16 Air Assault Brigade

06/10/2026

🛬"Airland: This involves personnel and/or cargo being moved by air and disembarked, or unloaded, after the aircraft has landed."
Joint Doctrine Note 1/20 Air Manoeuvre

Landing in an A400M transport aircraft, B Company, 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment demonstrated rapid airlanding (RAL) - used to build up combat power after an airfield has been seized in a parachute or helicopter assault - during an industry day at RAF Lossiemouth.

The paratroopers mounted from RAF Marham to fly into the event, which showcased just some of the people, platforms and capabilities that keep the UK ready to respond to security threats.

03/10/2026

🆎Gluck ab!

On Germany’s Day of Unity, sending greetings to our Fallschirmjäger allies in Luftlandebrigade 1!

🪂(🇬🇧+🇩🇪)=💪

02/10/2026

The Drone Wars competition tested soldiers' readiness to fight on modern battlefields dominated by drones.

1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Ri**es organised the event, with 23 teams from across the Army taking part.

Troops were tested on their tactical use of drones to find and strike the enemy, not just their skill as pilots.

Read more: https://www.army.mod.uk/news/soldiers-compete-on-drone-battlefield/

29/09/2026

“Et par St Michel, vive les Paras!”🪂

St Michael, whose feast day is 29 September, is celebrated as the patron saint of paratroopers. The tradition began when a padre gave St Michael medallions to paratroopers from the French 2e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes jumping into Brittany in June 1944 to conduct sabotage operations before D-Day.

On this special airborne day, we send greetings to our colleagues in 82nd Airborne Division, 11th Airborne Division, and 173rd Airborne Brigade 🇺🇸; 11e brigade parachutiste 🇫🇷; 11 Luchtmobiele Brigade 🇳🇱; 6 Brygada Powietrznodesantowa im. gen. bryg. Stanisława Sosabowskiego🇵🇱; 陸上自衛隊　第１空挺団　1st Airborne Brigade🇯🇵; Brigada "Almogávares" VI de Paracaidistas🇪🇸; Luftlandebrigade 1🇩🇪; Brigata Paracadutisti "Folgore"🇮🇹; and all other paratroopers in NATO and our wider allies.

26/09/2026

In the early hours of 26 September 1944 some 2,500 🇬🇧 and 🇵🇱 soldiers of 1st Airborne Division crossed the River Rhine to escape Oosterbeek and bring Operation Market Garden to an end. 1,485 had been killed and 6,525 were captured, many injured.

The mission was over-ambitious and ultimately failed; but the soldiers' bravery, endurance and determination set a standard expected of today's airborne forces.

We will remember them.

24/09/2026

Marking two firsts for airborne forces:

Flt Lt Alice is the first Royal Air Force servicewoman to pass P Company - read more at https://raf.mod.uk/news/articles/raf-servicewoman-makes-history-by-passing-p-company/

Lance Corporal Cussons, of HAC Regiment - Honourable Artillery Company, is the first female Reservist to pass P Company - read more at https://army.mod.uk/news/first-female-reservist-completes-elite-army-parachute-selection-course/

Ad Unum Omnes 🆎💪

28/08/2026

An honour to join our Polish airborne colleagues 6 Brygada Powietrznodesantowa im. gen. bryg. Stanisława Sosabowskiego to pay tribute to the Second World War paratroopers of 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade and the bonds they formed with the community in Fife.

🇬🇧🤝🇵🇱

26/08/2026

📡Using radar to help build up a better picture of the battlefield.

53 Air Assault Battery Royal Artillery tested the new Ground Based Surveillance Radar on Exercise Rhino Bizz in Canada🇨🇦.

The sensor is used to track the location and movement of soldiers and vehicles on the ground, and aircraft and drones in the air. It can be used alongside artillery and mortars to track where rounds are landing, and correct their aim to destroy the target quicker.

Read more: https://www.army.mod.uk/news/new-radar-puts-gunners-on-target/

21/08/2026

🤝 2 PARA take over from 5 RI**ES 🤝

🪖 The 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment B Coy has officially taken over from the 5th Battalion, The Ri**es RECCE-STRIKE Coy as the British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI), Roulement Infantry Company (RIC).

Thank you, 5 RI**ES, and we wish every success to 2 PARA.

"Utrinque Paratus"

Photography by Cpl Braithwaite

20/08/2026

The Colchester Airborne Soldier Statue is a fitting tribute to the Brigade’s service and sacrifice and the strong and supportive bond formed with Colchester.🫡

Proudly airborne 🪂

For 25 years, 16 Air Assault Brigade has called Colchester home, serving around the world and standing alongside the local community.

The new Colchester Airborne Soldier Statue honours those who have served, those who continue to serve, and the families and community who have supported them every step of the way 🫡

Read more ⬇️
https://bit.ly/4bNLMwW