ANS:
Combat-Support Air Operations
1. Combat Support air operations provide support in air operations to deploy and operate operations of an airbase and the linked services. Air Combat support is essential to the delivery of other warfare functions and may also support and enhance the capability of inter related elements from the deep or ground forces or other agencies. Combat Support capabilities include the provision of aircraft and civil engineering, logistics, airport facilities, workforce and health facilities. A successful combat support air operation relies greatly on personnel interoperability achieved through appropriate training. Under mention are some of the combat support air operations substantiating the significance of these operations.
Search and Rescue Operations
2. Search and Rescue operations really have evolved to great extent in the modern days. With its speed and coverage, the aircraft can search large areas previously unreachable or difficult to reach over by any mean.
3. Also referred to as combat search and rescue (CSAR) operation uses aircraft usually helicopters to locate and rescue personnel in distress and, in particular, to recover aircrew who have abandoned their aircraft. CSAR operations contribute to the prosecution of the air campaigns by: (a) Denying the enemy a potential source of intelligence (b) Promoting high morale amongst aircrew
4. Today special versions of aircrafts and helicopters are used for the search and rescue purpose like H-60 in the search and rescue mode and occasionally used special operations versions of the Sikorsky CH-53 Stallion heavy-lift helicopter in the rescue role. Heavily modified versions of the CH-53 are also used for this mission. Equipped with the latest in navigation and sensor gear, they can fly deep behind enemy lines to rescue downed airmen. They were used to rescue a downed F-117 stealth fighter pilot in Yugoslavia