Carlton Meyer
Air Cavalry will dominate future warfare. Unfortunately, the U.S. Army has focused only on larger, more expensive, and more powerful tanks and attack helicopters. Civilian aviation has developed tiny helicopters like the ASI Ultrasport 496 which cost just $50,000. This type of aircraft is the key to future warfare.
U.S. Army heavy combat divisions have just 18 AH-64D Apache attack helicopters. They are very capable, but require extensive logistical support. Most importantly, they are very expensive and difficult to replace. While costly stealth technologies may protect them from distant anti-air systems, thousands of helicopters have been shot down for unknowingly flying within 100 meters of well-armed infantrymen.
The Army can leap into the future by converting the 1st Cavalry Division from an Armored Division into a true Air Cavalry Division. Today's Air Cavalry in the 101st Air Assault Division are like Soldiers riding in stagecoaches, i.e. Blackhawks. They are vulnerable while Airborne and must dismount to fight. If the Army provided each Soldier with his own "Pegasus" winged horse, Air Cavalry would rule.
All wheeled vehicles in the 1st Cav should be replaced by tiny attack helicopters, most piloted by enlisted men. The Division would have nearly one thousand of these helicopters which would attack like a swarm of Hornets. Each helicopter could carry one pilot who would operate one of these weapons.
- 25mm automatic cannon
These packages would be interchangable so the Division can tailor its firepower to match its opponents. It could swarm in and destroy and entire Soviet-style heavy Armor Division in minutes, or gun down infantrymen in the open. A small, agile helicopter with little heat signature would be very difficult to hit. Most importantly, these low-cost helicopters cost less than some spare parts for today's Apaches.
This would be a very light airmobile unit. It would have its own heavy helicopters to keep it supplied in forward areas. It would also have helicopters for roles such as electronic warfare and command and control. However, the close-in fighting will be done by tiny "disposable" helicopters. It may take years for the Army to develop tactics to coordinate hundreds of helicopters swarming onto an enemy force from all directions, but its time to start.
The Army will still need traditional infantry units with tanks to deal with urban warfare and counter-insurgency operations. However, converting the 1st Cav back into a modern Air Cavalry Division is a first step toward a revolution in ground combat. It will be far more deployable than today's Armored Divsions and burn just 10% as much fuel. It will require only about 6000 Soldiers, 1000 of whom will be pilots. This is not a futuristic concept, all the equipment is available today. Its time to give each cavlaryman his own flying horse and charge into the 21st Century.
RETURN TO 21st CENTURY WEAPONS
21st Century Weapons
e-mail May 1998
- four Hellfire missiles with a laser designator
- 7.62mm Gatling gun
- four Sidewinder missiles (anti-air/armor)
- Mk-19 40mm Grenade machine gun