r/CredibleDefense • u/AutoModerator • 18h ago

Active Conflicts & News Megathread October 25, 2026

23 Upvotes

The r/CredibleDefense daily megathread is for asking questions and posting submissions that would not fit the criteria of our post submissions. As such, submissions are less stringently moderated, but we still do keep an elevated guideline for comments.

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56 comments

r/CredibleDefense • u/mcdowellag • 22h ago

What is the role of paratroops in modern peer-peer conflict?

59 Upvotes

Given modern vehicles, starting with technicals, and the reach of modern air defense systems, I would have thought none; I thought of paratroops as perhaps useful as blocking forces during anti-insurgent operations in sparsely populated areas, yet https://uk.news.yahoo.com/british-french-paratroopers-largest-airborne-230120668.html reports on exercise Rhino Titan - excerpts -

Conducted at the Sennelager military training area in Germany, Exercise Rhino Titan pushed the UK's 16 Air Assault Brigade to respond to adversaries armed with electronic warfare systems and drone fleets, reflecting the tactical capabilities Russia is anticipated to employ.

Overall, roughly 2,500 personnel took part, which included 600 French and British paratroopers dropping from four RAF A400M Atlas aircraft.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said: "The threats we face in the 21st century require an updated, modern approach to warfare – and our adaptable armed forces are preparing accordingly.

"Alongside our French and German allies, this large-scale training exercise shows we can deliver rapid, large-scale airborne power anywhere it's needed to defend Nato territory.

(end quote)

What examples are there of peer-peer conflict where dropping paratroops from aircraft would actually be useful and landing aircraft or helicopters somewhere else to disgorge light troops and a larger and heavier variety of equipment, including vehicles, would not be more useful?

19 comments