PARATROOPERS from Colchester have taken part in an exercise to hone their skills.

The 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, from Colchester Garrison were part of Exercise Pegasus Eagle.

The exercise is an annual event which works to develop the ability of British and American airborne forces, which are trained and ready to deploy on operations together.

Taking part, was Colchester’s 2 Para, based at Merville Barracks.

The exercise saw a C-130J Hercules from USAF’s 37th Airlift Squadron fly into RAF Brize Norton from its base at Ramstein in Germany.

US Jumpmasters and RAF Parachute Jump Instructors, who manage the dispatch of paratroopers from an aircraft, established common procedures for using the British Low-Level Parachute system on a US aircraft.

Then, soldiers from the 16 Air Assault Brigade parachuted on to RAF Weston-on-the-Green from the US aircraft under British canopies.

A British Army spokesman said: “Troops from 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team conduct regular parachute descents to maintain their skills and readiness for operations as the British Army’s global response force.

“Jumping with British parachutes from US aircraft develops the partnership between our airborne forces, making it more flexible, ready and capable.”