British and French paratroopers are now ready to deploy together on joint operations, say the British Army.
Across two demanding weeks in south west France, Exercise Falcon Amarante is testing the Airborne Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (A-CJEF) – a partnership between 16 Air Assault Brigade and 11e Brigade Parachutiste.
The two brigades provide the airborne rapid reaction forces for their respective armies, and the A-CJEF has been trained and ready since 2013 to deploy on short-notice operations ranging from war fighting to disaster relief.
According to a news release:
“Exercise Falcon Amarante is the A-CJEF’s annual test exercise, taking place this year under 11e BP’s command. Some 650 British troops and 170 vehicles of the 3 PARA Battlegroup – built around the airborne infantry of 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment bolstered by artillery, engineers, medics, signallers and logisticians – are taking part.
British troops will be paired with the 3e Regiment de Parachutistes d’Infanterie de Marine as the A-CJEF, with US paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade working alongside it.”
After mission planning and reconnaissance, the exercises started in earnest on Wednesday with some 600 British, French and US paratroopers jumping onto the Caylus training area near Toulouse. From there, a series of simulated missions will test the skills and capabilities of the 2,000-strong force.
British paratrooper to French
“Right here is where we make our stand, not a step backwards”…looks around…
“Where the heck have the French gone?”
And the reason for this comment?
Possession of a sense of humour ?
Humour Is Banned though. I blame Brexit personally.
Zee beeg hairy sergeant said if I didn’t jump, he’d stick his big hairy thing up mon berm!
So you jumped zen?
Oui, a little at first.
bloke down’t pub, lol.
Unfortunately French bashing is not uncommon on here.
Damn you beat me to it!
Better still this response from the comrades…. , “did you check your gear at the border, Englishman” or other silly comments …. British humor is bettered by none!
Isn’t A400m a bit dodgy as a platform for jumping?
Not been cleared by JATE yet for jumping pax or heavy drop. Still jumping using C130J.
We should be using the C17s, but the British C17s don’t have that role unfortunately! But I hope the RAF do decide to use them in that role after learning from the Americans how it’s done…..
Steve, A400M (Atlas) flies over Yeovilton pretty much every Day, has done for a year or so, Makes a unique noise too. pretty Impressive site truth be known.
Well we British and the french have a signed an agreement that we will deploy together and fight together in future, and we are trying to work more with the french millitary these days… The UK and France are after all Europes only Nuclear armed countrys and Europes two most powerful millitarys, together we are far stronger….
Cam, We also probably still have way more “Small Boats ” too. Just In Case.
Tickles me that the Americans joined in too. I thought this was a UK French venture, it reminds me of playground days ‘can I play’ etc.
But what happens when they get there EU army ?
I do hope we are not a part of that
But training alongside i understand
There’s a significant force multiplier effect when UK and FR military forces combine, and not just in this instance of joint airborne ops – and that’s a simple fact. Both nations could presumably invest enough in their armed forces to go it alone, but they haven’t chosen to do that – simple fact. The US benefits from having strong allies, which by definition adds flexibility to allied capabilities and responses. Expect more integration in the future.