Training in Japan has made the partnership between British and Japanese soldiers stronger, improving the ability to defend our shared security.
British and Japanese forces sharing information on enemy positions whilst on during Exercise Vigilant Isles.
Paratroopers from A Company, jumped from a Japanese C130 aircraft, as part of the joint exercise.
Paratroopers from A Company, jumped from a Japanese C130 aircraft, as part of the joint exercise.
A paratrooper from the A Company is given his Japanese wings by a soldier from the Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces during the wings parade.
Members of the Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces and 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment take part in a force on force element of the exercise.
Members of the Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces and 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment take part in a force on force element of the exercise.
Paratroopers practise the flight drills in the flight swing guided by soldiers from the 1st Airborne Brigade, Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces.
The Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment alongside Colonel Kobayashi, Brigade Commander of the 1st Airborne Brigade, Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces’ (JGSDF), addressing the troops involved with Exercise Vigilant Isles.
Exercise Vigilant Isles 25 brought together soldiers from A Company, 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (A Coy, 2 PARA) and Japan Ground Self Defence Forces' 5th Brigade.
Developing skills together
The training lasted two weeks and took place at the Minami-Eniwa training area on the mountainous island of Hokkaido. British troops jumped using Japanese parachutes, and soldiers from both countries learned about each other's equipment and tactics.
The training finished with a field exercise to practise defending against a simulated enemy invasion of Japanese territory. Soldiers went into battle by parachute, helicopters, amphibious landings and vehicles.
A Coy 2 PARA was supported by Puma uncrewed aircraft systems from 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery and a Light Electronic Warfare Team from 14 Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare) (14 Sig Regt). The specialist Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance troops helped find enemy positions so they could be destroyed or avoided before they became a threat to the joint force.
Major Eddie Brecht, Officer Commanding A Coy 2 PARA, said: "Exercise Vigilant Isles is about British and Japanese soldiers training together to defend a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Working together seamlessly, we have developed our readiness for warfighting and achieved some notable firsts.
"During my career I have trained in 15 countries, and I have never seen British soldiers integrate so quickly with those of another nation, which reflects the hospitality and openness of our Japanese allies."
"British and Japanese paratroopers have trained to conduct tactical parachute operations together, and we have developed a software solution that allows targets identified by British reconnaissance assets to be prosecuted by Japanese artillery rapidly and with high precision.
"This has also been a fantastic experience for our soldiers to develop their soldiering skills, while also building lasting friendships. During my career I have trained in 15 countries, and I have never seen British soldiers integrate so quickly with those of another nation, which reflects the hospitality and openness of our Japanese allies."
Building friendships between nations
Lance Corporal Maxwell Morley, an electronic warfare and signals intelligence operator at 14 Sig Regt, said: "Working with different armies is always a valuable experience, because you get to see how others do the same job. We can learn and adapt to improve how we operate and help our allies to do the same.
"It's been fascinating to come to Japan and experience the culture. The Japanese have been very friendly and have gone out of their way to make us feel welcome."
"We can learn and adapt to improve how we operate and help our allies to do the same."
Some paratroopers jumped using a Japanese Type 13 parachute from a Japan Air Self Defence Force C-130H Hercules aircraft. This meant they earned their Japanese parachute wings.
Corporal Tyler Moore, a section commander from 2 PARA, said: "It's interesting to learn how to use a different parachute system and the training is very thorough. Equipment and procedures are very similar, but there are little differences in how to fit the equipment and what to do in the aircraft."
Exercise Vigilant Isles has now happened four times. It's part of the growing military relationship between the UK and Japan, built on their shared commitment to Indo-Pacific security. The UK is the only European country able to carry out bilateral military training in Japan.
5th Brigade commander Major General Tomoki Kishira said: "Building upon a lot of lessons learned, we will continue to enhance our operational capabilities to respond to various contingencies and strengthen mutual understanding and trust between Japan and the UK."