The Role of Airmobility in Soviet Military Doctrine.

Based upon their analyses of the nature of future war, the Soviets, in recent years, have significantly improved the combat mobility of their ground forces, both on the ground and through the air. The air dimension of this improved mobility, with the airborne forces and the airmobile capability, has received increased comment recently in the Soviet military press. Demonstrations of the airborne and airmobile capability have been noted in recent large-scale maneuvers. This analysis, based upon the discussions in the military press and the demonstrations of the capabilities, analyzes the doctrine of Soviet airmobility and attempts to place it in context within overall Soviet military doctrine. Conclusions of this analysis are that: (1) Soviet development of airmobility lags that of the US, particularly in the development of combat helicopters; and, (2) the role of airmobility in doctrine is secondary and supplementary to the role of airborne operations. (Author)