Low-cost, low-altitude aerial resupply: an Army project to resupply units by airdrop developed from a concept to a valued combat operational capability in the hands of our Soldiers in just 16 months

Army Logistician, March-April, 2008 by Nicholas C. Zello, Daniel L. Labin

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Both the goal and objective of the project have been achieved in record time.

Performance Metrics

As a key first step in meeting the project goal and objective, the LCLA project team immediately established a clear set of design performance metrics to guide and focus the project. The team geared the entire developmental process and demonstration plan to develop an LCLA parachute system (or systems) that--

* Performs as well or better than fielded systems in meeting the key performance parameters established by CASCOM and PM FSS.

* Costs less than the currently approved low-altitude airdrop systems, with a goal of costing no more than $375 per delivery system (not including supplies).

* Is flexible and simple enough to be quickly rigged by Soldiers who have minimal or no rigger or loadmaster training.

* Can be airdropped from fixed-wing airplanes, helicopters, or unmanned aerial vehicles.

* Can deliver 350-pound loads of supplies from altitudes below 500 feet and can be clustered to increase weight capacity as needed.

* Can deliver loads within 75 meters of a predesignated DZ impact point, with no damage to supplies and in a condition that allows recovery by three Soldiers operating without MHE in less than 5 minutes per load.

* Facilitates and enhances joint interoperability.

LCLA Testing and Safety Confirmation

As part of the LCLA testing and evaluation process, in July 2006, ATEC's Developmental Test Command (DTC) subjected the project team's five LCLA selected systems (see the chart on page 21 ) to a very rigorous technical feasibility test at the Yuma Test Center in Arizona* After completing 116 test airdrops of LCLA parachutes from the Oklahoma Army National Guard's C-23 Sherpa cargo airplanes at 150 feet AGL with no system failures, the DTC concluded that LCLA parachutes, under specified operating parameters, met safety standards for use by Soldiers.

Based on the technical feasibility test's results and an approved recommendation for a safety confirmation from the Yuma Test Center, the DTC on 10 October 2006 approved a safety release to support Soldier operational use of the LCLA family of parachute systems from a C-23 during the 4th BCT's JRTC mission rehearsal exercise in early November. After this exercise, DTC provided a safety confirmation in support of using the systems in theater and an ATEC capabilities and limitations report documenting LCLA system parameters.

Following the initial testing, and approved safety confirmation, LCLA parachutes were tested successfully from CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters by ATEC's Operational Test Command Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate at Fort Bragg in February and May 2007. Based on these test results, a second safety confirmation was issued by DTC for rotary-wing operational use of the LCLA capability* As a result, our commanders and combat forces now have the additional option of deploying LCLA parachute systems from their organic helicopters to support mission requirements in theater.