Exercise BRAVE DEFENDER was a UK national military home defence exercise involving in the order of 65,00 service personnel to test plans and procedures for the ground defence of vital establishments. 

In August 1985, 3 PARA was tasked with operating in civilian clothes as Red Forces to test the security of critical infrastructure in North-East England from 2 to 11 September. The CO was Major General Dair Farrar-Hockley.

On completion of this task, the battalion regrouped for the final 48 hours as part of Blue Forces, tasked with carrying out an airborne assault onto the STANTA training area in Norfolk to capture the enemy’s final stronghold. Unbeknown to the battalion, NATO Chiefs of Staff had gathered to watch the drop on Frog Hill DZ.

The morning after the exercise had ended the CO was telephoned by Field Marshal Bramall (CDS) congratulating the battalion on demonstrating to SACEUR and his senior commanders the utility of force projection by airborne assault. 

Source: Hansard, 21 March 1985, and retired Maj Gen Dair Farrar-Hockley (CO 3 PARA 1985-1987)