b. Close Air Support Capabilities. (Table 3-6) Table 3-6. CLOSE AIR SUPPORT AIRCRAFT SERVICE CHARACTERISTICS A-10 * AF Specialized CAS aircraft, 30-mm gun; subsonic Typical load 6,000 lbs; max load 16,000 lbs F-16 * AF Multirole aircraft; complements the F-4 and F-15 in an air-to-–air role; supersonic Most accurate ground delivery system in the inventory Typical load 6,000 lbs; max load 10,600 lbs. F-18 * N/ MC Multirole fighter scheduled to replace the F-4 20-mm gun mounted in the nose fires air-to-air missiles Wide variety of air-to-surface weapons Typical load 7,000 lbs; max load 17,000 lbs AC-130 AF/ R Specialized CAS/ RACO aircraft, propeller driven Two models, both of which have advanced sensors and a target-acquisition system, including FLIR and low light TV. Very accurate. Vulnerable to enemy air defense systems, so must operate in a low-threat environment. A model Two 40-mm guns Two 20-mm guns Two 7.62-mm miniguns H model 105-mm howitzer replaces one of the 40-mm guns Lacks the 7.62-mm minigun *FM capability. 3-9. CLOSE COMBAT ATTACK AVIATION. Close combat attack (CCA) is defined as a hasty or deliberate attack in support of units engaged in close combat. During CCA, armed helicopters engage enemy units with direct fire that impacts nearby friendly forces. Targets may range from a few hundred meters to a few thousand meters. Close combat attack is coordinated and directed by a team, platoon, or company-level ground unit soldiers using standardized CCA procedures in unit SOPs. a. Aircraft Capabilities and Limitations. (1) AH 64D (Apache). (a) Capabilities. • Air speed (knots): 164 max, 120 cruise combat radius: 200 km • 30 mm chain gun: 1,200 rds, 3,500 m range • 2.75 inch rockets: 19 per pod (76), 3 to 5 km range • Hellfire missile: 8 per side (16), 5 to 8 km range • Mobility: AO can cover corps or division area • Speed: 100 to 120 knots day/80 to 100 knots night • Versatility: scout weapons teams vs. pure attack • Lethality: Attack battalion can engage 288 targets • Video reconnaissance: Provide near real-time intelligence (b) Limitations. Threat ID with FLIR, low ceilings (clouds) less than 500 feet AGL degrade hellfire capability, combat service support consumes large amounts of Classes III, V, and IX APACHE