UK Light Guns can only parachute from allied aircraft

British L118 105mm Light Guns can still be deployed by parachute, but only from suitably cleared allied aircraft, while 16 Air Assault Brigade retains the option of flying the weapons into a Tactical Landing Zone using RAF A400M Atlas aircraft, the Ministry of Defence has said.

The position was set out by Defence Minister Luke Pollard in response to a written parliamentary question from Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, who asked what impact the current restriction on parachute deployment of the Light Gun was having on 16 Air Assault Brigade’s operational airborne capability.

Pollard said: “16 Air Assault Brigade remains able to deploy Light Guns by air, including through Rapid Air Landing using A400M ATLAS aircraft once a Tactical Landing Zone has been established. The Light Guns may also be deployed by parachute from suitably cleared allied aircraft when operating as part of a coalition. The Department keeps all operational capabilities under regular review.”

The answer confirms that the brigade retains an airborne route for moving its artillery, but distinguishes between rapid air landing from British A400M aircraft and parachute delivery from allied aircraft that have been cleared for the task.

The L118 Light Gun is the British Army’s lightweight 105mm artillery system and is closely associated with rapidly deployable formations because it can be moved by air and operated in areas where heavier artillery would be more difficult to deploy. For 16 Air Assault Brigade, the ability to move artillery quickly is particularly important because the formation is designed around high-readiness forces capable of deploying at short notice by air.

The answer is pretty clear that one option remains to transport Light Guns aboard A400M Atlas aircraft and land them once a Tactical Landing Zone has been established. That method differs from dropping the gun directly by parachute and therefore depends on access to a suitable landing area. Where the brigade is operating as part of a coalition, however, Pollard confirmed that the gun can still be parachuted from allied aircraft that have the appropriate clearance.

Pollard added that Defence keeps operational capabilities under regular review, leaving open the possibility of further changes to the arrangements governing airborne deployment of the L118.