air assault
Troops from above
Air assault is a military operation in which troops are transported by helicopter directly into combat or a tactical position.
Unlike airborne operations using parachutes, air assault relies on rotorcraft to insert and extract forces rapidly: The battalion conducted an air assault on the enemy compound at dawn.
The term gained prominence during the Vietnam War with helicopter-borne infantry tactics.
Ground combat troops
- paratroopersSoldiers who parachute in
- rangersPark patrol or commandos
- platoonSmall infantry formation
- battalionMid-sized military unit
company · brigade · division · commando · pathfinders
U.S. Army helicopter
- ApacheSouthwestern indigenous nation
- rotorcraftAircraft lifted by blades
- airliftEmergency transport by plane
- insertionPlacing something within
extraction · rappelling · hover · pilots · crew · aviation · rotor · vertical
Covert entry into organization
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
- flankingAt the sides of
- encirclementSurrounding enemy forces completely
- reconnaissanceInformation-gathering before action
seizure · envelopment · objective · perimeter · blocking · overwatch · suppression · coordination
Exchange of gunfire
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
- close-quartersVery near proximity
- offensiveCausing displeasure or attack-oriented
defensive · contact · neutralize · secure · machine-gun · grenade · hostile · enemy
Moving with haste
- suddenOccurring without prior notice
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- swiftMoving with speed
- lightningAtmospheric electrical discharge
shock · preemptive · dawn · overwhelming · precision · simultaneous · coordinated · blitz
infantry
Ground combat troops
- paratroopersSoldiers who parachute in
- rangersPark patrol or commandos
- platoonSmall infantry formation
battalion · company · brigade · division · commando · pathfinders
Blackhawk
U.S. Army helicopter
- ApacheSouthwestern indigenous nation
- rotorcraftAircraft lifted by blades
- airliftEmergency transport by plane
insertion · extraction · rappelling · hover · pilots · crew · aviation · rotor · vertical · envelopment
infiltration
Covert entry into organization
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
- flankingAt the sides of
- encirclementSurrounding enemy forces completely
reconnaissance · seizure · envelopment · objective · perimeter · blocking · overwatch · suppression · coordination · staging
firefight
Exchange of gunfire
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
- close-quartersVery near proximity
offensive · defensive · contact · neutralize · secure · machine-gun · grenade · hostile · enemy · resistance
rapid
Moving with haste
- suddenOccurring without prior notice
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- swiftMoving with speed
lightning · shock · preemptive · dawn · overwhelming · precision · simultaneous · coordinated · blitz · audacious
- Air Combatairstrikes, fighter pilot, bombing run, combat aircraft, bomb run
- Airborne Divisionparatroopers, paratrooper, parachute drop, combat jump, pathfinders
- assault troopsshock troops, storm troopers, stormtroopers, strike teams, first wave
- Elite Unitsspecial forces, commandos, Navy SEALs, Delta Force, Green Berets
- military forcesarmy, allied forces, soldiers, troops, coalition forces
- Airborne Forcesparatrooper, parachute drop, drop zone, static line, jumpmaster
air assaultground offensive
Military advance by troops
ground assault · ground attack · land invasion · amphibious assault · naval bombardment
air assaultair defense
Protection from aerial attack
defensive position · fortification · entrenchment · retreat · withdrawal
air, airy, assault, airs, aerial, airborne, assaulted, assaulting, aerated