The viability of conventionally deployed paratroopers has diminished a lot, they were already vulnerable, not disputing that, but the modern battlefield does not allow for conventionally deployed paratroopers, given the following:
>Aircraft at risk from modern SAM's more so than 60 years ago
>Paras have to deal with the same roving groups of AK and shotgun wielding AA troopers that drones have to deal with
>Pretty much every section is issued a Manpad
>Very predictable routes lead to easily created ambushes
In my view the only way for Paras to work on the battlefield is to either transform into just another elite infantry branch, like the arditi, or become heliborne troops, like the Russian VDV, and imo, to justify the Paras even existing as it's own thing and not become just another generic SpecOps, they should specialize in operations with helicopters, be it rapel, para'd or landed insertions.
What do you lads think?