The parachute platoon of the Parachute Regiment 31 practiced parachuting near the small town of Barth in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. A converted Luftwaffe A400M transport aircraft was used for this purpose.
In parachuting, the soldiers jump from the aircraft from a great height far ahead of their destination. The parachute is opened already at high altitude. In this way, the exercise participants glide the missing distance to the planned landing zone. This procedure is tactically significant because it allows soldiers to scout the landing zone for following aircraft and paratroopers. The vanguard’s task is to gather information on weather data, infrastructure and the number of enemy forces, among other things. In Germany, paragliding over several kilometers is possible only to a limited extent. The airspace is too frequently frequented by civilian aircraft. For this reason, the airspace above Barth was closed to civilian air traffic for the purpose of conducting exercises. Paragliding can be practiced here both during the day and at night.
To ensure the smooth execution of the exercise, the German Air Force provided a modified A400M transport aircraft. For the special features of a tactical freefall jump, the aircraft, which is otherwise equipped for up to 114 soldiers, was converted to 54 seats. In total, members of the special parachute platoon successfully performed some 1,500 parachute jumps.
This year’s exercise was attended by the commander of Airborne Brigade 1 from Saarlouis, Germany, Brigadier General Andreas Steinhaus. “The special capabilities in my parachute platoons are indispensable for the strategic option of airborne operations. Without these capabilities, we would be a simple fighter brigade. Maintaining them requires the highest level of professionalism in training and constant practice. This week’s implementation was exemplary of that.” Steinhaus also participated in jumps himself.