The plane leaves in the fog of stars
Back to assigned base,

And our soldier’s duty calls us here -
The landing force was sent to the west by order.

And somewhere between the parachute lines
Bratislava is lit below,
And slowly sit down on the sand
Guys from Moscow and Volgograd.

Control room international airport Ruzyne, Prague. An ordinary night shift turns into a nightmare: an armada is approaching on radar screens aircraft. Who are they? What's happening? Commands are growled over the radio Czech language: “Stop releasing and receiving aircraft, immediately vacate the runway.”

Behind the dispatchers, the door crunches and falls over, and armed people without insignia burst into the room. The Czechs finally understand what is happening - someone manages to break the radio equipment. The control tower is out of action, but GRU special forces are already in full swing on the airfield, having landed a couple of hours before the landing of the main forces on board the “Trojan horse” - civil aircraft requesting an emergency landing.

A small scuffle breaks out at the airport fire brigade building - firefighters, warned from the control center, are trying to block the runway with cars and special equipment. But when they come face to face with armed Soviet special forces, they hastily retreat. The airport terminal building is blocked, all exits to the field and approaches to the runway are blocked. We made it!

And in the sky above Prague the landing lights of the An-12 are already swinging. The first pot-bellied transporter comes in to land, unloads, in a matter of minutes - and the plane, roaring with four engines, leaves for reinforcements. Piles of unused parachutes remain along the edges of the airfield. In total, over the next 24 hours, 450 aircraft carrying units of the 7th Guards landed at Ruzyne airport. airborne division...

If we had been thrown out at night, then half of the division... Do you know how many people were at the airfields, how many planes, how many people I would have killed?
- General Lev Gorelov, at that time commander of the 7th Guards. Airborne Division

The word “parachute” practically does not appear in the Airborne Forces combat manual. And in each paragraph of the charter devoted to landing, clarifications are always prudently followed: “dropping troops (landing)” or “landing site (airfield).”
The charter was written by smart people who knew very well the military and the practice of using airborne assault forces in various military conflicts.

Parachute landing of armored vehicles. Fantastic spectacle

The largest operation in the history of the Russian Airborne Forces was the Vyazma airborne operation, carried out by four airborne brigades and the 250th Rifle Regiment of the Red Army in January-February 1942. And many tragic and instructive moments were associated with this event.

The first group of paratroopers was landed behind German troops south of Vyazma on January 18 - 22, 1942. It is noteworthy that the 250th Infantry Regiment landed (attention!) by landing method. Thanks to the successful actions of the paratroopers, a few days later the 1st Guards Cavalry Corps of the Red Army broke through to their location. The possibility of encircling part of the German forces of Army Group Center emerged.

To strengthen the Soviet group, a second group of paratroopers was urgently landed behind enemy lines. By February 1, 2,497 people and 34 tons of cargo were parachuted into the indicated area. The result was discouraging - the cargo was lost, and only 1,300 paratroopers reached the collection site.

No less alarming results were obtained during the Dnieper airborne operation - strong anti-aircraft fire forced the planes to rise above the clouds, as a result, dropped from a two-kilometer altitude, 4,500 paratroopers were scattered over an area of ​​tens of square kilometers. Based on the results of the operation, the following directive was issued:

The release of a mass landing at night indicates the illiteracy of the organizers of this matter, because, as experience shows, the release of a massive night landing, even on one’s own territory, is associated with great dangers.
I order the remaining one and a half airborne brigades to be removed from the subordination of the Voronezh Front and considered as a reserve of the Headquarters.
I. STALIN

It is no coincidence that most of the airborne units of the Red Army were reorganized into rifle units during the war.

Mass airborne assaults in the Western European theater of operations had similar consequences. In May 1941, 16 thousand German paratroopers, showing exceptional heroism, were able to capture the island of Crete (Operation Mercury), but suffered such heavy losses that the Wehrmacht air force dropped out of the game forever. And the German command had to give up plans to seize the Suez Canal with the help of paratroopers.

