All smiles after a successful jump onto the drop zone.

In pictures: Airborne soldiers make history

For the first time, in an exercise over Salisbury Plain, British Paratroopers jumped under British parachutes from a US Air Force aircraft

Exercise Pegasus Eagle saw a C-130J Hercules from US Air Force Squadron fly into RAF Brize Norton from Germany for a week of joint training.

The exercise was all about developing the ability of British and American airborne forces. They are trained and ready to deploy on operations together, this training helps to mix and share resources.

Being able to use each other’s equipment and mix and share resources makes the partnership more capable and flexible.

US jumpmasters and RAF Parachute Jump Instructors agreed on common procedures and then soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade have parachuted from the aircraft under British canopies.

The British paratroopers earned their US parachute wings by jumping under US canopies from US aircraft. In return, the US soldiers have earned British parachute wings jumping from RAF aircraft, but this is the first time that the nationality of parachutes and aircraft have been mixed.

Take a look at this historic moment in pictures📸

A British paratrooper stands ready to leave the American C-130J Hercules aircraft through the side door at the rear of the plane.

A British Paratrooper exits a C-130J Hercules from USAF’s 37th Airlift Squadron.

A British Paratrooper exits a C-130J Hercules from USAF’s 37th Airlift Squadron.

A British Paratrooper packs his parachute away on Fox Culvert Drop Zone (DZ) on Salisbury Plain.

As one Paratrooper walks off the drop zone another lands.

A British Paratrooper walks across Fox Culvert Drop Zone (DZ) on Salisbury Plain, with further Paratroopers.

The long walk off the drop zone to regroup with the rest of the soldiers.

All smiles after a successful jump onto the drop zone.

Find out where else the UK Armed Forces are deployed here 👇