Polish Airborne Brigade Ready to Conduct NATO Operations

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

Introduction

The Polish armed forces continue to successfully implement the Polish Ministry of Defense's strategy to achieve a NATO-interoperable rapid-reaction capability. The 6th Air Assault Brigade (Airborne) is the first unit in the Polish armed forces to achieve operational readiness with NATO. This brigade, headquartered in Krakow, will complete its reorganization, thereby mirroring the standard NATO brigade structure. Brigadier General Bronislaw Kwiatkowski, commander of the 6th Air Assault Brigade (Airborne) is an expert in airborne operations who leads a well-trained and well-disciplined unit.

Discussion

The 6th Air Assault Brigade (Airborne) is Poland's elite airborne unit; it maintains a high state of deployment readiness and currently has an airborne battalion and an assault battalion deployed to the SFOR and KFOR. The missions of the brigade, which conducts both airborne and air assault operations, include seizing and holding various types of objectives (e.g., bridges, airfields, and transportation junctions), reinforcing formations of encircled friendly forces to help them break free from the enemy, isolating specified areas of combat operations, and conducting delaying operations in both friendly and enemy security zones of operations. The brigade's zone of operation is to a depth of up to 150 km for airborne operations and up to 60 km for air assault operations. The brigade is designed to operate beyond its Forward Line of Own Troops for up to 72 hours without resupply or reinforcement.

The 6th Air Assault Brigade (Airborne) was scheduled to complete its reorganization by the end of 1999, resulting in the NATO standard staff structure and functions of the S-1, S-2, S-3, S-4, S-5, and S-6, and a new order of battle consisting of six battalions: one airborne battalion, three air assault battalions, a command battalion, and a field support battalion (see figure 1). While the organizations of the airborne and air assault battalions will be the same, there will be some minor differences in the weapons and equipment employed by their subunits. The airborne battalion consists of about 700 paratroopers; the air assault battalions consist of about 830 paratroopers each. The command battalion will consist of four companies and two batteries: command and traffic control company, reconnaissance company, signal company, logistic company, antitank battery, and antiaircraft battery. The field support battalion will be formed from three existing companies and one new company: maintenance company, supply company, medical company, and a new transportation company. The weapons of the 6th Air Assault Brigade consist of light infantry weapons, FAGOT antitank missiles, SPG-9 antitank guns, 82-mm and 120-mm mortars, GROM antiaircraft missiles, ZU-23-2 antiaircraft guns, and LPO-50 flamethrowers.

Figure 1. 6th Air Assault Brigade

The brigade uses army and air force aviation assets as a means of transportation to conduct three types of airborne operations: mass drop with static-line or stabilizer-activated parachutes, high-altitude high-opening (HAHO), and high-altitude low-opening (HALO) using ram-air, square, steerable parachutes. Mass drop training is normally conducted above platoon size and is the most practiced airborne operation. HAHO and HALO training operations are practiced by sections and by reconnaissance and pathfinder units of up to platoon size. The battalions also train for airborne operations to deliver heavy equipment and material, such as cargo containers, platforms, and parachute bundles. The brigade conducts one-third of its airborne training at night. To qualify for airborne wings, soldiers must complete seven jumps, of which two are night jumps and two are in full combat gear.

The 6th Air Assault Brigade begins an airborne operation with an airborne drop of pathfinder and reconnaissance teams prior to the main airborne operation. These teams infiltrate into designated areas, conduct reconnaissance, and prepare the drop zone for the main body. If required, the brigade then parachutes heavy equipment, ammunition, and other oversized cargo before the main body. The main body parachutes with static-line or stabilizer-activated parachutes from a minimum altitude of 2400 feet for training or 300 feet for combat jumps. Finally, the brigade parachutes additional cargo as needed.

Using army aviation assets from the 25th Air Cavalry Brigade, the 6th Air Assault Brigade conducts air assault operations to seize and destroy the enemy's key objective, to cut off enemy forces in the main avenue of approach of friendly ground forces, and to delay the approach of the enemy's reserve forces from the rear.

The brigade air assault operation is preceded by a parachute drop or helicopter insertion of reconnaissance and pathfinder teams, which have the same mission as in an airborne operation. Reconnaissance units guide attack helicopters to set the conditions for an air assault insertion. Immediately after the attack helicopters clear the designated landing zone (condition setting), the assault force of platoon or company size secures the landing zone (LZ). Once the LZ is secured and protected, the main force with heavy equipment lands and completes its mission. Finally, helicopters resupply the forces already on the ground. The typical utility helicopter load is one infantry squad of no more than 10 combat-equipped soldiers. The brigade's organic indirect fire support consists of 82-mm and 120-mm mortars. During an air assault, mortars accompany air assault forces into the landing zone.

Summary

The personnel of this unit are highly trained and motivated. Brigadier General Kwiatkowski encourages his leaders to think independently and act aggressively in accomplishing assigned missions. The brigade has participated in numerous training exercises and deployments with other NATO members, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Denmark, and Italy. More than 40% of the officers speak English, and they are well versed in NATO doctrine and tactics.

The 6th Air Assault Brigade (Airborne) is an example of Poland's commitment to developing a NATO-interoperable, immediate reaction force which is currently deployed in NATO operations with SFOR and KFOR. The airborne capability that Poland has developed is proving to be of great value to NATO efforts to secure the peace and provide stability for Europe. The addition of the 6th Air Assault Brigade (Airborne) to the alliance increases NATO's flexibility to effectively respond to crisis situations.