Body of a killed German paratrooper, Operation Mercury

In the summer of 1943, American paratroopers found themselves in equally difficult conditions: during the landing in Sicily, due to strong winds, they found themselves 80 kilometers from their intended target. The British were even less fortunate that day - a quarter of the British paratroopers drowned at sea.

Well, Second world war ended a long time ago - since then, landing facilities, communication and control systems have radically changed for the better. Let's look at a couple of more recent examples:

Here, for example, is the Israeli elite parachute brigade “Tsanhanim”. This unit has one successful parachute landing: the capture of the strategically important Mitla Pass (1956). However, there are a number of contradictory points here: firstly, the landing was targeted - only a couple of hundred paratroopers. Secondly, the landing took place in a desert area, initially without any enemy opposition.

In subsequent years, the Tsanhaim parachute brigade was never used for its intended purpose: the soldiers deftly jumped with a parachute during exercises, but in real combat conditions (the Six-Day War or the Yom Kippur War) they preferred to move on the ground under the cover of heavy armored vehicles, or carried out targeted sabotage operations using helicopters.

The Airborne Forces are a highly mobile branch of the Ground Forces and are designed to perform tasks behind enemy lines as airborne assault forces.
- Airborne Forces combat regulations, paragraph 1

Soviet paratroopers repeatedly took part in combat operations outside the USSR, participated in suppressing rebellions in Hungary and Czechoslovakia, fought in Afghanistan and were the recognized elite of the Armed Forces. However, the actual combat use of the Airborne Forces was very different from the romantic image of a paratrooper descending from the sky on parachute lines, as was widely represented in popular culture.

Suppression of the uprising in Hungary (November 1956):
- soldiers of the 108th Guards Parachute Regiment were delivered to the Hungarian airfields of Tekel and Veszprem, and immediately captured strategically important objects. Now, having taken possession air gates, it was possible to easily receive help and reinforcements and develop an offensive deep into enemy territory.
- The 80th Guards Parachute Regiment arrived at the border with Hungary by railway(Beregovo station), from there he made a 400-km march to Budapest in a marching column;

Suppression of the uprising in Czechoslovakia (1968):
During Operation Danube, Soviet troops, with the support of Bulgarian, Polish, Hungarian and German units, established control over Czechoslovakia within 36 hours, carrying out a quick and bloodless occupation of the country. It was the events of August 21, 1968, associated with the brilliant capture of the Ruzyne International Airport, that became the prologue to this article.
In addition to the capital's airport, the Soviet landing force captured the airfields of Turany and Namešti, turning them into impregnable fortified points, where more and more forces arrived from the USSR in an endless stream.

Introduction of troops into Afghanistan (1979):
In a matter of hours, the Soviet landing captured all the most important airfields of this Central Asian country: Kabul, Bagram and Shindad (Kandahar was captured later). Within a few days, large forces of the Limited Contingent arrived there Soviet Troops, and the airfields themselves turned into the most important transport portals for the delivery of weapons, equipment, fuel, food and equipment for the 40th Army.

The defense of the airfield is organized by separate company (platoon) strong points with anti-tank weapons and air defense systems located in them in the directions of the probable advance of the enemy. Removing the front edge of strong points should prevent aircraft on the runway from being hit by direct fire from enemy tanks and guns. The gaps between the strong points are covered with mine-explosive barriers. Advancement routes and reserve deployment lines are being prepared. Some units are allocated for ambush operations along enemy approach routes.
- Airborne Forces combat regulations, paragraph 206

Damn it! This is even stated in the Charter.

