Army

Infanteers from 3 Para tangle with drones and dragoons as old school warfare gets modern twist

A designated marksman from A Company, 3 Para, briefs his section as they prepare to assault a US enemy position during Exercise Fly Trap in Lithuania

Soldiers from the US Army’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment engage the British paras as they defended their position

One para keeps an eye on the enemy while a fellow soldier from his section takes aim with his SA80 L85A3

Both sides took turns to attack and defend, either using drones in an offensive role or defending against them (Picture: US Department of War)

This US soldier attempts to locate the British troops in the field as he operates a first person view attack drone from the comfort of a building

But the US troops didn't have it all their own way as some of the paras were equipped with Drone Guns, which break the link between the drone and its pilot

Meanwhile, this para was using Neo jamming equipment to provide a bubble of protection from the US drones

Both sides have been quick to learn the lessons from the war in Ukraine and drones are now a major component of modern warfare (Picture: US Department of War)

It was now 3 Para's turn to take the role of the defender, repelling attempts to take the building by the US cavalry soldiers

Another piece of hi-tech kit at their disposal was Cortexa Guardian - a static camera and radar system that can locate and identify drone threats

Parachute Regiment soldiers have been mixing it up with a US Army cavalry unit, with both sides learning to operate amid the threat of drones.

Infanteers from A Company, 3rd Battalion took part in Exercise Fly Trap in Lithuania, with soldiers from 2nd Cavalry Regiment – better known as the Second Dragoons – taking on the role of the opposing force.

The two "enemies" took turns at attacking and defending, while making good use of drones as well as various drone countermeasures.

Drop zones and dragoons

During the three weeks of training, 3 Para and Second Dragoons fought mock battles to test each other's kit and tactics.

The two units alternated between attacking with both reconnaissance and strike uncrewed aerial systems and defending against drones.

The Parachute Regiment leads from the front as airborne infantry. Of the four battalions, one is permanently at High Readiness for worldwide intervention operations.

While 1 Para is in role as the Special Forces Support Group, 3 Para is based at Merville Barracks in Colchester, a purpose-built barracks for 16 Air Assault Brigade.

Meanwhile, the US Army's 2nd Cavalry Regiment is based at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany. It operates the Stryker armoured vehicle in a dual role of mechanised infantry and armoured reconnaissance.

It can trace its lineage back to the early part of the 19th century and its nickname Second Dragoons is a reference to those mounted infantry who would ride to battle then fight on foot.

All pictures courtesy of the Ministry of Defence unless otherwise stated

British paras take on US cavalry as both sides fight with drones