text: ________________________________________________________________________________Chapter 13
  13-9. Airborne forces conduct strategic missions against deep targets. Forces
  from other arms and services can also participate, but typically would not
  arrive in the target area until a later time. Depending on the depth of the
  airborne mission, linkup with ground forces may not occur for several days.
  Since troops on the ground receive supplies by airdrop or airlift, the operation
  requires substantial air combat and transport support.
  13-10. Objectives of strategic missions could be national capitals or other
  administrative-political centers, industrial or economic centers, ports or
  maritime straits, or airfields. Strategic missions also may establish a new
  theater or neutralize one member of an enemy coalition.
  Operational Missions
  13-11. An OSC does not necessarily include airborne forces in its task or-
  ganization. However, the SHC or General Staff may allocate such forces to an
  OSC for a given operation, in a constituent, dedicated, or supporting role.
  Operational objectives could include
  • Headquarters or command posts.
  • Communications facilities.
  • Enemy precision and nuclear weapons.
  • Logistics facilities.
  • Airfields.
  • Ports.
  • Bridges and other water- or gap-crossing sites.
  • Lines of communications (LOCs).
  An airborne force of brigade size is the most common force used to accomplish
  operational missions. Typical missions can include deception operations,
  blocking a withdrawing enemy, or enveloping enemy defensive positions.
  Tactical Missions
  13-12. While recognizing the need to limit the use of airborne forces to primar-
  ily strategic and operational missions, the OPFOR also recognizes the need for
  the capability to insert troops to perform tactical missions. A tactical airborne
  mission could have the same types of objectives as an operational mission. On
  occasion, airborne troops may be allocated for such missions, but the force is
  more likely to consist of infantry troops. In either case, the units involved
  would normally rely on helicopters for tactical insertions, rather than fixed-
  wing aircraft. The primary function of these tactical airborne or heliborne
  landings is to cooperate with ground maneuver forces in reaching operational
  or tactical objectives. In other situations, heliborne insertions can serve as a
  rapid means for positioning or repositioning forces on the battlefield.
  13-13. Heliborne units can perform reconnaissance missions when inserted
  into the disruption zone or the enemy rear area. They may perform tactical
  security missions, or cover, delay, or defend against an enemy approach to a
  vulnerable flank. Heliborne units can also serve in an antilanding reserve,
  providing rapid reaction to the threat of enemy airborne or amphibious landings.
  Ambushes, raids, sabotage, and deception activities are examples of other