UNSC Army Airborne

The Airborne is an elite light infantry corps of the UNSC Army. It consists of both parachute infantry and air assault elements, as well as other airborne-qualified elements such as cavalry, field artillery, and engineering units. Although they are deployed in a very different manner, the Airborne forces could be considered a sister unit to the UNSC Marine Corps' Orbital Drop Shock Troopers.

Overview
The UNSC Army Airborne likely follows the training, tactics, and doctrine from the following units, given the largely Western-derived nature of the UNSC Defense Force:
 * U.S. 82nd Airborne Division
 * U.S. 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
 * U.S. 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
 * U.S. 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division
 * U.K. Parachute Regiment

Like their forebears, the Airborne engage in aerial assault operations in advance of their regular infantry counterparts. Such operations include being deployed behind enemy lines, such as to disrupt enemy supply chains and to sabotage other operations; spearheading assaults, sometimes to establish an airhead; and performing reconnaissance deep within enemy-occupied territory. As with their American and British predecessors, the Airborne is likely an all-volunteer force that is considerably smaller than other combat elements, though they are presumably given more intensive training than the regular infantry.

Pathfinders
The Airborne fields specialized Pathfinder units. The Pathfinders are deployed in advance of their comrades in order to mark drop zones, thus increasing the accuracy and precision of deployments. After the main body of the Airborne forces are deployed, the Pathfinders join the regular Airborne infantry in combat.

Equipment
Airborne personnel are equipped with Ushuaia Armory's Air Assault helmet, which was developed as an improvement on the helmet worn by the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers; Pathfinders prefer the FC-I variant of the helmet. The Airborne presumably use some form of the Army Battle Dress Uniform. It is likely that they utilize components of the MJOLNIR hard-point series, which is designed for use in parachute and parafoil operations, and the compatible G-25 airfoil carapace.

The Airborne probably utilize much of the equipment used by their regular Army counterparts, though, given the nature of the operations they undertake, the Airborne typically operate with lighter armament and less, if any, vehicular support. Airborne personnel are likely armed with most standard-issue weapons, such as the MA37 Individual Combat Weapon System and the M392 Designated Marksman Rifle, and specialist weapons such as they SRS99 sniper rifle and the M41 rocket launcher. Given their need for compact loads during deployment, the Airborne likely make extensive use of the M6J/C Carbine. Utilizing vehicles would generally not be practical until a reliable airhead has been secured; even so, the Airborne probably makes use of only light vehicles such as the M12 Force Application Vehicle and the M274 Ultra-Light All-Terrain Vehicle. Given their need to carry little matériel during deployment, the Airborne probably make very extensive use of resupply canisters.

While the Airborne probably make extensive use of parafoils and possibly Falcon Wing aerial descent units, it is likely that most deployments are carried out via dropships such as the D77-TC Pelican and D96-TCE Albatross. This would follow the precedent of the US Army Airborne, which was converted into an air assault force in the decades following World War II, ceasing large-scale parachute deployments. If this is so, the Airborne likely also utilizes the UH-144 Falcon for air mobility and the D82-EST Darter for delivering supplies to secured airheads.

List of appearances

 * Halo: Reach