Battlefield lockdown

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The Fairchild-Republic A-10 , a classic aircraft for battlefield lockdown and close air support .
The Tornado was with the MW-1 particularly suitable for Gefechtsfeldabriegelung.

As Gefechtsfeldabriegelung (English Battlefield Air Interdiction , BAI ), a type of application of offensive air support (Offensive Air Support) of ground forces by air forces designated. The assignment of targets and thus the deployment took place depending on the assignment by the respective large formation , mostly as a means of combat of the corps , after assignment also the division .

The enemy should by air interdiction ( - Air Interdiction AI are prevented from bringing staff and equipment used before it comes into direct contact with their own troops). Attacked enemy forces would have been expected to have effects on their own forces within a short period of time.

Unlike Close Air Support ( Close Air Support - CAS ). In which a so-called Sortie in direct support of combat operations of our own troops served, but there was no contact between the BAI own and enemy forces on the ground. The control of a CAS was carried out by an air traffic control officer . Combating targets required coordination with the land forces.

Today there is no longer any difference between battlefield lockdown and lockdown from the air. However, a distinction is still made between the use of aircraft as sorties with or without contact between their own and enemy forces. In asymmetrical warfare in particular , the use of aircraft to protect the civilian population is usually only permitted when there is contact with the enemy.

Schematic representation

Individual evidence

  1. Description of BAI on FAS.org ; Accessed October 26, 2008
  2. AI on globalsecurity.org ; Accessed October 26, 2008