The Ministry of Defence has procured 890 additional parachutes as it works to align the Army’s airborne capability with plans for 16 Air Assault Brigade to lead very-high-readiness land crisis response, Armed Forces Minister Louise Sandher-Jones has said.
The figures were disclosed in a written parliamentary answer to Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, who asked what progress had been made towards Recommendation 45 of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review. That recommendation calls for global crisis response at very high readiness in the land domain to be led by 16 Air Assault Brigade.
Sandher-Jones said: “Airborne capability is delivered through a combination of parachute equipment, trained personnel and supporting air delivery platforms, and Defence continues to manage these elements to meet current operational requirements.”
She added: “Defence is working to ensure airborne parachute capability and capacity are aligned with Recommendation 45 of the Strategic Defence Review.”
As part of that work, the MOD has purchased 665 additional Low-Level Parachutes and 225 Low Level Reserve Parachutes, giving a combined total of 890 additional parachutes. Sandher-Jones said: “This has included the procurement of 665 additional Low-Level Parachutes and 225 Low level Reserve Parachutes to sustain current fleet levels.”
Sandher-Jones added: “Further work is underway to consider parachute equipment requirements and investment decisions, alongside wider Defence priorities, to ensure Defence retains the capabilities required for future operational tasks.”
16 Air Assault Brigade is the British Army formation associated with high-readiness airborne operations and includes forces trained for rapid deployment by parachute and air assault. Under the Strategic Defence Review, the brigade is intended to sit at the centre of the Army’s ability to respond rapidly to crises overseas.
That role existed long before the latest SDR, though.
Back in the late 90s they were calling it the “New” JRDF, Joint Rapid Deployment Force” before 5 Airborne Bde became 16 Air Assault.
What is new is the branding “Global Response Force.”
They love a good rebranding.
The number of additional parachutes seems appropriate to the Force level able to be dropped?
Just anther name in a long list of name changes🙄back when we had spearhead quick reaction force drawn from various units on a rotational basis based in the UK. At least twice my Sqn was tasked and crashed out to Lynham to give Herc loadmasters a heart attack practicing loading up😀