NATICK, Mass. (April 30, 2015) -- It's great to be able to airdrop cargo to Soldiers in isolated areas. It's even better if the load arrives intact.
With the decades-old M-1 and M-2 cargo parachute release systems currently in the Army and Air Force inventories, that sometimes can be a hit-or-miss proposition. The Advanced Cargo Parachute Release System, or ACPRS, now being developed by Product Manager Force Sustainment Systems at Natick Soldier Systems Center, could change that.
"So that's really the impetus for this whole system, better reliability and taking care of the payload when it gets on the ground," said Scott Martin, an equipment specialist with PM FSS Cargo Aerial Delivery. "It's important that the parachutes release from the load or else wind can re-inflate the parachutes and roll the load over, not to mention create a hazard for the Soldiers recovering the equipment. This would happen all too often with the old M-1 and M-2. We have damaged quite a few HMMWVs and Howitzers over the years and that needed to change."
PM FSS began looking at several systems in 2010 and settled on the ACPRS, which can accommodate loads ranging from 200 to 42,000 pounds. One or two systems can be used with between one and eight parachutes, depending on load size.
Instead of the mechanical timer employed by the old systems, the ACPRS uses an electro-mechanical system that automatically disengages the parachutes when the load hits the ground.
"There's actually a battery in it to power a barometer and accelerometers that tell the ACPRS when the load has stopped falling," Martin said. "The battery also drives a motor that releases the parachutes, so it's much more reliable.
"Often our biggest worry is how the Soldiers work and deal with new airdrop equipment. Fortunately, the ACPRS is pretty darned simple. There's very little that the Soldiers have to do to have a successful airdrop with it."
According to Martin, partnerships with the Rhode Island Air National Guard, Connecticut Air National Guard, and New York Air National Guard have aided in the development of the ACPRS as well as other PM FSS programs.
"We're very lucky to have three C-130 units within our neighborhood, between Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York," Martin said. "They afford us an opportunity to try out our new products -- see how they work in the field -- while they get to see new equipment and procedures to give them an edge conducting their operational missions."
It wasn't love at first sight for the Rhode Island Air National Guard, however.
"Initially, there was some hesitation for the new (system) from the older generation," said Master Sgt. Kyle Gurnon of the RIANG. "This attitude quickly changed once people got their hands on it. After academic and hands-on training, the group was impressed by the simplicity of the ACPRS."
Gurnon called the ACPRS "a great replacement to the M-1/M-2, and I think it will mitigate malfunctions due to mechanical timer failures. Further, I think the lack of unit level maintenance on the ACPRS will save man-hours. The longest part of rigging it is charging the battery.
"I can't wait to see nothing but ACPRS in the system."
The ACPRS sailed through formal developmental and operational testing. For now, the system is in use only at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., and at the U.S. Army Quartermaster School at Fort Lee, Va. The next step is fielding the system throughout the services.
"The ILSC is working on procuring the ACPRS and it should be available in the supply system later this year." Martin said.
Though the ACPRS costs about three times as much -- about $5,000 apiece -- as the systems it's designed to replace, Martin brought that into perspective.
"If you save one load, you've paid for it how many times over?" Martin said. "I am sure loads will be saved but there is also the intangible value we give to the Soldier, not having to worry about their equipment being damaged and making it easier or safer to recover the load. And that may be our true measure of success."
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