Deep Battle Exploitation in Rapid Decisive Operations

This research offers new doctrine guiding use of airborne forces. The primary method was synthesizing past and current airborne doctrine and practice with recent advances in technology and capabilities to come up with a fresh look at solving airborne problems. The traditional problems encountered by airborne forces are fratricide, assembly delays, aircraft vulnerability to AAA, SAMs, and enemy aircraft, resupply, and vulnerabilities after insertion. These include foot speed maneuver limits, little protection against heavy forces, and potential of being isolated. These problems can be overcome by following a new doctrine of Deep Battle Exploitation building on existing technology improvements like GPS, satellite communications, NVGs, improved intelligence, and data links such as Blue Force Tracker and Link 16. This doctrine integrates overarching Rapid Decisive Operations concepts applied at the operational level and is stated as using multiple (15+) simultaneous airborne force insertions forward of the main battle lines with no requirement of link up operations. These company to battalion size forces will operate like SOF, but focus overtly on JFC objectives in either a supporting or supported role. Implementing this doctrine requires no new aircraft or hardware, but needs significant changes in Army and Air Force doctrine and training in tactics, techniques, and proceduresthat can be done today! Key words: Rapid Decisive Operations (RDO), non-linear, simultaneous, non-contiguous, swarm, Strategic Brigade Airdrop (SBA), Airland Battle, Joint Targeting, airborne, airdrop, air assault, simultaneity and depth.