[antimedia] antimedia: If you've ever seen materiel (supplies)drops....

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Many an embattled/encircled group could have used this system in wars past 

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Subject: [antimedia] antimedia: If you've ever seen materiel
(supplies)drops....

Posted by antimedia:
If you've ever seen materiel (supplies) drops....
http://www.antimedia.us/posts/1180215670.shtml


   ....than you know how hard it is to hit the target. In previous wars
   materiel has often been dropped behind enemy lines or in areas where
   troops have to expose themselves to enemy fire to retrieve the
   supplies. So [1]using GPS to hit the target is a pretty cool advance,
   wouldn't you say?

     A C-17 Globemaster III deployed to Southwest Asia conducted the
     first C-17 combat airdrop May 24 using the Joint Precision Airdrop
     System with a screamer. Screamers are steerable GPS-guided
     container delivery system bundles.
     The mission was also unique because it conducted airdrops in two
     locations using two types of delivery systems. The drops delivered
     food, water and ammunition to U.S. forces in two remote locations
     in Afghanistan. The crew first delivered about 21,000 pounds of
     supplies using 14 of the JPADS steerable screamer chutes. It then
     resupplied a different group of ground forces with more than 8,000
     pounds of supplies using six Improved Container Delivery System
     bundles.
     [......]
     The JPADS mission software computes a release point based on a
     four-dimensional forecast wind model and the actual wind data
     relayed to the aircraft. The data is then sent via wireless
     transfer to GPS receivers located on the top of each CDS bundle.
     Each bundle has GPS-guided autonomous actuators mounted at the top
     that steer the chute while it drops at 100 mph to a point above the
     drop zone. A larger parachute then deploys to slow the descent
     rate, allowing for a soft touchdown of the bundle directly over the
     drop zone.
     Officials said using steerable chutes allows guaranteed accuracy
     for ground forces while keeping the aircraft at high altitudes and
     away from ground threats.
     [......]
     "The system was amazing to watch," said Staff Sgt. Derek Howard,
     the crew's evaluator loadmaster. "When the bundles departed the
     aircraft and the chutes deployed, you could instantly see them
     turning in what appeared to be a formation as the guidance system
     began steering the bundle directly over the drop zone."

   Imagine that -- supplies steering themselves to the drop point so that
   the men in the field get everything that they need and nothing is
   lost.
   Kudos to the Air Force for developing the system and getting it to
   work right.
   Tags: [2]military [3]airlift [4]supplies [5]GPS

References

   1.
http://www.centcom.mil/sites/uscentcom2/FrontPage%20Stories/C-17%20employs%2
0%27screamer%27%20in%20combat%20airdrop.aspx
   2. http://technorati.com/tag/military
   3. http://technorati.com/tag/airlift
   4. http://technorati.com/tag/supplies
   5. http://technorati.com/tag/GPS

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