Battle Drill 10: React to Aircraft While Dismounted – Platoon (07-PLT-D8015)

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Conditions

The platoon is conducting operations in a live training environment as part of a company or larger force.

The platoon uses visual or audio to detect an unknown or adversary aircraft (rotary-wing, fixed-wing, unmanned aircraft systems).

The platoon identifies an unknown or adversary aircraft and gives the vocal or visual signal alerting the platoon to possible attack.

Some iterations of this drill should be performed in MOPP 4 and at night.

Standards

The platoon reacts to aircraft while dismounted according to ATP 3-21.8.

The platoon visually (identify if possible) or audibly detects an unknown or adversary aircraft.

The platoon halts, observes, and assesses the threat level of the deployed aircraft system.

The platoon reports the identified aircraft to company leadership.

Cue

The platoon identifies an unknown or adversary aircraft and gives the vocal or visual signal alerting the platoon to possible attack.

TASK STEPS

The platoon detects (visually or audibly) an unknown or adversary aircraft:

a. A member of the platoon detects (visually or audibly) an unknown or adversary aircraft and alerts their squad leader with a contact report (see figure 1) and does the following:

(1) Announces contact.

(2) Identifies type of aircraft (if possible).

(3) Provides distance and direction to aircraft (elevation, if possible).

b. The squad halts in position and continues to observe, the squad leader reports the contact information to the platoon leader.

Upon hearing the contact report, the remainder of the platoon halts in position and scans their sector.

Note: If the squad is being fired upon, immediately return fire and break contact.

Figure 1.

Signal-Enemy Direction-Contact Report

* 2. The platoon leader receives the contact report from the squad leader:

a. If receiving fire, the platoon leader directs the platoon to return fire against the aircraft.

Note: UAS defeat capabilities are prioritized over organic weapons, when available.

b. If not receiving fire, the platoon leader issues one or more further orders to the platoon such as (see figure 2):

Note: The unknown or adversary aircraft may not have seen the platoon, do NOT increase the signature of the unit.

If in open area, go prone, minimize your shadow, conceal best as possible.

If in a wooded area, utilize cover to put something between unit and adversary aircraft.

Avoid looking up immediately, upturned face (visual and thermal signature), eye protection and optics reflect light.

(1) Halt – do not move.

(2) Go prone and camouflage.

(3) Seek cover and concealment.

c. The platoon leader sends a SPOT report to the company.

Figure 2.

Halt-Take Cover-Report v2

* 3. The platoon leader determines if the unknown aircraft is friendly:

a. Guidance received from higher that unknown aircraft is a friendly element.

b. Proper identification of the unknown aircraft.

c. Continues operations according to the order.

* 4. The platoon leader assesses the situation (see figure 3):

Note: When making the decision of whether to fire at unknown or adversary aircraft with small arms, take into consideration the assigned mission, tactical situation, and adjacent unit positions to prevent fratricide.

These decisions may cause the enemy to use TTPs that may provoke reactions to unmask locations or suppress, disrupt, and fix units.

Figure 3.

Aircraft Engaging-Stationing-Transiting

a. Determines if the adversary aircraft is directly engaging the platoon AO by (see figure 4)—

Note: The primary intent is to force adversary aircraft to take self-defense measures that alter their attack profile and reduce their effectiveness.

The platoon leader may use a burst of tracers to designate an aim point for platoon machine gun antiaircraft fires.

Volume is the key to effectiveness of these fires; the platoon throws up a “wall of steel” through which aircraft must fly.

(1) Occupying hasty fighting positions or defensive positions with cover and concealment if available.

(2) Employing UAS defeating systems if available.

(3) Engaging adversary aircraft with small arms as follows:

Note: Once the decision to engage has been made, continue to scan for additional adversary aircraft as the engagement takes place.

(a) Firers utilize all the basic firing positions for air defense.

(b) Automatic weapon firers will assume a supported firing position with cover if available, firing three round burst fire of 90 rounds per minute.

(c) Machine gun firers will assume a supported firing position utilizing cover if available, firing a cyclic rate of approximately 850 rounds per minute, fired in continuous burst, with a barrel change every minute.

(d) If necessary, firers use fellow team members, trees, debris and man-made structures as hasty firing supports.

Figure 4.

React to Aircraft Engaging

b. Determines if the adversary aircraft is stationing (hovering/orbiting) the platoon AO by (see figure 5)—

(1) Occupying hasty fighting positions or defensive positions with cover and concealment if available.

(2) Conducting evasive movement techniques as necessary.

Figure 5.

React to Aircraft Stationing

c. Determines if the adversary aircraft is transiting the platoon area of operations (AO) by (see figure 6)—

(1) Assuming the prone position.

(2) Seeking camouflage, cover, and concealment, and if available deception measures.

(3) During defensive operations, ensuring no movement between fighting positions and proper camouflage, to include thermal blankets.

Figure 6.

React to Aircraft Transiting

* 5. The squad leader provides an updated SPOT report to the platoon leader (see figure 7 format example) that includes:

Note: This format will differ at different unit locations.

a. Unit location (6 to 8 grid coordinate.)

b. Location of threat (Grid or distance and direction from reporting unit location.)

c. Time threat was spotted/detected.

d. Estimated time on site (Was threat approach observed or was it spotted overhead? How long might it have been there?)

e. Flight characteristics, Example: Is threat loitering in one spot (possibly already spotted reporting unit), is it flying straight (enroute to loitering location), what is the direction of flight, or is it flying randomly (searching)?

f. Estimated size, elevation, and physical description (wingspan, height, color, tail configuration, other distinguish markings).

Figure 7. Spot Report

* 6. The platoon leader directs protective actions (see figure 8):

a. Requests immediate suppression on identified threat (unit, OP, or UAS operator), if necessary.

b. Requests immediate obscuration to enable repositioning, if necessary.

c. Repositions the platoon, as needed, if observed or threatened.

d. Requests radar critical friendly zone over position.

Figure 8.

Protective Action

* 7. The platoon leader reports the platoon’s status then continues operations according to the order and the commander’s guidance.

(Asterisks indicates a leader performance step.)

TASK MEASURES

The platoon detected (visually or audibly) an unknown or adversary aircraft.
The platoon leader received the contact report from the squad leader.
The platoon leader determined if the unknown aircraft is friendly.
The platoon leader assessed the situation:

a. Determined if the adversary aircraft was directly engaging the platoon AO.

b. Determined if the adversary aircraft was stationing (hovering/orbiting) the platoon AO.

c. Determined if the adversary aircraft was transiting the platoon AO.

The squad leader provided an updated SPOT report to the platoon leader.
The platoon leader directed protective actions.
The platoon leader reported the platoon’s status then continued operations according to the order and the commander’s guidance.