Vikings fly south for Yuma air drop

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Lee Place
  • 934th Operations Support Flight
Minneapolis, St. Paul International Airport Air Reserve Station --  The 96th Airlift Squadron demonstrated a "lean forward" approach toward its tactical airdrop mission by sending an aircrew to the U.S. Army Proving Grounds in Yuma, Ariz., Feb. 23 through 27 to test a new delivery system and software. 

The 13-person team, which was comprised of members from the 934th Operations Group, 934th Operations Support Flight, the, 934th Maintenance Squadron and 96th Airlift Squadron, made the trek to Arizona specifically to test the new Low Cost Aerial Delivery System with Strata Wireless Activation Devices as well as Joint Precision Airdrop System software. 

The LCADS is a one-time use, stand-alone airdrop system consisting of a modular suite of low cost airdrop items (made up of parachutes, containers, platforms and other air items). All components must be simple in design, maintenance and operation, and have low production and lifecycle costs to be included in the suite.
During the four days of flying the crew dropped seven of the LCADS each weighing around 10,000 pounds. Along with the LCADS system, the crew tested a new device called a SWAD, which allows the LCADS loads to free-fall with a smaller parachute to keep stable for a specified amount of time. At the end of that time the SWAD activates releasing the main parachutes which slow the load's decent rate creating a smooth landing. 

"From a fresh out of school crew member it was exciting to be a part of testing new procedures and using new drop technology was great," said Staff Sgt. Matthew Donovan, 96th AS loadmaster. 

JPADS utilizes the same global positioning technology that helps fighter and bomber aircrew deliver smart bombs with pinpoint accuracy. This allows cargo bundles dropped from C-130 aircraft to steer themselves to drop zones. Traditionally, C-130 cargo airdrops are conducted anywhere between 400 and 1,000 feet. With JPADS, those same airlift aircraft have the potential to guide airdrop bundles from as high as 25,000 feet with the same, if not better, accuracy. Additionally, JPADS provides the capability to drop cargo to multiple, small drop zones from a single release point. This also keeps the aircraft and aircrews safer and out of range of the enemy. 

Along with the LCADS system the crew tested a new version of JPADS software, which was loaded with a high-resolution wind forecast model. The computer also receives updated near real-time wind information. This information is communicated to the JPADS loads then re-broadcasts the aircraft's GPS coordinates to electronics fastened to the cargo so that when dropped, the load's GPS receivers guide the cargo to the desired point of impact."This has been successful in Afghanistan and soon we hope it will be further utilized in the Iraqu theater of operations," said Maj. Daniel DeVoe, Air Mobility Warfare Center JPADS project officer.