text: ________________________________________________________________________________Chapter 13
  to minimize enemy reaction time. Night airborne operations are a pri-
  mary means of achieving surprise. False insertions aid deception and
  surprise when conducting heliborne operations.
  • Landings should be in undefended areas or in areas where enemy
  defenses have been effectively neutralized.
  • There must be effective air cover for the en route formation. Suppres-
  sion of enemy ground-based air defense weapons along the flight route
  is imperative.
  • Airborne assaults receive fire support from aircraft, surface-to-
  surface missiles (SSMs), and artillery, as the latter comes within
  supporting range of airborne forces.
  • Artillery fires are essential to the support of heliborne forces.
  • Attack helicopters escort lift helicopters to prepare the LZ before the
  landing of troops and to provide fire support once the landing force
  is on the ground.
  13-19. A typical DZ is three by four km; a typical LZ may be smaller. An air-
  borne brigade normally receives one primary and at least one alternate DZ.
  Within a brigade DZ, each airborne battalion has a designated, individual DZ.
  The landing force commander designates alternate zones for emergency use.
  Follow-on forces normally use the zones used by the initial wave. Heliborne
  forces use one or more LZs depending upon the situation and size of the land-
  ing force. The landing force commander designates at least one alternate LZ.
  CONDUCT
  13-20. The use of airborne forces in an operation depends upon whether it would
  enhance the likelihood of surprise, deep penetration, and rapid exploitation. Also
  essential is a favorable forces analysis in the DZ or LZ and the objective area.
  These criteria, together with the achievement of at least temporary local air su-
  periority and the availability of airborne and airlift assets, constitute the main
  elements in a planner’s decision to conduct an airborne or heliborne operation.
  Air Movement
  13-21. The Air Force allocates the transport aviation units required for
  deployment. Either transport aircraft or lift helicopters or a combination of
  the two can air-land airborne units or insert airborne battalions. Lift helicop-
  ters from army aviation can support heliborne landings. Aircraft of civil avia-
  tion can augment military capabilities. Civil fleet equipment consists of some
  medium- and long-range passenger transports and a number of short-range
  transports and helicopters. Staging bases and associated airfields are located
  at distances that protect aircraft and troop concentrations from enemy tactical
  aircraft and short-range SSMs. Airfields and equipment are camouflaged and
  concealed against aerial observation, and aircraft are placed in revetted positions.
  13-22. The OPFOR considers the air movement phase of an airborne or heliborne
  operation to be its most vulnerable phase. The OPFOR emphasizes the necessity
  of creating a threat-free flight corridor from the departure area to the DZ or LZ.
  All along the flight path, fire support assets target enemy air defenses. Fighters
  escort transport aircraft during an airborne operation to protect them from