空降部队（英语：Airborne forces）属于军事单位，早期为轻装步兵，近年分演为“伞降兵”、“机降兵”、“空中突击兵”3种。其部队运动通常采用运输机等航空器进行“空投”来战斗。因此，他们可以投入敌后，有能力在几乎任何地方进行部署。二战直到现在空降兵仍然具有高度风险，空降部队的编队辎重往往是有限的，只能经由他们的航空器进行运输，难以汇集足够持续的军力，因此主要的优势在于情报得利之“在几分钟内突然冒出的数量和大小”，否则一旦没配合好就会遭遇重大损失，欧美称为“垂直包围行动”（英语：vertical envelopment）。[1][2]
空降部队运用概分为3类：
空降的基本前提是，他们可以快速抵达，不能快速部署一个连贯的防御。据推测，这种战术上的优势不能持续很长，所以伞兵必须善用敌人的资材，不断通过空中补给或等待地面部队以得到支援。[7]虽然空降部队在运输过程中通常手无寸铁，但是，他们的突然出现带给守卫部队一瞬间“惊奇”或“冲击”。[4]
空降部队一般（早期）都是由步兵、轻量、非装甲车辆（例如吉普车、悍马车等高机动车）和枪支及迫击炮组成。在第二次世界大战中，伞兵使用了轻型摩托车，如美军Cushman 公司53型速克达（G683）和英军威尔单兵摩托车。
朝鲜战争结束后，轻重量车辆能够通过降落伞空降开始研发，例如M-551谢里登轻型坦克。苏联开发BMD-1步兵战车和BMD-3步兵战车。直升机可以运输轻型装甲车，例如德国鼬鼠装甲车、美军LAV-25装甲车和英国的CVR (T)等。以及，大型运输机可供运输少量主战坦克或较笨重的步兵战车。
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
存档副本. [2023-10-18]. （原始内容存档于2023-05-04）. Reproduced in Blunt, Victor, The User of Air Power. Military Service Publishing Company; Harrisburg, 1943: pp.v-ix.
徳永悦太郎「日本陸海軍空挺部隊かく戦えり」『丸』エキストラ版41集、潮書房、1975年、226頁以下
存档副本. [2015-05-01]. （原始内容存档于2013-04-15）.，2004-04-16 高橋慶史『続ラスト・オブ・カンプフグルッペ』大日本絵画、2005年、8～9頁
瓦勒尔镇（Varel），中文译名参考自酒店 Varel. World of hotels. [2013-11-02]. （原始内容存档于2020-12-23）.
- Reproduced in Blunt, Victor, The User of Air Power. Military Service Publishing Company; Harrisburg, 1943: pp.v-ix.
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- 高橋慶史『続ラスト・オブ・カンプフグルッペ』大日本絵画、2005年、8～9頁。
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德国伞兵在Ju 52运输机跳伞前
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