Soldiers from Colchester have travelled to the Canadian prairies for advanced training intended to prepare them for battlefields where drones and electronic disruption feature prominently.
Exercise Rhino Bizz brings electronic warfare focus
Members of the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA) and the 16 Air Assault Brigade, based at Colchester barracks, are participating in Exercise Rhino Bizz at the British Army Training Unit Suffield in Alberta. The two‑week exercise involves roughly 350 British and Canadian personnel and concentrates on tactics and systems relevant to modern, technology‑driven conflict.
"We are learning from current battlefields around the world," said 2 PARA commanding officer Lt Col Craig Shephard.
The brigade is described as the British Army’s global response force, trained and equipped to deploy by parachute. The focus of the training includes:
- operating drones over long distances,
- jamming and countering electronic signals,
- planning and conducting live explosive strikes in contested environments.
Why this matters to Essex
The presence of Colchester units in a multinational exercise underlines the continuing role of the county’s barracks in preparing forces for high‑end operations. Training on electronic warfare and unmanned systems reflects changes in the character of conflict seen overseas and seeks to ensure troops from Essex can operate alongside allied counterparts and industry partners.
Local residents may notice the operational tempo at the barracks when personnel deploy or return, and the exercise highlights the technical demands placed on service personnel — from specialist skills to equipment procurement and maintenance that are often supported by UK defence firms.
Exercise details at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Units involved | 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment; 16 Air Assault Brigade |
| Location | British Army Training Unit Suffield, Alberta, Canada |
| Scale | About 350 British and Canadian soldiers |
| Duration | Two weeks |
| Focus | Drones, electronic warfare, live explosive strike integration |
Commanders say the training is informed by recent conflicts worldwide and by cooperation with industry to adopt new capabilities. For communities in Essex, the exercise is a reminder of the specialised and evolving nature of the tasks carried out by local servicemen and women.
Further information about the exercise and the role of 16 Air Assault Brigade is available from official Ministry of Defence releases and the British Army’s published materials.