Rather than crawling onto a seashore covered with thorns or jumping from sky-high heights into the unknown, it is much easier and more effective to land at the capital’s airport on enemy territory, dig in, and transfer a division of “Pskov thugs” there in one night. Prompt delivery of heavy armored vehicles and other bulky equipment becomes possible. Paratroopers receive timely assistance and reinforcements, the evacuation of the wounded and prisoners is simplified, and comfortable transport routes, connecting the capital's airport with the center of the country make this facility truly invaluable in any local war.

The only risk is that the enemy might guess the plans and at the last moment block the runway with bulldozers. But, as practice shows, with a proper approach to ensuring secrecy, no serious problems arise. Finally, for insurance, you can use an advance detachment disguised as a “peaceful Soviet tractor”, which will restore order on the airfield a few minutes before the arrival of the main forces (this opens up wide scope for improvisation: an “emergency” landing, a group of “athletes” with black bags "Adibas", etc.)

Preparing a captured airfield (landing area) for receiving troops and materiel consists of clearing the runway and taxiways for landing aircraft (helicopters), unloading equipment and cargo from them, and equipping access roads for vehicles.
- Airborne Forces combat regulations, paragraph 258

Actually, there is nothing new here - the ingenious tactic of capturing the airport appeared half a century ago. Budapest, Prague and Bagram are clear evidence of this scheme. According to the same scenario, the Americans landed at Mogadishu airport ( civil war in Somalia, 1993). The same scenario was followed by peacekeeping forces in Bosnia (taking control of Tuzla airport, early 90s), which was subsequently turned into the main support base of the Blue Helmets.

Russian paratroopers unload equipment. Tuzla Airport, Bosnia

The main objective of the “Throw on Pristina” - the famous raid of Russian paratroopers in June 1999 was... who would have thought! ... the capture of the Slatina airport, where reinforcements were expected to arrive - up to two airborne regiments. The operation itself was carried out brilliantly (its inglorious ending is no longer relevant to the topic of this article, since it has a clear political rather than military overtones).
Of course, the technique of “capturing the capital’s airport” is only suitable for local wars with an obviously weak and unprepared enemy.

It was already impossible to repeat such a trick in Iraq - wars in Persian Gulf went in the spirit of old traditions: aviation bombs, tank and motorized columns rush forward, if necessary, targeted landing groups are landed behind enemy lines: special forces, saboteurs, air spotters. However, there was never any talk of any mass drops of paratroopers. First of all, there was no need for this.

Secondly, a mass parachute landing in our time is an unjustifiably risky and senseless event: just remember the quote from General Lev Gorelov, who honestly admitted that in the event of a parachute landing, half of his division could have died. But the Czechs in 1968 had neither the S-300, nor the Patriot air defense system, nor the portable Stingers...

Pskov paratroopers preparing for landing, 2005

The use of parachute landings in World War III seems an even more dubious idea. In conditions where even supersonic fighters are at mortal risk in the fire zone of modern anti-aircraft missile systems, one can hope that the huge transport Il-76 will be able to fly and land troops near Washington...
Popular rumor ascribes to Reagan the phrase: “I wouldn’t be surprised if on the second day of the war I see guys in vests and blue berets on the threshold of the White House.” I don’t know if the US President said such words, but he is guaranteed to receive thermonuclear ammunition half an hour after the start of the war.

Based on historical experience, paratroopers performed well as part of air assault brigades - in the late 60s, the rapid development of helicopter technology made it possible to develop the concept of using landing forces in the enemy’s close rear areas. Targeted helicopter landings played a significant role in the Afghan war.

The paratrooper first runs as long as he can, and then as long as necessary.
- Army humor

Over the past 30 years, a unique image of the paratrooper has formed in Russian society: for some unclear reasons, the paratroopers do not “hang on slings,” but sit on the armor of tanks and infantry fighting vehicles in all hot spots.

That's right - the Airborne Forces, the beauty and pride of the Armed Forces, being one of the most trained and combat-ready branches of the military, are regularly involved in carrying out tasks in local conflicts. In this case, the landing force is used as motorized infantry, together with units of motorized rifle, special forces, riot police and even Marine Corps! (It’s no secret that Russian marines took part in the assault on Grozny).

