High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! 16 Air Assault Brigade (16 Air Asslt Bde) is a formation of the British Army based in Colchester in the county of Essex. It is the Army's premier rapid response airborne formation and is the only Operational Brigade in the British Army capable of delivering Air Manoeuvre, Air Assault and Airborne operations. In addition to Army personnel, 16 Air Assault Brigade also contains resources from the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm (846 and 845 Commando Helicopter Squadrons).