Task Force ODIN

Task Force ODIN, whose name is an acronym for Observe, Detect, Identify, and Neutralize, is a United States Army aviation battalion created in August 2006 to conduct reconnaissance, surveillance, targeting and acquisition (RSTA) operations to fight makers of improvised explosive devices in Iraq.

The unit was formed at Fort Hood, Texas, and first deployed in October 2006. An Army article says the unit is meant to meet "the critical requirement to 'win back the roads' using Army Aviation assets to maintain a persistent stare over demonstrated at-risk areas for IEDs." A primary reason for the creation of the unit, according to army leaders, was because of inadequate or inaccurate close air support provided by the United States Air Force. [Shanker, "At Odds With Air Force, Army Adds Its Own Aviation Unit"]

The unit includes the Army's only unit that flies the Warrior-Alpha unmanned aerial vehicle, an extended-range multi-purpose hybrid unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with electro-optical/infrared sensors, synthetic aperture radar, laser rangefinder and designator. By September 2007, the Warrior-Alpha had flown more than 6,000 hours and had contributed to the killing of 3,000 insurgents in Iraq during the year ending in June 2008.cite web| url=http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=news/news_show.php&id=12463 | title=Task Force ODIN Using Innovative Technology to Support Ground Forces | accessdate=2008-01-21 ] [Shanker, "At Odds With Air Force, Army Adds Its Own Aviation Unit"]

As a result of ODIN's success in Iraq, a similar unit will be formed in Afghanistan. [Roosevelt, Ann, " [http://defensedaily.com/publications/dd/3503.html The Need For Combat Aviation Continues, Increases, General Says] ", "Defense Daily", August 1, 2008.]

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References

*cite web
last = Shanker
first = Thom
year = June 22, 2008
url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/washington/22military.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
title = At Odds With Air Force, Army Adds Its Own Aviation Unit
work = New York Times
accessdate = 2008-06-23