Jump jet infantry

Jump Jet Infantry were soldiers equipped with a back mounted jetpack unit with an integrated chaingun cannon, approximately as costly as Cyborgs to produce and maintain, and equally useful. During the Second Tiberium War, they could reach places that regular infantry couldn't, such as areas beyond Tiberium fields, or areas encased by cliffs. Jump Jet Infantry were also very effective against enemy infantry, and in groups, even vehicles.

Prior to the Firestorm Crisis, GDI overhauled the Jump Jet design, after evaluating their performance in the Second Tiberium War. One of the major additions was a package of sophisticated sensors, which allowed them to detect cloaked units and structures.

The infantrymen were generally used as scouts, and in groups, they could tear apart any non anti aircraft unit on the ground, including the Cyborg Commando. Their anti-stealth measures also made them very effective against mobile stealth generators, especially considering the Mobile Stealth Generator's abysmal armour and structural integrity.

While they were in the air, they are very vulnerable to ion storms, and would come plummeting from the sky during an ion storm. Being forced to the ground made them essentially regular infantry, though with substantially less armour than either the Cultist or the Cyborg. Furthermore, in flight they were also vulnerable to anti-aircraft missiles, and owing to their fragility and lack of anti-structure or anti-vehicle armament, they generally do not attack heavily fortified bases or enemy attack columns. Also, their chain gun is lacking in firepower.

The design of the jetpack, while effective, was cumbersome and limited the usefulness of the infantry units, as they were unable to rapidly change altitude and their speed was lacking. However, the technology was not abandoned, as GDI scientists reworked it, resulting in the development of real jumpjets, used in conjunction with new Commando and Zone Trooper armours.