5th company of the 350th Guards. airborne regiment, Afghanistan

This raises a reasonable philistine question: if over the past 70 years the airborne forces have never, under any circumstances, been used direct purpose(namely: a massive landing of paratroopers), then why is there talk about the need for specific systems suitable for landing under a parachute canopy: the BMD-4M airborne combat vehicle or the 2S25 Sprut anti-tank self-propelled gun?

If landing forces are always used as elite motorized infantry in local wars, then isn’t it better to arm the guys with conventional tanks, heavy self-propelled guns and infantry fighting vehicles? Operating on the front line without heavy armored vehicles is a betrayal towards the soldiers.

Look at the US Marine Corps - the American Marines have forgotten the smell of the sea. The Marine Corps has become an expeditionary force - a kind of "special forces" trained for operations outside the United States, with its own tanks, helicopters and aircraft. The main armored vehicle of the Marine Corps is the 65-ton Abrams tank, a pile of iron with negative buoyancy.

BMD-4M. A beautiful car, but one hit from a DShK bullet will tear the track

It is worth noting that domestic airborne forces also serve as quick reaction forces, capable of arriving anywhere in the world and entering battle immediately upon arrival. It is clear that in this case the paratroopers need a special vehicle, but why do they need the aluminum BMP-4M, at the price of three T-90 tanks? Which, ultimately, is hit by the most primitive means: DShK and RPG-7 shots.

Of course, there is no need to go to the point of absurdity - in 1968, due to a shortage of vehicles, paratroopers stole all cars from the parking lot of Ruzyne Airport. And they did it right:

...explaining to personnel the need for rational use of ammunition and other materiel, skillful use of military equipment captured from the enemy;
- Airborne Forces combat regulations, paragraph 57

I would like to know the opinion of the airborne forces, what is not satisfying about their conventional armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles, compared to the “super machine” BMD-4M?

The plane leaves in the fog of stars
Back to assigned base,
And our soldier’s duty calls us here -
The landing force was sent to the west by order.
And somewhere between the parachute lines
Bratislava is lit below,
And slowly sit down on the sand
Guys from Moscow and Volgograd.

Control tower at Ruzyne International Airport, Prague. An ordinary night shift turns into a nightmare: an armada of aircraft is approaching on radar screens. Who are they? What's happening? Commands in Czech are growled over the radio: “Stop releasing and receiving aircraft, immediately vacate the runway.”

Behind the dispatchers, the door crunches and falls over, and armed people without insignia burst into the room. The Czechs finally understand what is happening - someone manages to break the radio equipment. The control tower is out of action, but GRU special forces are already in full swing on the airfield, having landed a couple of hours before the main forces disembarked on board a “Trojan horse” - a civilian aircraft that requested an emergency landing.

A small scuffle breaks out at the airport fire brigade building - firefighters, warned from the control center, are trying to block the runway with cars and special equipment. But when they come face to face with armed Soviet special forces, they hastily retreat. The airport terminal building is blocked, all exits to the field and approaches to the runway are blocked. We made it!

And in the sky above Prague the landing lights of the An-12 are already swinging. The first pot-bellied transporter comes in to land, unloads, in a matter of minutes - and the plane, roaring with four engines, leaves for reinforcements. Piles of unused parachutes remain along the edges of the airfield. In total, over the next 24 hours, 450 aircraft carrying units of the 7th Guards landed at Ruzyne airport. airborne division...

“If we had been thrown out at night, then half of the division... Do you know how many people were at the airfields, how many planes, how many people I would have killed?”
(General Lev Gorelov, at that time commander of the 7th Guards Airborne Division)

The word “parachute” practically does not appear in the Airborne Forces combat manual. And in each paragraph of the charter devoted to landing, clarifications are always prudently followed: “dropping troops (landing)” or “landing site (airfield).”
The charter was written by smart people who knew very well military history and the practice of using airborne assault forces in various military conflicts.

