Abstract

The article analyzes modern approaches to conducting raid operations by units of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine under conditions of full-scale Russian aggression, with emphasis on the technical support of operations. The necessity of transformation from battalion-level to platoon-level raid groups is substantiated in connection with the increased capabilities of technical means of reconnaissance and fire destruction of the enemy. The evolution of raid operations tactics from classical forms to modern adaptive models that take into account the specifics of combat operations under conditions of total airspace control by unmanned aerial systems is investigated.

The technical characteristics and application capabilities of unmanned aerial systems of various classes are examined ‒ from tactical FPV drones with a range of 10-15 km to operational-tactical reconnaissance-strike complexes with flight duration up to 10 hours and range up to 150 km. The fire support system for raid operations is analyzed in detail, particularly the use of highly mobile artillery systems such as the Archer 155-mm, self-propelled artillery units of 152-mm and 122-mm caliber, and mortar units of 120-mm and 82-mm caliber. The features of electronic warfare systems application for protecting raid groups are revealed: portable UAV suppression systems with a range of up to 2 km, stationary complexes with a radius of up to 10 km, and directed-action anti-drone systems.

The technical aspects of logistical, medical, and engineering support for autonomous operations of small groups are highlighted, including the use of unmanned systems for delivering ammunition and medical supplies to remote areas. The experience of the Kursk operation of August 2024 regarding the effectiveness of synchronizing raid group actions with unmanned systems is summarized, particularly the destruction of the «Sapphire» electronic warfare complex, which confirmed the critical role of technical equipment in modern raid operations. Technical requirements for armored vehicles of raid groups are presented: protection no lower than STANAG 4569 Level 3, movement speed up to 100 km/h, operational range of at least 500 km. Practical recommendations are formulated regarding the optimal technical equipment of raid units for effective task execution in the depth of enemy defenses with minimal personnel and equipment losses.

Keywords: unmanned aerial systems, electronic warfare, artillery systems, EW means, technical support, raid operations, Air Assault Forces, armament, armored vehicles, fire support, Kursk operation, mobility

FULL TEXT (in Ukrainian)

REFERENCES

1.        Boiovyi statut Desantno-shturmovykh viisk Zbroinykh Syl Ukrainy. Ch. 2 (batalion, zahin SpP, BTHr) [Combat Manual of the Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Part 2 (battalion, Special Operations detachment, BTGr)]. (2024). Approved by the order of the Commander of the Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine dated December 15, 2024 No. 341. [in Ukrainian]

2.        Boiovyi statut Desantno-shturmovykh viisk Zbroinykh Syl Ukrainy. Ch. 3 (rota, RTHr) [Combat Manual of the Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Part 3 (company, RTGr)]. (2024). Approved by the order of the Commander of the Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine dated December 13, 2024 No. 337. [in Ukrainian]

3.        Boiovyi statut Desantno-shturmovykh viisk Zbroinykh Syl Ukrainy. Ch. 4 (vzvod, viddilennia) [Combat Manual of the Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Part 4 (platoon, squad)]. (2024). Approved by the order of the Commander of the Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine dated December 13, 2024 No. 336. [in Ukrainian]

4.        Rekomendatsii shchodo taktyky sumisnoho zastosuvannia kompleksiv (zasobiv) REB ta BpLA v interesakh oboronnoho ta nastupalnoho boiu pidrozdiliv (viiskovykh chastyn) [Recommendations on the tactics of joint use of electronic warfare systems and UAVs in the interests of defensive and offensive combat of units (military units)]. (2023). Approved by the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine dated May 4, 2023. [in Ukrainian]

5.        Kerivnytstvo z vidnovlennia boiezdatnosti [Manual on combat capability restoration]. (2023). Approved by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine dated November 25, 2023. [in Ukrainian]

6.        Doktryna tsyvilno-viiskovoho spivrobitnytstva [Doctrine of civil-military cooperation]. (2020). Approved by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine dated July 2, 2020. [in Ukrainian]

7.        Tymchasova doktryna obiednanoi vohnevoi pidtrymky [Temporary doctrine of joint fire support]. (2023). Approved by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine dated October 24, 2023. [in Ukrainian]

8.        Zabrodskyi, M. V., & Shevchenko, R. A. (2015). Vyklyky ta zahrozy natsionalnii bezpetsi Ukrainy u voiennii sferi [Challenges and threats to national security of Ukraine in the military sphere]. Nauka i oborona, (3), 11-17.
[in Ukrainian]

9.        Headquarters Department of the Army. (2017). ATP 3-21.18 Foot Marches. U.S. Government Publishing Office.

10.     Headquarters Department of the Army. (2013). FM 3-90-1 Offense and Defense (Vol. 1). U.S. Government Publishing Office.

The article was submitted 01.12.2025
© Kinderknecht, L., Liubichankivskyi, O.-I., Klimenko, V., Tkachuk, D., Karasevych, V., 2025
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)