What is the main characteristic of Close Air Support (CAS)?

The main characteristic of Close Air Support (CAS) is its emphasis on the detailed integration with friendly forces. This focus is crucial because CAS missions are designed to provide immediate support to ground troops engaged with enemy forces. The successful execution of CAS requires close coordination with those ground units to ensure that air strikes do not inadvertently harm friendly personnel while effectively targeting enemy combatants.

This coordination often involves real-time communication and situational awareness to adapt to the battlefield dynamics, ensuring that the aircraft can deliver precise fire support that enhances the effectiveness of ground operations. By involving friendly forces in the planning and execution of CAS, the risk to comrades is minimized while maximizing the impact on enemy positions.

In contrast, targeting distant enemy installations or engaging targets far from friendly forces is associated more with other forms of air operations, such as strategic bombing. Focusing solely on reconnaissance, while important, does not capture the essence of CAS, which is inherently about fire support to ground units in combat.