Parachute landing of armored vehicles. Fantastic spectacle

The largest operation in the history of the Russian Airborne Forces was the Vyazma airborne operation, carried out by four airborne brigades and the 250th Rifle Regiment of the Red Army in January-February 1942. And many tragic and instructive moments were associated with this event.

The first group of paratroopers was landed behind German troops south of Vyazma on January 18 - 22, 1942. It is noteworthy that the 250th Infantry Regiment landed (attention!) by landing method. Thanks to the successful actions of the paratroopers, a few days later the 1st Guards Cavalry Corps of the Red Army broke through to their location. The possibility of encircling part of the German forces of Army Group Center emerged.

To strengthen the Soviet group, a second group of paratroopers was urgently landed behind enemy lines. By February 1, 2,497 people and 34 tons of cargo were parachuted into the indicated area. The result was discouraging - the cargo was lost, and only 1,300 paratroopers reached the collection site.

No less alarming results were obtained during the Dnieper airborne operation - strong anti-aircraft fire forced the planes to rise above the clouds, as a result, dropped from a two-kilometer altitude, 4,500 paratroopers were scattered over an area of ​​tens of square kilometers. Based on the results of the operation, the following directive was issued:

The release of a mass landing at night indicates the illiteracy of the organizers of this matter, because, as experience shows, the release of a massive night landing, even on one’s own territory, is associated with great dangers.
I order the remaining one and a half airborne brigades to be removed from the subordination of the Voronezh Front and considered as a reserve of the Headquarters.
I.STALIN

It is no coincidence that most of the airborne units of the Red Army were reorganized into rifle units during the war. Mass airborne assaults in the Western European theater of operations had similar consequences. In May 1941, 16 thousand German paratroopers, showing exceptional heroism, were able to capture the island of Crete (Operation Mercury), but suffered such heavy losses that the Wehrmacht air force dropped out of the game forever. And the German command had to give up plans to seize the Suez Canal with the help of paratroopers.

Body of a killed German paratrooper, Operation Mercury

In the summer of 1943, American paratroopers found themselves in equally difficult conditions: during the landing in Sicily, due to strong winds, they found themselves 80 kilometers from their intended target. The British were even less fortunate that day - a quarter of the British paratroopers drowned at sea.

Well, World War II ended a long time ago - since then, landing systems, communication and control systems have radically changed for the better. Let's look at a couple of more recent examples:

Here, for example, is the Israeli elite parachute brigade “Tsanhanim”. This unit has one successful parachute landing: the capture of the strategically important Mitla Pass (1956). However, there are a number of contradictory points here: firstly, the landing was targeted - only a couple of hundred paratroopers. Secondly, the landing took place in a desert area, initially without any enemy opposition.

In subsequent years, the Tsanhaim parachute brigade was never used for its intended purpose: the soldiers deftly jumped with a parachute during exercises, but in real combat conditions (the Six-Day War or the Yom Kippur War) they preferred to move on the ground under the cover of heavy armored vehicles, or carried out targeted sabotage operations using helicopters.

The Airborne Forces are a highly mobile branch of the Ground Forces and are designed to perform tasks behind enemy lines as airborne assault forces.
(Combat regulations of the Airborne Forces, paragraph 1)

Soviet paratroopers repeatedly took part in combat operations outside the USSR, participated in suppressing rebellions in Hungary and Czechoslovakia, fought in Afghanistan and were the recognized elite of the Armed Forces. However, the actual combat use of the Airborne Forces was very different from the romantic image of a paratrooper descending from the sky on parachute lines, as was widely represented in popular culture.

