ABSTRACT
Soviet airborne units had become a formidable force for the projection of Soviet military power. In Afghanistan, armed helicopters were used to destroy villages and tribesmen who resisted the Soviet invasion force. The Red Army had pioneered in the employment of both airborne troops and aircraft to suppress poorly armed native forces. Aleksandr N. Lapchinskiy and Marshal Tukhachevskiy are credited with major roles in pre-World War II Soviet airborne development, especially in the creation of airborne corps complete with organizational airlift capabilities. The World War gives people a number of military-historical examples of landing in the enemy disposition, but only landing individuals. Technically speaking it is entirely possible to land in the enemy disposition. The construction of large-capacity passenger planes after the World War makes it possible to count on stronger landing parties in the enemy disposition. Preliminary reconnaissance had established landing areas. The aircraft were not supposed to leave, but rather remain there until the mission had been performed.
