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運輸機等航空器進行「空投」來戰鬥。因此，他們可以投入敵後，有能力在幾乎任何地方進行部署。二戰直到現在空降兵仍然具有高度風險，空降部隊的編隊輜重往往是有限的，只能經由他們的航空器進行運輸，難以匯集足夠持續的軍力，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]雖然空降部隊在運輸過程中通常手無寸鐵，但是，他們的突然出現帶給守衛部隊一瞬間「驚奇」或「衝擊」。[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53型速克達（G683）和英軍威爾單兵摩托車。
韓戰結束後，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。蘇聯開發BMD-1步兵戰車和BMD-3步兵戰車。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裝甲車和英國的CVR (T)等。以及，大型運輸機可供運輸少量主戰坦克或較笨重的步兵戰車。
許多空降重武器例如坦克，吉普車擔心落地時摔壞，尤考驗單位事前準備
存档副本. [2023-10-18]. （原始內容存檔於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]. （原始內容存檔於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
瓦勒爾鎮（Varel），中文譯名參考自酒店 Varel. World of hotels. [2013-11-02]. （原始內容存檔於2020-12-23）.
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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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德國傘兵在Ju 52運輸機跳傘前
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