U.S. Army Picatinny Arsenal ensure software reliability for advanced precision airdrop system 12911161

Military Defense Industry Technology - Precision airdrop system
 
U.S. Army Picatinny Arsenal ensure software reliability for advanced precision airdrop system.
Engineers at U.S. Army Picatinny Arsenal are applying their expertise in software reliability to an advanced precision airdrop system designed to deliver vital supplies to the warfighter on time and in challenging terrain with minimum damage to cargo.
     
Engineers at U.S. Army Picatinny Arsenal are applying their expertise in software reliability to an advanced precision airdrop system designed to deliver vital supplies to the warfighter on time and in challenging terrain with minimum damage to cargo. Paratroopers assigned to the 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade, recover a Humvee after it was airdropped onto Frida IV Drop Zone in Pordenone, Italy, Jan. 21, 2016.
     

The Joint Precision Airdrop System, or JPADS, is intended to provide increased tactical maneuverability and enable a sustainment capability to support total Army, multi-service, and multi-national ground forces.

Moreover, JPADS meets a sustaining combat power requirement to provide high altitude, precision airdrop as a direct and theater delivery method into dynamic, dispersed, and unsecured battle scenarios.

The JPADS Air Vehicles are a family of high altitude systems offering weight capabilities of 500, 2,400 and 10,000 pounds.

The JPADS systems provide precision-guided capability for the accurate delivery of Container Delivery System (CDS) loads on to small drop zones from U.S. Air Force C-130 and C-17 aircraft flying at high altitudes and stand-off distances.

JPADS is especially helpful to Special Forces, but also has wider military applicability. The overall program has been a joint effort by the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps since 1997.

JPADS provides Guidance, Navigation and Control (GN&C) capabilities unattainable by simpler airdrop technologies. These modernization efforts encompassed within JPADS include improving the accuracy and performance of JPADS in numerous challenging weather and terrain conditions.