The air role specializes in anti-armor and anti-infantry warfare with helicopters. The air role gives the commander high mobility paired with an equal amount of firepower. The classes of choppers used by the air role are heavy attack, medium attack, scout and transport.
The air role is best at fighting enemies head-on, except if there are any anti-air units around. The air role does have weaknesses: air units cannot capture command points. They are also vulnerable to anti-air units, armored personnel carriers, and infantry squads occasionally. The air role insignia is the wing of a bird.
Heavy attack helicopters are best used to destroy tanks and other vehicles with their powerful rockets and missiles. Their high speed and firepower makes them very effective in hit-and-run operations. Heavy choppers will not normally target infantry with their rockets, but by using the "attack ground" command (default key F) you can order the helicopters to unleash their barrage on top of an enemy squad. Heavy attack helicopters can engage enemy choppers with their guns as well, but are not ideally suited to the task. Heavy attack helicopters are only able to be purchased by using the Air role.
Offensive: Hellfire missile (USA), AT-6 Spiral (USSR) or HOT missile (NATO)
Launches an air-to-ground missile that is capable of damaging any tank armor in the world. Best used to disable important enemy vehicles from a safe distance.
Defensive: Drop flares
Ejects a salvo of burning-hot IR (infra-red) countermeasures that are likely to divert incoming hostile missiles.
Medium attack helicopters are used primarily to destroy enemy helicopters with their guns and air-to-air missiles. Though the missiles take a considerable amount of time to replenish themselves, a squad of medium choppers can serve as a mobile deterrent against enemy heavy choppers. Medium choppers can also engage enemy infantry and light vehicles with a good amount of effectiveness.
Scout helicopters are used primarily for reconnaissance and intel gathering. They are lightly armed with 2 rocket pods that are useful against infantry and light vehicles & the rockets have a relatively short replenishment time. However, the Scouts are the weakest helicopters in terms of armour and are tempting targets for enemy AA. Scouts should therefore be escorted by heavy attack helicopters against ground vehicles or medium attack helicopters against enemy helos.
Offensive: IR scan
Allows commanders to spot targets obscured by forests and smokescreens using an Infra-red camera.
Defensive: Drop flares
Ejects a salvo of burning-hot IR (Infra-red) countermeasures that are likely to divert incoming hostile missiles.
Transport helicopters can aid infantry commanders in transporting troops quickly, which can enable daring and unexpected assaults far behind enemy lines. Prudence is advisable since transport helicopters are entirely unarmed and are attractive targets for anti-air attacks when they fly unescorted.
Defensive: Drop flares
Ejects a salvo of burning-hot IR (Infra-red) countermeasures that are likely to divert incoming hostile missiles.
Air
Heavy attack helicopter
Medium attack helicopter
Scout helicopter
Transport helicopter
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