Airmobile Infantry

Western airmobile infantry Tier 1

Air assault is the movement of ground-based military forces by vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft—such as the helicopter—to seize and hold key terrain which has not been fully secured, and to directly engage enemy forces behind enemy lines.[1] In addition to regular infantry training, air-assault units usually receive training in rappelling and air transportation, and their equipment is sometimes designed or field-modified to allow better transportation within aircraft.

Due to the transport load restrictions of helicopters, air assault forces are usually light infantry, though some armored fighting vehicles, like the Russian BMD-1 are designed to fit most heavy lift helicopters, which enable assaulting forces to combine air mobility with a certain degree of ground mechanization. Invariably the assaulting troops are highly dependent on aerial fire support provided by the armed helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft escorting them.

East airmobile infantry Tier 1

EU airmobile infantry Tier 1

Features

Airborne Infantry are a light unit supported by transport helicopters for rapid intervention. They are especially effective deep behind enemy lines and are renowned for hitting hard and fast. On the map they are represented as an infantry unit, and will march (slowly) wherever they are directed, but as soon as they are actioned with “Air Assault”, they will take to their helicopter and fly. As a unit, Airborne have some protection against Weapons of Mass Destruction. And as frequent fliers, they can be strategically relocated to any location around the globe via airlift.

While the transport helicopters Airborne use are not stealthy, they are only detected visually by ground radar units or by AWACS.

Airborne Infantry do not march well. In order to best utilize this unit’s strengths, instead of Moving or Attacking, take advantage of the additional option of “Air Assault” in the Army Bar. This option will put your troops in a helicopter and get them there in a fraction of the time it would have taken to march. Do be aware that once they are flying, you will not be able to cancel orders.