishin was shot down, received publicity.

aborted flight

During World War II and for the next several decades, it was believed that aerial reconnaissance owed their invulnerability to height. So, until May 1, 1960, the Americans flew with impunity over the territory of the USSR on a Lockheed U-2 aircraft, until Mikhail Voronov's S-75 air defense system shot down Gary Powers' 56-6693 board.

To assess the potential damage to the national security of the USSR caused by such a flight, it is enough to say that the intelligence officer photographed, in particular, ICBMs at the Tyuratam cosmodrome and the Mayak plant for the production of weapons-grade plutonium. After the aborted flight, the pictures did not reach the Pentagon, and Powers went to jail. However, he was still lucky, because a year later he returned to his homeland - Powers was exchanged for Rudolf Abel.

Higher and faster

Following the Lockheed U-2 aircraft, "ultra-high" reconnaissance aircraft appeared, flying at high speeds. In 1966, the Americans commissioned the SR-71 aircraft, which could fly even in the stratosphere at a speed of 3M. However, he did not invade deep into the territory of the USSR, except that he flew near the border. But it was successfully used for photographing objects in China.

It was not so easy to use the material obtained with the help of such aerial reconnaissance. For example, the SR-71 photographic equipment photographs 680,000 sq. km. Even a significant team of analysts cannot cope with such a number of images, especially in combat conditions, when information must be presented to the military in a matter of hours. Ultimately, the main support for headquarters remained visual information, as was the case during Operation Desert Storm.

All hope for drones

Advances in radar, in particular advanced over-the-horizon systems operating on the principle of "reflection of waves from the ionosphere", have drastically reduced the capabilities of reconnaissance aircraft. That is why they were replaced by "drones" - unmanned aerial vehicles. It is believed that the Americans were the pioneers in this area, but the USSR does not recognize this. The promising Tu-143 drone, which is part of the VR-3 Reis air reconnaissance system, made its first flight back in December 1970.

However, after 1991, many Soviet projects were curtailed, while the United States, on the contrary, continued to work on the creation of the latest models of unmanned aerial reconnaissance. At present, the Americans have put on the wing of the MQ-1 Predator (“Predator”) UAV with a flight altitude of 8 thousand meters and the MQ-9 “Reaper” strategic reconnaissance UAV, capable of patrolling at a thirteen-kilometer altitude.

However, these systems cannot be called invulnerable. For example, in the Crimea, near Perekop, on March 13, 2014, a modern MQ-5V UAV was intercepted using the 1L222 Avtobaza electronic warfare complex.

Air reconnaissance aircraft carrier

In the arsenal of modern Russian reconnaissance aircraft there are means to overcome the anti-aircraft systems of the most developed countries. So, twice already - first on October 17, 2000, and then on November 9, 2000 - Su-27 and Su-24 aircraft carried out air maneuvers over the American aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk, while the ship's crew was not ready for retaliatory actions. The panic that began on the deck of the Kitty Hawk was photographed and emailed to US Rear Admiral Steven Pietropaoli.

A similar incident occurred in 2016: on April 12, a Russian Su-24 jet flew several times over the destroyer Donald Cook with the Aegis missile defense system at an altitude of only 150 meters.

Dangerous skies in Afghanistan [Experience in the combat use of Soviet aviation in a local war, 1979–1989] Zhirokhov Mikhail Aleksandrovich

Air reconnaissance

Air reconnaissance

The conduct of certain types of aerial reconnaissance in Afghanistan was entrusted to army aviation crews, and Mi-24 combat helicopters were often involved. This choice was primarily due to the presence of a guidance device, which allows detailed reconnaissance of individual areas and objects at a 3- and 10-fold increase. When conducting reconnaissance during the day, binoculars of 8 and 12-fold magnification were successfully used. At dusk and on a moonlit night, night vision binoculars of the BN-1 type were used, which made it possible to observe reconnaissance objects from a distance of 800-1000 m.

A feature of conducting aerial reconnaissance was the detection of objects of the Mujahideen from the maximum ranges of their use of their air defense systems. Therefore, it was essential in the conduct of aerial reconnaissance to achieve surprise and covert access to enemy targets. In this case, the enemy did not have time to take additional camouflage measures, especially in the morning hours and evening twilight, since the Mujahideen tried to carry out all the movements of caravans, motor vehicle columns, detachments and groups in the dark. With the onset of dawn, movement was limited, objects were disguised as the background of the area in abandoned villages, ruins and gorges, and resumed before dark.