Suppression of the uprising in Hungary (November 1956):
— fighters of the 108th Guards Parachute Regiment were delivered to the Hungarian airfields of Tekel and Veszprem, and immediately captured strategically important objects. Now, having captured the air gates, it was possible to easily receive help and reinforcements and develop an offensive deep into enemy territory.
- The 80th Guards Parachute Regiment arrived at the border with Hungary by rail (Beregovo station), from there it made a 400-km march to Budapest in a marching column;

Suppression of the uprising in Czechoslovakia (1968):
During Operation Danube, Soviet troops, with the support of Bulgarian, Polish, Hungarian and German units, established control over Czechoslovakia within 36 hours, carrying out a quick and bloodless occupation of the country. It was the events of August 21, 1968, associated with the brilliant capture of the Ruzyne International Airport, that became the prologue to this article.
In addition to the capital's airport, the Soviet landing force captured the airfields of Turany and Namešti, turning them into impregnable fortified points, where more and more forces arrived from the USSR in an endless stream.

Introduction of troops into Afghanistan (1979):
In a matter of hours, the Soviet landing captured all the most important airfields of this Central Asian country: Kabul, Bagram and Shindad (Kandahar was captured later). Within a few days, large forces of the Limited Contingent of Soviet Forces arrived there, and the airfields themselves turned into the most important transport portals for the delivery of weapons, equipment, fuel, food and equipment for the 40th Army.

The defense of the airfield is organized by separate company (platoon) strong points with anti-tank weapons and air defense systems located in them in the directions of the probable advance of the enemy. Removing the front edge of strong points should prevent aircraft on the runway from being hit by direct fire from enemy tanks and guns. The gaps between the strong points are covered with mine-explosive barriers. Advancement routes and reserve deployment lines are being prepared. Some units are allocated for ambush operations along enemy approach routes.
(Combat regulations of the Airborne Forces, paragraph 206)

Damn it! This is even stated in the Charter.

Rather than crawling onto a seashore covered with thorns or jumping from sky-high heights into the unknown, it is much easier and more effective to land at the capital’s airport on enemy territory, dig in, and transfer a division of “Pskov thugs” there in one night. Prompt delivery of heavy armored vehicles and other bulky equipment becomes possible. Paratroopers receive timely assistance and reinforcements, the evacuation of the wounded and prisoners is simplified, and convenient transport routes connecting the capital's airport with the center of the country make this facility truly invaluable in any local war.

The only risk is that the enemy might guess the plans and at the last moment block the runway with bulldozers. But, as practice shows, with a proper approach to ensuring secrecy, no serious problems arise. Finally, for insurance, you can use an advance detachment disguised as a “peaceful Soviet tractor”, which will restore order on the airfield a few minutes before the arrival of the main forces (this opens up wide scope for improvisation: an “emergency” landing, a group of “athletes” with black bags "Adibas", etc.)

Preparing a captured airfield (landing site) for receiving troops and materiel consists of clearing the runway and taxiways for landing aircraft (helicopters), unloading equipment and cargo from them, and equipping access roads for vehicles.
(Combat regulations of the Airborne Forces, paragraph 258)

Actually, there is nothing new here - the ingenious tactic of capturing the airport appeared half a century ago. Budapest, Prague and Bagram are clear evidence of this scheme. According to the same scenario, the Americans landed at Mogadishu airport (civil war in Somalia, 1993). The same scenario was followed by peacekeeping forces in Bosnia (taking control of the Tuzla airport, early 90s), which was subsequently turned into the main support base of the Blue Helmets.

Russian paratroopers unload equipment. Tuzla Airport, Bosnia

The main objective of the “Throw on Pristina” - the famous raid of Russian paratroopers in June 1999 was... who would have thought! ... the capture of the Slatina airport, where reinforcements were expected to arrive - up to two airborne regiments. The operation itself was carried out brilliantly (its inglorious ending is no longer relevant to the topic of this article, since it has a clear political rather than military overtones).
Of course, the technique of “capturing the capital’s airport” is only suitable for local wars with an obviously weak and unprepared enemy.

