text: Chapter 5
  the ABNAF until organic fieldartilleryassetsare delivered byheavy-drop or withtheairland phase of the
  operation.Onceparatroopersde-rigandpreparetheirgunsystemsfromtheheavy-droporairlandandplace
  intoactionthosesystems,the ABNAFCthen canusetheirsupportingfires.Aspart ofthe landingplan and
  following the ground tactical plan, the ABNAFC and staff must plan and integrate a fire support plan as
  partoftheoperation.
  FIRE SUPPORT PLANNING
  5-40. Firesupportplanning for anairborneoperationisinitiatedonreceiptofthemission. Concurrentwith
  the development oftheconceptoftheoperation, the commanderplans forfire supportso thatitis provided
  throughouttheoperation.
  PLANNING, COORDINATION,ANDEXECUTION
  5-41. Fire support teams, elements, and cells advise the commander on fire support capabilities and joint
  firesupportcommand andcontrol,effectiveuseoffiresassets,and assistintheplanning,coordination,and
  execution of fires. Fire support planning, coordination, and execution for airborne operations are more
  complexthangroundoperationsnotinvolvingverticalenvelopmentduetothefollowingfactors.
  5-42. Theassaultelementsoftheairborneforcearequicklyplacedindirectcontactwiththeenemydeepin
  hostile territory. Initial operations are decentralized and communications can be limited or nonexistent.
  During the initial airborne assault and periodicallythereafter, airspace over the drop zone contains a high
  densityofairdropaircraft,whichcomplicatesfiresupportaspectsofairspacemanagement.
  5-43. Airborne force vulnerability increases during the time between landing and assembly or seizure of
  assaultobjectives.This timevariesbasedonforce size andthe mission variablesofMETT-TC.During this
  vulnerable period, reliable communications are essential to coordinating and executing fire support
  missions.
  5-44. Calls for fire are sent under conditions where forces are in critical need of fire support. Units lack
  firm knowledge of the situation, especially locating friendly and enemy forces. Calls for fire can come
  whenreliablegroundcommunicationshavenotbeenfirmlyestablished.
  5-45. Initially, artillery support in the airhead is limited. This situation occurs at the same time as the
  arrivalofthe assault echelon ortheoperation’sopeningphase.Consequently,thebulkof fire supportmust
  come from joint fire support assets and organic mortars. Fire support can be provided by the long-range
  artillery of advancing friendly forces (if in range), Army long-range rocket or missile fire, and joint
  interdiction.
  INITIALAVAILABLEFIRESUPPORT
  5-46. Joint fire support, organic mortars, and limited Army aviation and field artilleryare usuallythe only
  fire support available to the airborne force until the lodgment is established. Examples of initial available
  firesupportmissionsinclude:
  (cid:122) Columncoverfortheassaultandfollow-upechelonsandresupplysorties.
  (cid:122) Suppression of enemy air defenses along the corridor selected for penetration and near the
  objective.
  (cid:122) Counterairoperationstogainandmaintainairsuperiorityalongthecorridorandintheobjectivearea.
  (cid:122) Pre-assaultfiresoftheairheadandothercriticaltargetsanddeception.
  (cid:122) Field artillery may conduct counterair missions by striking enemy aircraft bases, helicopter
  forwardaimingandrefuelpoints,missilestorage,andlaunchsites.
  (cid:122) Airinterdictionoftheobjectiveareatoincludearmedreconnaissancemissionstargetedagainst
  enemyforcesthatreacttotheairborneassault.
  (cid:122) Airdefenseofmarshallingareas,resupplyairfields,andtheairhead.
  (cid:122) Closeairsupport.