Paratroopers from Allied air forces performed a large-scale night-time parachute insertion as part of exercises at Talisman Sabre 25 in Australia.
Over 335 paratroopers from US, German and French air forces flew more than 10,000 kilometers from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (EDF) in Alaska aboard six C-17 Globemasters to execute a Joint Forcible Entry Operation (JFEO).
JFEOs are large-scale missions that see Army and Air Force units working together to drop troops into contested areas and secure key terrain for follow-on forces.
Five German personnel jumped alongside US forces and around 10 medics supported the operation, along with 15 staff members responsible for coordination. Meanwhile, 36 French paratroopers from New Caledonia also joined US and German troops in the airborne operation, marking the first time French paratroopers have conducted a jump in Australia.
The operation included a 14.5-hour flight, mid-air refuelling and real-time communication with US and allied headquarters throughout the journey.
Eventually, the troops dropped into Charters Towers, a rural town in Queensland, under the cover of night. The exercise used allied night vision capabilities to launch a surprise operation designed to overwhelm any adversary.
France, Germany and the US successfully conducted a night-time parachute insertion near Charters Towers in QLD.
— Talisman Sabre (@TalismanSabre) July 17, 2025
📷 LACW Nell Bradbury, CPL Emma Schwenke, CPL Guy Sadler#TS25 #TalismanSabre25 #StrongerTogether @FrenchForces @USArmy pic.twitter.com/WmrmPAwIFa
Following the drop, the multinational force began seizing training objectives and airfields before handing control to Australia’s 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, as part of a broader joint operation set to continue with a second parachute insertion at Shoalwater Bay.
In addition to the paratroopers, the operation also airdropped heavy equipment, including 10 Humvees, command and control vehicles, mortar systems with transport vehicles and several door bundles.
The 480-hectare drop zone bordered a five-kilometer lake, requiring ADF water safety teams to be on standby in case of parachute overshoots during the night insertion.
Exercise Talisman Sabre is a biennial, multinational military exercise led by Australia and the United States. This year’s Talisman Sabre began on July 13 and will conclude July 27, 2025.