Dozens of aviation units and several hundred helicopters of all types took part in the Gulf War. In addition to attack, helicopters were used for air assault, reconnaissance, transportation, combat search and rescue, and observation. Operation Desert Storm was the first major military operation conducted on a largely electronic battlefield. Army aviation amply demonstrated its effectiveness in this environment and also proved again that it could own the night by carrying out many of its combat operations during darkness. Naval Helicopter Operations Shipboard or overwater specified tasks are found in nearly all regional contingency plans, JTF plans, and counternarcotics operations.
Shipboard missions require deck landings and support operations performed from a ship.