The Other Side of the Mountain: Mujahideen ... - Tribal Analysis Center

CHAPTER COMMENTARY
In the early days of the war, Soviet air assault missions were rather
timid and unimaginative. Later, the Soviets became more confident
with the air assault concept and struck deeper and more aggressively.
Ambush forces were delivered by helicopter, and raiding forces
struck deep at Mujahideen supply bases and staging areas and even
conducted raids against Mujahideen redoubts such as the one at Maro.
The Soviets usually sent a ground element to link up with the air
assault element if the air assault element had to remain in the area for
any length of time. Soviet air assaults relied on helicopter gunships
and SU-25 close air support aircraft for fire support, but frequently
brought their artillery with them by helicopter.
The Mujahideen learned to counter air assaults with thorough
planning, immediate action drills, an early warning system and air
defense ambushes. They learned to mine likely LZs, employ massed
RPG fire against hovering or landing helicopters, and to try and
overrun a LZ before the air assault forces had an opportunity to get
organized and oriented. They also learned to "hug" Soviet forces so
that helicopter gunships could not fire at them.