Reconnaissance specialists from the British Army’s Pathfinders (PF) and the German Army’s Fallschirmspezialzüge (FSZ) have collaborated for the first time to share parachuting expertise, according to a press release.
The joint training, Exercise Deep Infil, took place at Aeródromo Militar de Tancos near Lisbon, Portugal. Over nine days, soldiers from both units conducted day and night parachute jumps from a German Luftwaffe A400M transport aircraft at altitudes of 12,000 feet.
The exercise focused on high-altitude parachuting, a critical skill for both units’ roles in discreetly inserting behind enemy lines to identify and secure drop zones for larger troop deployments.
A PF troop commander emphasised the value of the collaboration, stating in the news release:
“It’s been a fantastic opportunity to work with Fallschirmspezialzege, who have almost identical role and capabilities to Pathfinders. What we both do is reliant on our specialist airborne insertion skills, of which parachuting is one, and what better way to start our relationship is there than practising how we would deploy on an operation?”
The exercise allowed the two forces to share tactics, techniques, and procedures, deepening their operational understanding and building a foundation for future collaboration. The PF troop commander added:
“By training together, we are building our understanding of how we each work to be better prepared for any future operations together.”
The German FSZ officer echoed the sentiment, highlighting the importance of strengthening ties between the two nations:
“Soon after the Defence Ministers decided that the German-British military cooperation should come closer together, our Pathfinder comrades from Britain and the German Fallschirmspezialzüge do parachute training together. There is no better possibility to bond than doing jumps together. We are really looking forward to deepening our relationship, firstly by hosting the Pathfinders in Germany to visit our assessment and selection course.”
This collaboration comes in the wake of the Trinity House Agreement, signed in October, which aims to enhance UK-Germany military relations. It also underscores the growing interoperability between the British and German armed forces as they prepare for potential future joint operations.
The more cooperation the better, Europe needs to be as united as possible in the dangerous new world developing. Doesn’t bear thinking about where we would be now had Russia succeeded in their 3 day take over of Ukraine or even 3 months rather than the self destroying campaign it’s turned out to be. No room for complacency though, things could get much more testing in the coming years.