British forces conduct largest parachute jump in decade

The British Army and Royal Air Force have carried out the largest military parachute exercise in the UK for more than ten years, with around 270 troops dropping onto Salisbury Plain.

Paratroopers from 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment jumped from three RAF A400M aircraft flying at around 800 feet, while a fourth aircraft dropped 24 tonnes of equipment and supplies needed to sustain operations on the ground, the Ministry of Defence stated.

The exercise, launched from RAF Brize Norton, was designed as a proof of concept for the Joint Airborne Task Force, a high-readiness capability combining 16 Air Assault Brigade and the RAF’s Air Mobility Force to respond rapidly to global crises, from humanitarian emergencies to combat operations.

For the scenario, troops were deployed to reinforce a NATO ally facing a potential invasion, with soldiers moving off the drop zone to establish defensive positions after landing, supported by equipment including Javelin anti-tank missiles and 81mm mortars.

Brigadier Ed Cartwright, Commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade, said: “Parachuting is the fastest way to put troops almost anywhere in the world. It combines the speed and reach of air power with the unavoidable requirement to put soldiers on the ground to respond to crises or defeat our enemies.” He added that the Joint Airborne Task Force represents a renewed air manoeuvre capability, offering “choice to policy makers and commanders” and highlighting the close relationship between the Army and RAF in delivering rapid response forces.

An RAF Air Mobility Force squadron commander described the exercise as a demonstration of the ability to deliver a “concentrated force package to a drop zone by low level parachute”, adding that mass parachuting remains a key capability in an increasingly uncertain security environment.

The drop marks the largest such exercise in the UK since 2015, when around 200 troops parachuted from C-130 aircraft, with the A400M Atlas now fully taking over that role following the Hercules fleet’s retirement in 2023.