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

As of 7 December 2007, TF Fury had conducted 1,092 LCLA airdrops with all critical classes of supplies, accounting for over 1 million pounds of supplies in support of OEF operations and mission requirements. Of special significance, by "clustering" LCLA parachutes for individual cargo loads (using three or more LCLA parachutes per load), the TF has been able to increase the payload range to an average weight of 600 to 700 pounds per bundle while maintaining an airdrop altitude of only 150 feet AGL and achieving almost pinpoint accuracy. As one senior noncommissioned officer of TF Fury put it in a report on the LCLA capability--

      In my opinion, this program [LCLA] is a complete
   success and the guys on the ground cannot
   get enough of it. Realistically, if commanders
   can receive supplies that are dropped on target
   and exactly where they are needed, it outweighs
   their use of [ground combat logistics patrols] and
   keeps personnel off the road.

The LCLA method of delivering supplies at the operational and tactical levels substantially enhances operational response, improves load survivability, reduces the logistics footprint, hastens DZ recovery operations, and, of critical significance, improves safety and force protection. Clearly, LCLA parachute systems are meeting operational requirements that no other capability can meet.

... we see this type of system [LCLA| as not only a critical component of current distribution but also as a view into the future of logistics. A system that can provide capacity to a dismounted/mounted unit over 200 miles from base, with the correct stuff, all of the supplies surviving the drop, to a DZ that changed at ramp side, all disposable, and delivered with pinpoint accuracy.

--782d BSB Commander with Task Force Fury Afghanistan, 2 May 2007

LCLA is a concept that is saving Soldiers' lives every day. We are at the point where we can reduce the number of ground combat logistics patrols to tile extended FOBs, resulting in generating combat power, preserving lives ... while maintaining pressure on the enemy. We are able to reduce the amount of exposure time to our troopers both via CDS [container delivery system] recovery time arm ground convoys ... while increasing the capacity of the force, reducing risks, and accomplishing the missions.

--Colonel Martin P. Schweitzer, Commander of Combined Task Force Fury Afghanistan, 21 April 2007

BY NICHOLAS C. ZELLO AND COLONEL DANIEL L. LABIN, USA (RET.)

NICHOLAS C. ZELLO IS A LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST AT THE ARMY G-4 LOGISTICS INNOVATION AGENCY. HE HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION FROM SAINT VINCENT COLLEGE IN PENNSYLVANIA AND IS PURSUING AN M.B.A. DEGREE AT PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY WITH A FOCUS ON LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT. HE IS A GRADUATE OF THE ARMY TRANSPORTATION INTERN PROGRAM.

COLONEL DANIEL L. LABIN, USA (RET.), IS A SENIOR LOGISTICS SPECIALIST WITH PACIFIC NORTHWEST NATIONAL LABORATORY SUPPORTING THE ARMY G-4 LOGISTICS INNOVATION AGENCY. HE HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY AND M.S. DEGREES FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY.