British Army Pathfinders jump from RAF C-17 Globemaster over Estonia in Nato exercise

Highly specialised Pathfinder troops from the British Army have jumped from an RAF C-17 Globemaster aircraft over Estonia as part of a Nato exercise.

The Pathfinders, from 16 Air Assault Brigade, are an advanced reconnaissance force, jumping ahead of everyone else to find enemy positions and mark drop zones.

They also work with the main body of troops with tactical intelligence and offensive action support.

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In this exercise, they jumped from the Globemaster – part of the Air Mobility Force operated by 99 Squadron – over Rapla Air Base in Estonia.

The aircraft flew the 1,200 miles from RAF Brize Norton to Rapla and, after locating the drop zone, the C-17 opened up, with the Pathfinders jumping out.

The jump came as part of Exercise Swift Response, the first of three major US-led exercises for Nato Deterrence and Enhanced Readiness.

It started on 7 May and spans the Baltic Sea and Mediterranean regions.

Countries participating alongside the UK include the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain and the United States.