Polish Air Assault Capability: A Reflection of U.S. Doctrine

MAJ(P) John E. Angevine, Mr. Raphael A. Riccio, and Dr. Edmund Walendowski

Introduction

With the reorganization of the former 25th Air Cavalry Division into the 25th Air Cavalry Brigade (ACB) (headquartered at Tomaszow Mazowiecki), the Polish Ministry of Defense has made a major commitment to developing a fully interoperable NATO rapid-reaction capability. The 25th ACB will provide NATO and U.S. commanders with an air assault capability similar to that provided by a brigade combat team of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). The unit's doctrine, tactics, techniques, and procedures for air assault operations are nearly identical with those of the United States. Brigadier General Jan Kempara, commander of the 25th ACB, is an expert in American air assault and airborne operations.

Discussion

The purpose of the 25th ACB is to provide the Polish army with a highly maneuverable, rapid-reaction force that can conduct deliberate, precisely planned, and vigorously executed air assaults to operational depths of 50 to 100 km. The brigade's goal is to sustain high-intensity combat operations for up to 72 hours; speed and surprise are its key advantages. The unit is capable of both offensive and defensive operations and could be called upon to accomplish a variety of missions; e.g., destroying enemy command posts and communication systems, seizing key terrain and facilities, disrupting enemy logistic operations, rapidly reinforcing friendly subunits in contact with the enemy, and screening flanks and breaches. It can also be used in search-and-rescue and noncombat operations. The unit's doctrine, tactics, techniques, and procedures for air assault operations are taken almost entirely from U.S. publications.

The 25th ACB is organized into two aviation battalions and three air assault battalions (see table 1). One aviation battalion (the 1st, based in Legnica) is equipped with older Mi-8/17 helicopters (see figure 1 and table 2); the other aviation battalion (the 7th, based in Tomaszow Mazowiecki) is equipped with the Polish-produced W-3 Sokol (see figure 2 and table 3). The Poles will continue to operate Mi-8/17's for several more years. Order-of-battle requirements call for 36 helicopters per battalion. The air assault battalions comprise 590 personnel in peacetime and 650 in wartime; the troops are equipped with small arms, antitank weapons, and antiaircraft weapons (see table 4).

Figure 1. Mi-8MT Helicopter (Mi-17)       

Figure 2. Polish-Produced W-3 Sokol

Although the 25th faces tight fiscal restraints, Kempara is carefully investing his limited resources into professional development of his commanders, staff, and officer corps. About 40% of the officers in the unit speak English at level 2/3. Kempara requires all of his commanders, as well as his primary brigade and battalion staff officers, to speak English before assuming their positions. His officers are well versed in American and Western combat and logistic doctrine and are encouraged to take decisive actions and develop the habit of thinking independently in carrying out missions.

The 25th ACB conducts air training and general combat training. These two facets of training are integrated at the platoon level. On average, helicopter pilots fly between 60 and 80 hours yearly. It can be assumed that unit personnel are trained in tactical norms that are nearly identical with those of their U.S. counterparts.

The 25th ACB conducts air assaults by integrating five stages of an air assault operation into a coordinated plan. These stages include the ground tactical plan, landing plan, air movement plan, loading plan, and staging plan. How to take an objective is given careful consideration based on mission, enemy, terrain, troops, time available, and civilian considerations (METT-TC), such as assaulting directly onto the objective or assaulting adjacent to the objective then maneuvering to it. The brigade commander commands and controls the air assault operation from one of six dedicated command-and-control aircraft. Fire support is provided exclusively by mortars, which are flown into the landing zone with the ground tactical commander. The air assault task force commander ensures cross loading of all weapons systems that will effectively support the induction of ground forces. Logistics support is introduced into the landing zones at the conclusion of the air assault. Medical evacuations of wounded soldiers are accomplished with dedicated CASEVAC aircraft.

Summary

Poland is committed to developing a NATO-interoperable, rapid-reaction force that will actively participate in future international and NATO operations. The 25th ACB is preparing a combat force that will achieve this goal. The air assault capability that Poland is developing will enhance NATO's combat operational capability and flexibility. Poland will be the only other country in NATO to incorporate an air cavalry doctrine that mirrors the doctrine of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Although the 25th ACB is a lightly armed unit, its personnel are well led and trained to conduct aggressive force entry operations to seize critical objectives. The 25th ACB will prove to be a valuable asset to any combat commander facing the most difficult of situations, and the unit is likely to be chosen to operate alongside American forces in a crisis.