Tanks From the Skies

In class today I had a bit of a discussion that started out on the topic of the Future Combat System (FCS), which was a failed program designed to beef up the light infantry brigades in the Army and give them more firepower and survivability until heavy armored forces could arrive.  Unfortunately the program was hijacked by the "we don't need heavy armor" crowd and became, instead, a program designed to rid the Army of those pesky heavy tanks and Bradleys.

Unfortunately there will always be a need for the firepower and protection of heavy armor, no matter what the lightfighters may say.  In fact, the conversation turned to the staying power of US airborne forces, and how the US wasn't the one to get the airborne concept right, but rather the Soviets/Russians.  Why?  The BMD, and the idea that you can have an airborne armored force.

US airborne forces, such as the 82nd Airborne Division are purely light.  When they jump into hostile territory they go in with their boots, their rucks and their rifles.  The most firepower you're going to get is going to be from the anti-armor dudes, and then only in the form of an AT4 or a Carl Gustav.  A decent punch, but because some poor private's got to not only jump that crap, but carry it around the battlefield, you're not going to have a lot of rounds.  Anything heavier, vehicles and heavy machine guns, will be dropped in once the ground is secured, and if armor is coming in, it's not until the air is clear for the C17 or C5 to land and offload.

The Russians, on the other hand, developed an air-droppable light armored vehicle called the BMD (Боевая Машина Десантников), which is tracked, and depending on the version has anywhere from a 74mm gun to a slewed 30mm autocannon and 100mm gun.  While in theory they are droppable with crew, in practice, the BMD is dropped out the back ramp of the plane, while the crew and crunchies are dropped out the side doors, all landing at the same time.  So, on the objective, on the first pass, you have anywhere from two to six armored vehicles plus infantry.  No need to wait for that airfield to be cleared or for the follow on waves to bring you the big toys. The newscast for this first video claims that the crews were actually in the vehicles... Here's some more. The US used to have pseudo air-droppable armor in the form of the Sheridan, as seen here. But even this would still not match the ability to put both crews and tracks on the ground at the same time, alongside airborne infantry. Instead, we got Strykers, without the 25mm guns.