The US Army is currently testing a new parachute cargo-drop system that promises to deliver soldiers and their equipment to the drop zone more efficiently.
The Rapid Rigging De-Rigging Airdrop System (RRDAS) is designed to detach after landing, enabling soldiers to exit the area quickly and avoid potential danger.
According to a press release by the US Army, the system is easier to rig than conventional cargo payloads and can get soldiers into the fight with the equipment they need faster than ever.
TOPSHOT - Members of the Golden Knights, the US Army official aerial parachute demonstration team, performs during the Apollo 11, 50th anniversary celebration at Space Center Houston on July 20, 2019, in Houston, Texas.
Reusable Airbag Modules
The RRDAS consists of a series of reusable airbag modules that are deployed to cushion the impact of the payload as it lands on the ground.
Unlike traditional cargo parachutes that use cardboard material to cushion the landing, RRDAS uses ten airbag modules that are capable of absorbing the force of impact. These self-inflating airbags can be deployed as low as 750 feet above ground level and can carry loads ranging from 5,000 to 22,000 pounds.
The system is currently being tested at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, and its success could lead to widespread adoption across the military.
The RRDAS promises to provide a more efficient and reliable means of delivering critical supplies and equipment to troops on the ground.
The new system is expected to significantly reduce the time it takes for soldiers to receive their supplies and equipment, allowing them to remain in the fight and complete their missions more effectively.
"When it flies through the air, ambient air pressurizes all of the fabric-based airbags," Maj. Matthew Rohe, Assistant Product Manager for Cargo Aerial Delivery at the US Army Program Executive Office Combat Support and Combat Service Support, said in a statement.
"When it hits the ground, the airbag modules cushion the payload, so we don't need as much honeycomb as in the current design."
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Decreasing the Use of Honeycomb
The new system to decrease the use of honeycomb, which should lower rigging time by 25%. However, what has testers particularly excited is the potential to reduce de-rigging time by 40%, allowing soldiers to get out of harm's way faster.
According to David Emond, operations manager for Product Manager Force Sustainment Systems, the system should reduce de-rigging time by around two and a half hours primarily through the reduction of the use of honeycomb.
Once a vehicle crushes the honeycomb, soldiers currently have to cut out all the honeycomb around the vehicle's tires to be able to drive it off.
The RRDAS system also boasts features to ensure an airdropped vehicle will land upright. Deployable outriggers on the system can kick out and stop a high center of gravity load with a chance of tipping over when it hits the ground.
The developmental testing of RRDAS is scheduled to end later this year, and full fielding of the system to troops is expected in Fiscal Year 2025. However, intermittent testing based on feedback from operational testing at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, will continue at YPG for two years after that.
The testing will include increasing the load of the payload and the length of the platform so that heavier and longer items can be dropped.
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