空降部隊 （英語：Airborne forces ）屬於軍事 單位，早期為輕裝步兵 ，近年分演為「傘降兵 」、「機降兵 空中突擊兵 」3種。其部隊運動通常採用运输机等航空器 进行“空投”来戰鬥。因此，他們可以投入敵後，有能力在幾乎任何地方进行部署。二戰直到現在空降兵仍然具有高度風險，空降部队的編隊輜重往往是有限的，只能經由他們的航空器进行運輸，難以汇集足夠持續的軍力，因此主要的優勢在於情報得利之“在幾分鐘內突然冒出的數量和大小”，否則一旦沒配合好就會遭遇重大損失，歐美稱為「垂直包圍行動」（英語：vertical envelopment ）。[ 1] [ 2]
空降部隊運用概分為3類：
空降的基本前提是，他們可以快速抵達，不能快速部署一個連貫的防禦。據推測，這種戰術上的優勢不能持續很長，所以傘兵必須善用敵人的資材，不斷通過空中補給或等待地面部隊以得到支援。[ 7] [ 4]
空降部隊一般（早期）都是由步兵 、輕量、非裝甲車輛 （例如吉普車 、悍馬車 等高機動車 ）和槍支 及迫擊砲 組成。在第二次世界大戰 中，傘兵使用了輕型摩托車，如美軍Cushman 公司 速克達 （G683）和英軍威爾單兵摩托車 。
朝鮮戰爭 結束後，輕重量車輛能夠通過降落傘空降開始研發，例如M-551謝里登輕型坦克 。苏联 開發BMD-1步兵戰車 和BMD-3步兵战车 。直升機可以運輸輕型裝甲車 ，例如德國鼬鼠 裝甲車、美軍LAV-25裝甲車 和英国 的CVR (T)
许多空降重武器例如坦克，吉普车担心落地时摔坏，尤考验单位事前准备
Reproduced in Blunt, Victor, The User of Air Power. Military Service Publishing Company; Harrisburg, 1943: pp.v-ix.
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![德國傘兵第31空降旅（英语：31st Airborne Brigade (Bundeswehr)）（德國聯邦國防軍）在下萨克森邦弗里斯兰县瓦勒尔鎮（德语：Varel）的附近[8]，配合貝爾UH-1D型直升機實施空中裝載貨物訓練](File:LuftverladeuebungBell.jpg)
