BRITISH and French paratroopers are training together in a major exercise to demonstrate their ability to operate together.

Exercise Eagles Amarante involves 1,800 troops from Colchester- based 16 Air Assault Brigade (AAB) and 11e Brigade Parachutiste.

Both brigades provide their armies’ rapid reaction forces and are at the forefront of Franco- British military co-operation.

Together they form the Interim Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (I-CJEF) which is ready to deploy at short notice on operations anywhere in the world.

The two-week exercise started with British and French troops and equipment converging on Wattisham Flying Station in Suffolk.

The ground troops are supported by British and French aircraft.

Their challenge is to restore stability to a troubled region, with a key task being a helicopter- borne night raid on Rock Barracks, Woodbridge, before the troops parachute onto the Stanta Ranges in Thetford to assault enemy positions.

Major Chris Prior, second-incommand of the 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, said: “Working with the French is a fantastic opportunity and we are sharing experiences and learning a lot from each other already.

“So far, we have been bringing the force together at Wattisham, familiarising ourselves with the different equipment we use and planning and rehearsing for the missions to come.”

Major Stephan Cognon, chief of staff of 1er RCP, said: “This training is about improving our ability to work together at all levels, from the planning and decision making to the paratroopers working side by side on the ground.

“If our two brigades are able to work together, it offers a potent option to our political leaders to respond to international crises.”

The partnership is part of the 2010 Lancaster House agreements, which set out closer military and security ties between Britain and France.