Field manual (FM) 3-52, Airspace Control, provides commanders, staff officers, and airspace element personnel with tactics essential for the exercise of airspace control. Using the backdrop of the Army air-ground system (AAGS), the Army component of the theater air-ground system (TAGS), and the operations process, the manual addresses roles and responsibilities, by echelon, between Army and air support agencies of other Services in the planning, preparation, execution, and assessment of airspace use.
The principal audience for FM 3-52 is commanders, leaders, and staffs across all Army echelons with responsibilities for airspace control, airspace element personnel, controllers, and airspace users from tactical to operational levels. Trainers and educators throughout the Army will also use this manual.
Commanders, staffs, and subordinates ensure their decisions and actions comply with applicable U.S., international, and, in some cases, host-nation laws and regulations. Commanders at all levels ensure their Soldiers operate in accordance with the law of war and the rules of engagement. (See FM 27-10.)
FM 3-52 implements the standardization agreement entitled Allied Joint Publication-3.3.5.
FM 3-52 uses joint terms where applicable. Selected joint and Army terms and definitions appear in both the glossary and text. Definitions shown in the text have the term italicized and the number of the proponent publication following the definition.
This manual uses the terms command and control and command and control system as defined in Joint Publication (JP) 1 and JP 6-0, respectively, when referring to joint or other Service processes. This manual uses the term mission command when referring to U.S. Army processes.
FM 3-52 applies to the Active Army, Army National Guard (ARNG)/Army National Guard of the United States (ARNGUS), and the United States Reserve (USAR) unless otherwise stated.
The proponent for FM 3-52 is the United States Army Combined Arms Center. The preparing agency is the Combined Arms Doctrine Directorate, United States Army Combined Arms Center.
