British and French Paras train together

British and French troops have performed parachute jumps using each other’s aircraft and equipment as they work towards a closer relationship.

Exercise Eagles Vol saw soldiers from Colchester-based 16 Air Assault Brigade jump alongside their French counterparts from 11e Brigade Parachutiste (11e BP) in Pau, South West France, on Thursday 5 July.

French instructor watches his troops descend under British parachutes during Exercise Eagles Vol. (Picture: Corporal Obi Igbo, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012)

British and French troops performed parachute jumps using each other's aircraft and equipment. (Picture: Corporal Obi Igbo, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012)

Both brigades provide their armies’ rapid reaction forces, held at high readiness to deploy on operations anywhere in the world. They have been tasked to develop a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force for contingency operations ranging from disaster relief to war-fighting.

The exercise saw British paratroopers jump wearing the French Ensemble de Parachutage Individuel parachutes from a French C-160 Transall aircraft, while French troops jumped from an RAF C-130 Hercules with British low-level parachutes. By doing the jumps, the soldiers earned the other country’s parachute wings, with a presentation ceremony held on the drop zone.

British and French troops present each other with their nations badges and parachute wings after successfully parachuting from each other's aircraft during Exercise Eagles Vol. (Picture: Corporal Obi Igbo, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012)

Experts from the Joint Air Delivery Test and Evaluation Unit also inspected the vehicles and equipment used by 11e BP for airborne operations to assess what could be transported in British aircraft on a joint mission.

The partnership between the two brigades is part of closer military cooperation between Britain and France following the signing of the Defence and Security Cooperation Treaty in November 2010.

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