It was already unrealistic to repeat such a trick in Iraq - the wars in the Persian Gulf were carried out in the spirit of old traditions: aircraft bomb, tank and motorized columns rush forward, and, if necessary, targeted landing groups are landed behind enemy lines: special forces, saboteurs, air spotters. However, there was never any talk of any mass drops of paratroopers. First of all, there was no need for this.

Secondly, a mass parachute landing in our time is an unjustifiably risky and senseless event: just remember the quote from General Lev Gorelov, who honestly admitted that in the event of a parachute landing, half of his division could have died. But the Czechs in 1968 had neither the S-300, nor the Patriot air defense system, nor the portable Stingers...

Pskov paratroopers preparing for landing, 2005

The use of parachute landings in World War III seems an even more dubious idea. In conditions when even supersonic fighters are at mortal risk in the fire zone of modern anti-aircraft missile systems, one can hope that the huge transport Il-76 will be able to fly and land troops near Washington... Popular rumor attributes the phrase to Reagan: “ I wouldn’t be surprised if on the second day of the war I see guys in vests and blue berets on the threshold of the White House" I don’t know if the US President said such words, but he is guaranteed to receive thermonuclear ammunition half an hour after the start of the war.

Based on historical experience, paratroopers performed well as part of air assault brigades - in the late 60s, the rapid development of helicopter technology made it possible to develop the concept of using landing forces in the enemy’s close rear areas. Targeted helicopter landings played a significant role in the Afghan war.

Over the past 30 years, a unique image of the paratrooper has formed in Russian society: for some unclear reasons, the paratroopers do not “hang on slings,” but sit on the armor of tanks and infantry fighting vehicles in all hot spots.

That's right - the Airborne Forces, the beauty and pride of the Armed Forces, being one of the most trained and combat-ready branches of the military, are regularly involved in carrying out tasks in local conflicts. In this case, the landing force is used as motorized infantry, together with units of motorized rifle, special forces, riot police and even marines! (It’s no secret that Russian marines took part in the assault on Grozny).

5th company of the 350th Guards. airborne regiment, Afghanistan

This raises a reasonable philistine question: if over the past 70 years, the Airborne Forces have never, under any circumstances, been used for their intended purpose (namely, a massive landing of paratroopers), then why are there conversations about the need for specific systems suitable for landing under a parachute canopy: combat BMD-4M airborne assault vehicle or 2S25 Sprut anti-tank self-propelled gun?

If landing forces are always used as elite motorized infantry in local wars, then isn’t it better to arm the guys with conventional tanks, heavy self-propelled guns and infantry fighting vehicles? Operating on the front line without heavy armored vehicles is a betrayal towards the soldiers.

Look at the US Marine Corps - the American Marines have forgotten the smell of the sea. The Marine Corps has become an expeditionary force - a kind of "special forces" trained for operations outside the United States, with its own tanks, helicopters and aircraft. The main armored vehicle of the Marine Corps is a 65-tonne pile of iron with negative buoyancy.

BMD-4M. A beautiful car, but one hit from a DShK bullet will tear the track

It is worth noting that domestic airborne forces also serve as quick reaction forces, capable of arriving anywhere in the world and entering battle immediately upon arrival. It is clear that in this case the paratroopers need a special vehicle, but why do they need the aluminum BMP-4M, at the price of three T-90 tanks? Which, ultimately, is hit by the most primitive means: DShK and .

Of course, there is no need to go to the point of absurdity - in 1968, due to a shortage of vehicles, paratroopers stole all cars from the parking lot of Ruzyne Airport. And they did it right:

...explaining to personnel the need for rational use of ammunition and other material resources, skillful use of weapons and military equipment captured from the enemy;
(Combat regulations of the Airborne Forces, paragraph 57)

I would like to know the opinion of the airborne troops, what is it about their conventional armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles that dissatisfy them, compared to the “supermachine”?