American Heavy Landing Zone image - M.P

During the Global War on Terror, US forces abroad relied heavily on bases in both allied and occupied countries, many of which turned from "temporary" forward outposts into increasingly elaborate, quasi-permanent facilities during the long war. This placed an enormous logistical strain on the US military, compounded by the growing economic and political cost of these deployments, which eventually culminated in the Zero Hour policy - the reset of American military commitments abroad.

Years later, when the US sought to return to the world stage, its armed forces had changed accordingly. No longer reliant on a worldwide network of permanent bases in numerous, including difficult to work with countries, its logistics were now built around the new Mobile Offshore Bases of the US Navy, as well as a select number of the country's most loyal and powerful allies. For combat deployments, US troops would airlift directly into their area of operations with only minimal in-theatre facilities required.

One such facility is the Heavy Landing Zone. Consisting of little more than a large concrete pad alongside a command trailer, antenna and generator, it acts as a forward deployment point for the new Galaxylifter strategic air transport. Tanks, Infantry Fighting Vehicles and other heavy vehicles can be delivered to the HLZ in groups, allowing for a rapid build-up of powerful mechanised forces, in much the same way as the more basic Light Landing Zone does for lighter vehicles.