On August 2, 1930, during the military aviation exercises of the Moscow Military District, for the first time in domestic practice, paratroopers-paratroopers landed, before which certain combat training tasks were assigned. This experiment with the participation of only 12 fighters clearly showed all the advantages of airborne assault forces and contributed to the emergence of a new type of troops. Today, the anniversary of the first landing of the airborne unit is celebrated as a memorable day - the Day of the Airborne Forces.
A few months after the first exercises with an experimental parachute landing, the formation of new units began. For several years, the airborne formations were able to become a powerful striking force capable of capturing bridgeheads in the enemy's rear and contributing to the advancement of the entire army. The combat power of the new formations was confirmed by numerous exercises, in which hundreds and even thousands of paratroopers were involved.
In 1939, airborne troops took part in an armed conflict for the first time. One of the existing brigades was transferred to the area of the Khalkhin-Gol River, and made a great contribution to the defeat of the enemy. Several large airborne units later participated in the Soviet-Finnish war. The paratroopers also played a significant role in the operation to return the western regions of the USSR, previously occupied by third countries.
Soon after the start of the Great Patriotic War, the Airborne Forces were allocated to a separate branch of the military, and on the basis of the existing formations, 5 airborne corps with a total number of about 50,000 people were deployed. The airborne troops were regularly involved in solving various combat missions. For example, the landing in the rear of the German troops made it possible to change the alignment of forces and accelerate the defeat of the enemy near Moscow. In the future, the Airborne Forces carried out several more large landings. Landing operations were carried out both on the territory of the liberated European countries and in Manchuria.
After the end of the war, the development of the Airborne Forces was continued. During this period, special attention was paid to the material part of the troops. As a result, for the first time in the world, the Airborne Forces were created, which have their own fleet of specialized equipment and weapons, as well as means for their landing. The capabilities of the troops have been repeatedly confirmed and demonstrated during numerous exercises at various training grounds of the country and friendly states.
In 1956, the USSR Airborne Forces, as the most mobile branch of the military, were involved in suppressing the rebellion in Hungary. Similar tasks were assigned to the paratroopers as part of Operation Danube. In the shortest possible time, the Soviet paratroopers were able to take control of two Czechoslovak airfields and ensure the transfer of two divisions.
During the war in Afghanistan, the airborne units acted in conjunction with other types of troops, and also repeatedly carried out landings in different areas. The specifics of the theater of military operations made special demands on the troops and their use, but this made it possible to work out the interaction of formations and combat arms, as well as to test in practice new compositions of regiments and divisions.
Despite the collapse of the Soviet Union and the problems that followed, the Airborne Forces managed to maintain the required combat capability. In the post-Soviet period, Airborne Forces fighters had to apply their skills during two wars in Chechnya and an operation to force Georgia to peace.
According to the results of recent reforms and transformations, the Airborne Forces, having changed and optimized their composition, receive a new material part and increase their combat potential. This branch of the armed forces retains the status of the most important component of the Armed Forces and plays a special role in protecting the state. The editorial board of Voenniy Obozreniye congratulates all the personnel and all veterans of the Airborne Forces on their professional holiday!