The detection range of enemy targets in these conditions was significantly reduced due to the deterioration of visibility and viewing conditions for darkened terrain, especially in areas with narrow and winding gorges. The detection range of enemy targets during aerial reconnaissance largely depended on horizontal flight visibility, weather conditions, time of day, topography and terrain background.

The search for objects was carried out mainly in parallel courses or standard turns. The search in parallel courses provided the best viewing conditions for flat and hilly terrain to detect caravans, convoys, detachments and groups of Mujahideen during their movement along roads and trails. The search for objects in high mountainous areas was carried out by a standard turn, which under these conditions proved to be the best for detecting small targets (strongholds, places of concentration of the Mujahideen in shelters, caves, under eaves, behind ledges of gorges, in fortresses, as well as positions of air defense weapons, etc. .). Air reconnaissance crews, as a rule, carried out from altitudes of 1500-2000 m, and for detailed viewing they descended to 400-600 m. When searching for objects in a desert area, extremely low and low altitudes were widely used to achieve surprise access to the target.

In the course of conducting aerial reconnaissance of enemy targets, with reliable information about the possible cover of their air defense systems, the crews were recommended:

Constantly perform anti-aircraft maneuvers;

Choose the route and flight profile taking into account the bypass of air defense zones;

When opening the positions of air defense systems, take measures to destroy them;

When withdrawing from an attack, use the shooting of false thermal targets.

In cases of detection of important objects on which it was necessary to deliver an air strike, the duty forces were called, and the pair performing reconnaissance carried out target designation for the reinforcement group.

The most successful tasks of conducting aerial reconnaissance were solved by a group of a pair of Mi-24 helicopters and a pair of Mi-8 MT helicopters with an inspection team on board. Such a composition ensured the reliability and implementation of intelligence. Here is how Samvel Melkonyan, a helicopter pilot of the 50th osap, wrote in one of his letters to the author: “Reconnaissance of the area was carried out on the instructions of the command. To confirm intelligence information, a flight was carried out to the intended area and the situation was reported. This task was necessary for the advancement of paratroopers and motorized riflemen. Everything suspicious was transferred to the “groundmen” according to UK 2 (frequency for working with the “ground”). For them, we were extra eyes. Intelligence was also carried out in the interests of aviation. Before the planned operations, a flight was carried out to the area of ​​the upcoming hostilities and landing sites were determined. But only in those areas where it was possible to ensure the security of intelligence.”

As for reconnaissance aircraft, they appeared over Afghanistan from the first days of "providing international assistance to the DRA." The Yak-28R from the 39th Orap and 87th Orap were the first to appear behind the Hindu Kush. Their crews operated exclusively from the territory of the USSR (the airfields of Mary and Karshi, respectively).

With the expansion of the scale of hostilities, it became necessary to create a specialized unit, which in April 1980 became the 263rd separate tactical reconnaissance aviation squadron of the Air Force of the 40th Army (military unit 92199).

Further, the personnel came in shifts from the reconnaissance regiments of the Soviet Air Force and changed every year. In most cases, the composition of the shift was mixed - squadrons from specific regiments were understaffed with pilots from other regiments. As a rule, the period of stay on a business trip was limited to one year. In total, ten shifts took place during the Afghan war:

the date Regiment number Aircraft type Place of permanent deployment
01.1980 - 04.1980 87th detachment Yak-28R, MiG-21 R Karshi (TurkVO)
04.1980 - 06.1981 229th oaeter MiG-21 R Chortkov (PrikVO)
06.1981 - 05.1982 313th detachment MiG-21 R Vaziani (ZakVO)
05.1982 - 07.1983 293rd detachment MiG-21R Vozzhaevka (FER)
07.1983 - 03.1984 10th orap MiG-21R Shchuchin (BVI)
03.1984 - 05.1985 87th detachment Su-17MZR Karshi (TurkVO)
05.1985 - 04.1986 871st detachment Su-17MZR Chikment (SAVO)
04.1986 - 05.1987 101st orap Su-17MZR Borzya (ZabVO)
05.1987 - 09.1988 313th detachment Su-17MZR Vaziani(ZakVO)
09.1988 - 01.1989 886th detachment Su-17M4R Jekabpils (PribVO)
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