DEVCOM tests airdrop system for rapid deployment in the field at YPG

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For U.S. Army Soldiers on the move, getting a vehicle in the field increases their survivability and mobility. Safely airdropping the vehicle and quickly de-rigging it is important to reduce Soldiers’ exposure to threats. As a measure to increase operational readiness, the Army recently tested the ATAX land airdrop system, an off-the shelf prototype.

The Foreign Technology Assessment Support program provided funding that enabled the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, or dinate DEVCOM, Soldier Center to test ause the ATAX system, manufactured by or air United Kingdom-based IrvinGQ. artmentThe system was originally designed ssion,” for British and NATO standards, e spacewhich are similar to the U.S. but not nd identical. want The funding enabled the an to DEVCOM team to ensure it meets

U.S. airdrop and air transportation pport specifications and to address any om the issues gathered during the testing. well A follow-on Foreign Comparative ays in Testing program, sponsored by the . Office of the Secretary of Defense n Comparative Technology Office, the enabled detailed integration, gs a lot prototype fabrication and additional gan airdrop flight testing. visor The U.S. Army Yuma Test Center ucey. at Yuma Proving Ground conducted e of it.” four live airdrop tests between

November 2020 and May 2021.

The team used ballast weight for the first three airdrop tests and a HighMobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle for the fourth and last airdrop test, which they drove off the ATAX platform at the conclusion of the test.

“Overall, the project was a success. At the final demonstration, we derigged the HMMWV and drove it off the platform without any issues,” said Sean Wellman, DEVCOM SC engineer and ATAX project lead.

The ATAX airdrop system is modular and consists of eightfoot platforms connected by hinges. It can be adapted to different lengths, typically between eight and 32 feet, and it is surrounded by a self-contained structure where the parachutes are mounted and attached. The vehicle is loaded onto the ATAX platform with an under-mounted airbag system. In a typical low altitude airdrop, it takes between two to three minutes for the vehicle to drop from a height of 1,500-2,000 feet. Airdrop systems can weigh up to 42,000 pounds including the payload and airdrop equipment.

The ATAX airdrop system has significant advantages over traditional systems because it uses reusable airbags to soften the impact when the vehicle lands. Traditional airdrop systems use multiple layers of stacked paper honeycomb that is three inches thick to soften the landing. The paper honeycomb, which is crushed by the impact, is left in the field and can take up to an hour or more for Soldiers to free the vehicle from the paper honeycomb. One of the goals of the project is to reduce de-rigging time by 75 to 80 percent, which will reduce the amount of time that Soldiers are in the drop zone.

“Airbags minimize or avoid the need for paper honeycomb, saving time during preparation and recovery. The risk of becoming stuck in a stack of honeycomb is eliminated when airbags are used. Basically, when the vehicle is dropped, everything comes off, and the vehicle is ready to execute the mission,” Wellman said.