How do combat pilots identify friendly vs enemy ground forces? Infantry seems like it would be almost impossible to discern.
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I read that in situations where ground forces are in close contact, the pilots are given landmarks or way points to give them the approximate farthest reach of own troops. They just have to not engage before this line. In some instances ground forces can set up some sort of beacons if the land is devoid or any natural landmarks.
I’ll retract my statement if I’m wildly wrong, but I’m pretty sure you don’t just open fire if you see something. Often you’re going after a specific thing that has been confirmed and tagged. Or something is seen, and then called in. In short: beurocracy
In the past, organizing everything and communicating was the key to combined arms. Nowadays there are electronic means and infantry can have IR markers that pilots can see with IR.
The reality is sometimes they can’t though.
But I bet you’re thinking a bit like video games where a pilot looks for things to shoot. That’s not really what they do. Usually your target is marked or located first, and you’re hitting it whether friendlies are there or not.
If you’re thinking gunships well, you just communicate as you watch things unfold I think.
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