Around 2,000 troops have descended on Suffolk to take part in a major military exercise to simulate their role in a border war involving a UK ally and an enemy neighbour.

Ipswich Star: Chinook crews pick up underslung loads at Woodbridge Airfield and refuel, alongside Apache helicopters, before commencing low level training and night flying as part of Exercise Joint Warrior. Picture: SGT SHANE DAVIESChinook crews pick up underslung loads at Woodbridge Airfield and refuel, alongside Apache helicopters, before commencing low level training and night flying as part of Exercise Joint Warrior. Picture: SGT SHANE DAVIES (Image: MoD Crown Copyright)

The soldiers are based at Rock Barracks near Woodbridge and this week have been making regular flying missions – involving Apache attack helicopters and RAF Chinook and Puma 2 transport helicopters – and being parachuted in to military ranges near Thetford for the training.

Brigadier Colin Weir DSO MBE, Commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade, said: “Joint Warrior is an excellent opportunity for 16 Air Assault Brigade to be put through its paces in its role as the British Army’s airborne rapid reaction force.

“This realistic and well-resourced training reflects the type of operations that the Brigade could be called on to do, both in terms of the tactical challenges and their expeditionary nature. The missions that we will be tasked to achieve within a short space of time are a powerful demonstration of the unique flexibility, reach and agility of airborne troops.”

Some 2,000 troops, more than 400 vehicles and 12 helicopters from the Air Assault Task Force (AATF), commanded by 16 Air Assault Brigade, are taking part in Joint Warrior, which concludes this weekend after three weeks.

Ipswich Star: 2 PARA prepare to clear a building as Airborne Assault Forces launch into Joint Warrior taking place at Woodbridge and near Thetford. Picture: CPL GEORGINA COUPE2 PARA prepare to clear a building as Airborne Assault Forces launch into Joint Warrior taking place at Woodbridge and near Thetford. Picture: CPL GEORGINA COUPE (Image: MoD Crown Copyright)

It tests AATF’s ability to mobilise and deploy on operations at short notice – with the exercise simulating deployment into an allied country and providing support to tackle an insurgency backed by a hostile neighbour.

The first mission saw troops secure Keevil Airfield on Salisbury Plain to establish a base to evacuate British citizens – known in military jargon as a non-combatant evacuation operation. Further tasks included planning and executing helicopter-borne raids and Apache strikes against enemy positions.

The AATF then relocated 200 miles across the country to Woodbridge to insert troops by parachute and helicopter on to the STANTA ranges in Norfolk to attack an insurgent stronghold.

AATF is made up from 2 PARA Battlegroup – built around the airborne infantry of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment bolstered by artillery, engineers, medics, signallers and logisticians – and Joint Helicopter Force 1, commanded by 4 Regiment Army Air Corps.

Ipswich Star: Paratroopers from 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment transported by RAF Chinook helicopter, as part of an exercise that tests the Air Assault Task Force's ability to deploy on operations at short notice being held partly at Woodbridge. Picture: STEVE DUNCOMBEParatroopers from 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment transported by RAF Chinook helicopter, as part of an exercise that tests the Air Assault Task Force's ability to deploy on operations at short notice being held partly at Woodbridge. Picture: STEVE DUNCOMBE (Image: Archant)

Ipswich Star: Soldiers from 2 PARA Battlegroup landing on the military ranges in Norfolk in Exercise Joint Warrior after being dropped from a C130 Aircraft, from Wattisham. Picture: SGT SHANE DAVIESSoldiers from 2 PARA Battlegroup landing on the military ranges in Norfolk in Exercise Joint Warrior after being dropped from a C130 Aircraft, from Wattisham. Picture: SGT SHANE DAVIES (Image: MoD Crown Copyright)