text: Chapter 3
  forces to prevent the enemy from gaining observation on the main body. Additional aviation attacks may be
  conducted to harass, impede, or disrupt enemy main body forces. Aviation assault units may also infiltrate
  and reposition ground maneuver security forces to provide redundant coverage of key named areas of
  interest or to establish ambush locations to delay, block, or disrupt attacking enemy forces. Positioning of
  FARPs, C2 nodes, UAS launch sites, and HAs as far forward as mission variables allow ensures the
  aviation force can sustain the required tempo with the least amount of combat power to maintain
  continuous reconnaissance while retaining the flexibility to rapidly develop the situation once contact is
  gained.
  3-116. Maintain enemy contact. Maintaining contact with the enemy develops the situation and allows
  the commander to make well-informed decisions. Army Aviation’s inherent mobility and endurance allow
  for aviation assets to rapidly gain and maintain enemy contact with the ability to develop the situation and
  report the enemy’s actions as necessary. UAS provide persistent observation and allow manned aviation
  systems to reposition to positions of advantage to maintain contact and further develop the situation.
  Establishing subsequent screen lines and battle handover lines enable aviation security forces to maintain
  contact in depth.
  SECTION VI – AIR ASSAULT
  3-117. An air assault is the movement of friendly assault forces by RW aircraft to engage and destroy
  enemy forces or to seize and hold key terrain (JP 3-18). Air assaults extend the tactical and operational
  reach of the combined arms team by overcoming the effects of terrain, achieving surprise, and isolating,
  dislocating, or destroying enemy forces by rapidly massing combat power at the maneuver commander’s
  time and place of choice. (See FM 3-99 for detailed air assault information. )
  3-118. Army Aviation conducts air assaults in support of offensive, defensive, and stability operations
  throughout the depth and breadth of the AO. Air assaults are combined arms operations conducted to gain a
  positional advantage, envelop, or turn enemy forces that may or may not be in a position to oppose the
  operation. Assault units may be tasked with air assaulting a TCF in order to counter Level III enemy
  penetrations of the main battle area. (For more information on the TCF, see FM 3-0 and JP 3-10. )
  3-119. Task organization of the aviation task force supporting the AATF is based on mission variables but
  at a minimum always includes an assault element and an attack or reconnaissance element as the
  foundational aviation maneuver capability.
  3-120. The assault element may be made up of assault helicopters, heavy lift helicopters, or a combination
  of both. Aviation assault and heavy lift units transport ground maneuver forces and equipment from secure
  or permissive PZs to either unsecure or secure LZs in the objective area. Based on mission variables and
  the AATF commander’s intent, LZs may be directly on or very near the objective or offset from the
  objective. The closer the LZ is to the objective, the greater the ability to rapidly mass combat power and
  with greater likelihood of achieving surprise. Offset LZs are chosen when no suitable LZs are available, to
  enhance survivability during the landing phase if the threat on the objective is high or when the AATF
  commander desires to infiltrate into the objective. However, significant offset distances between the
  objective and LZ location may reduce the element of surprise, may require a larger ground tactical force,
  and may allow the enemy early warning and freedom to maneuver to gain a position of advantage.
  Availability, size, and suitability of LZs; size, disposition, and capabilities of the enemy; size and
  capabilities of the AATF; and the AATF commander’s intent drive the determination of LZ locations.
  3-121. Army Aviation attack or reconnaissance. units, utilizing MUM-T, conduct a range of tactical and
  enabling tasks in support of the air assault, to include air route reconnaissance, LZ/PZ reconnaissance,
  attacks prior to and during the landing phase, attacks as shaping operations prior to the assault, and attacks,
  screens, and reconnaissance operations in support of the ground tactical force after landing. Command and
  control of the attack or reconnaissance element resides with the air mission commander until the ground
  tactical force begins executing the ground tactical plan where the attack or reconnaissance units typically
  become DS or OPCON to the ground tactical force commander.
  3-122. Air assaults are typically deliberately planned operations. They can be conducted in deep areas
  forward of a unit’s forward boundary in linear AOs; in the higher echelon’s deep areas between non-linear