Army

Paras use e-bikes and quads to help them shoot at the enemy – then scoot away

Mike Morton

28th July 2026 at 11:49am

The e-bike and quad bike are two very effective tools to get the Anti-Tank Platoon soldiers in the right place at the right time - ready for the fight — The e-bike and quad bike are two very effective tools to get the Anti-Tank Platoon soldiers in the right place at the right time – ready for the fight

A soldier from 2 Para's Anti-Tank Platoon rides across the prairie on a Sting e-bike during Exercise Rhino Bizz at British Army Training Unit Suffield in Canada - an area better known as BATUS — A soldier from 2 Para's Anti-Tank Platoon rides across the prairie on a Sting e-bike during Exercise Rhino Bizz at British Army Training Unit Suffield in Canada – an area better known as BATUS

Even though these ones are electric, paras are no strangers to riding bikes, with the Welbike being used at Arnhem during Operation Market Garden in WW2

The paras make good use of quad bikes to transport their Javelin and NLAW missile systems, while the e-bikes let the soldiers move forward quietly into recce positions

While the quad bikes bear the brunt of the heavy lifting, the weapon must be manhandled into position the old-fashioned way

With the weapon system in position, the paras launch a Javelin missile - the US-made FGM-148 has been in use since 1996, seeing combat in several theatres, including Afghanistan and Iraq — With the weapon system in position, the paras launch a Javelin missile – the US-made FGM-148 has been in use since 1996, seeing combat in several theatres, including Afghanistan and Iraq

The e-bike and quad bike riders work together to secure the Javelins after making a successful shot so they can relocate and re-engage more quickly

The Heckler & Koch 40mm Grenade Machine Gun provides unrivalled infantry suppression, combining the best characteristics of the heavy machine guns or light mortars usually employed in this role

Infanteers from 2 Para's Anti-Tank Platoon have been riding into battle on exercise in Canada – using e-bikes and quad bikes to shoot and scoot.

Exercise Rhino Bizz, which took place over 96 hours at the vast British Army Training Unit Suffield, saw the airborne soldiers use drones and electronic warfare sensors to locate "enemy" targets.

The paras then moved in teams of four on Sting e-bikes, supported by a quad bike and trailer carrying missiles and batteries.

They fired Javelin missiles to destroy armoured vehicles and used Anti-Structures Munitions to blast through walls to allow Canadian infantry to assault a village.

They then provided supporting fire from Grenade Machine Guns which had been moved into position by the quads.

This enhanced mobility enabled the paras to operate well forward of friendly forces – and quickly disengage and relocate afterwards.

All images courtesy of the Ministry of Defence