The RAAF has advanced its airdrop capability for the ADF at the Woomera Test Range in South Australia.
The joint precision airdrop system (JPADS) combines existing airdrop practice with GPS technology, giving the Air Movement Group accurate delivery of payloads to a drop zone by using steerable parachutes.
RAAF C-17A Globemasters and now the C-130J Hercules can now drop a payload several kilometres away from the drop zone, and from an altitude of up to 25,000ft – or 7.6km.
The recent trial was conducted by the Air Movements Training and Development Unit (AMTDU), a joint Air Force and Army unit from RAAF Base Richmond and involved a C-130J Hercules.
AMTDU Test Director FLTLT Justin Della Bosca said the ‘point of impact’ for the JPADS payload was programmed into the guidance unit by the aircrew during the mission planning phase.
“The JPADS capability enables the precision resupply to ground forces from high altitudes and from long stand-off distance,” FLTLT Della Bosca said.
“This reduces the aircraft’s exposure to ground-based threats as well as enabling an aircraft to launch re-supply to various drop zones from a single release point.”
In February 2014, a C-17A Globemaster successfully conducted a trial JPADS drop using the latest available technology.
“The latest operational evaluation will introduce a JPADS training capability for the fleet of Hercules,” FLTLT Della Bosca said.
The JPADS kit can accommodate one tonne of any payload that will fit into a container delivery system. After ground and airborne trials with the JPADS load, the first trial drop was conducted on July 30. Flying at an altitude of 20,000ft with the C-130J’s ramp open required the crew to be on oxygen masks.
“The C-130J released an 800kg load at high altitude, about 18.5km from the planned impact point,” FLTLT Della Bosca said. “The load landed within 25m from the planned point of impact, and within six seconds of predicted flight time.”
AMTDU will make a number of recommendations from the operational evaluation, allowing for a limited JPADS training capability on the C-130J.
The next goal is to roll out JPADS on the C-27J Spartan and use JPADS in support of operations. Rigge supervisor SGT Mark Ferrer, of AMTDU, said the JPADS kit was reusable.
“The complete system consists of a canopy, pilot chute and autonomous guidance unit,” he said.
“Recovery of the system requires a drop zone team on the ground – a minimum of four personnel – to lift and remove it. To re-use the system, three qualified parachute riggers and one checker need to re-service the kit, which includes inspection, and repair of any damage to the system if required. They will then repack the JPADS to a serviceable system for re-classification to fully functional, ready for next descent,” SGT Ferrer said.