The U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground has long been at the forefront of developing and operationally testing new airdrop capabilities, including the Rapid Rigging Derigging Airdrop System (RRDAS) that promises to get soldiers out of the drop zone and into battle. I came. Get the equipment you need faster than ever. Traditional cargo payloads are typically buffered with honeycomb cardboard between a vehicle or other heavy object and a steel pallet that carries it from the aircraft to the ground. RRDAS uses 10 reusable airbag modules to dramatically reduce the amount of honeycomb needed to distribute impact forces. (U.S. military photo)
Yuma — In the theater of war, ground forces in the most isolated areas rely on airlift for supply. In the worst of situations, time can be the difference between life and death.
The U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) is home to all types of parachute testing, with room and instrumentation scope large enough to accommodate the world’s largest cargo parachute.
YPG has long been at the forefront of developing and operational testing new airdrop features. This includes the Rapid Rigging De-Rigging Airdrop System (RRDAS), which promises to get the Soldier out of the drop zone and into battle with the required gear. faster than ever.
Traditional cargo payloads are typically buffered with honeycomb cardboard between a vehicle or other heavy object and a steel pallet that carries it from the aircraft to the ground. Even with a good cargo parachute and a perfect landing, the multiple layers of honeycomb will collapse on impact with the ground. Dramatically reduces the amount of honeycomb required to disperse the Self-inflating airbags can operate up to 750 feet above the ground and carry loads from 5,000 to 22,000 pounds.
“When you fly through the air, the ambient air pressurizes all fabric-based airbags,” says Matthew Rohe, Assistant Product Manager, Air Cargo Delivery, Combat Support and Combat Services Support, U.S. Army Program Executive Office. said the major. “When you hit the ground, the airbag module buffers the payload, so you don’t need as many honeycombs as in the current design.”
Using less honeycomb cuts rigging time by 25%, but our testers are particularly excited to cut rigging time by 40%.
“The net result is about two and a half hours less rigging time, mostly by reducing honeycomb usage, so soldiers in the drop zone no longer need to use axes, shovels, and pickaxes.” Product Manager Force Sustainment Systems Operations Manager David Emond said: “Now when a vehicle crushes the honeycomb, the soldiers have to cut all the honeycomb around the vehicle’s tires so they can shoo it away.”
The system also has the ability to ensure that airdropped vehicles land upright.
“This system has outriggers that can be deployed,” says Rohe. “For high center-of-gravity loads that could tip over when hitting the ground, these outriggers kick out and prevent tipping.”
Development testing of the RRDAS is expected to conclude later this year, with full deployment of the system to the military scheduled for fiscal year 2025. Intermittent testing should continue for two years thereafter. .
“We can increase the payload load and platform length, so we can drop heavier and longer items,” Rohe said.
The YPG is the Army’s primary personnel and cargo parachute tester, with decades of institutional knowledge to equip and evaluate these complex airdrop systems and safely coordinate multiple sorties. The post’s nearly 2,000 square miles of restricted airspace and favorable weather make it an ideal location for airdrop testing.
“We always use YPG because we have test assets available,” says Emond. “It’s safer and cheaper to conduct development tests here. It’s the most reliable and reliable place to get the aircraft you need to fly test missions.”
