DESCRIPTION
The Joint Precision Airdrop System (JPADS) provides rapid, precise, high-altitude delivery capabilities that do not rely on ground transportation. The system ensures accurate and timely delivery in support of operational missions, while providing aircraft with increased survivability.
JPADS integrates a parachute decelerator, an autonomous guidance unit and a load container or pallet to create a system that can accurately deliver critical supplies with great precision along a predetermined glide and flight path. The system consists of two weight classes: 2,000 pounds (2K) and 10,000 pounds (10K). The guidance system uses military Global Positioning System (GPS) data for precise navigation and interfaces with a wirelessly updatable mission planning module onboard the aircraft to receive real-time weather data and compute multiple aerial release points.
JPADS is designed for aircraft to drop cargo from altitudes of up to 24,500 feet mean sea level. It releases cargo from a minimum off-set of eight km from the intended point of impact, with an objective capability of 25 km off-set. This off-set allows aircraft to stay out of range of many anti-aircraft systems. It also enables aircraft to drop systems from a single aerial release point and deliver them to multiple or single locations, thus reducing aircraft exposure time. Once on the ground, the precise placement of the loads greatly reduces the time needed to recover the load as well as minimize exposure to ground forces.
BENEFIT TO THE SOLDIER
JPADS increases aircraft and payload survivability and enables delivery of multiple loads to single or multiple drop zones in a single aircraft pass with accuracy better than 150 meters with 80 percent confidence.
SPECIFICATIONS
JPADS 2K includes:
- 1,025-square-foot ram air parafoil with a glide ratio of three to one coupled with a military GPS-based Autonomous Guidance Unit (AGU)
- Specially designed suspension sling is used to attach the AGU to the Container Delivery Systems payload
- Onboard guidance, navigation and control software in the AGU autonomously steers the parafoil to the designated impact point
JPADS 10K includes:
- 3,500-square-foot ram air parafoil with a glide ratio of at least three to one coupled with a military GPS-based AGU
- Load is configured on a combat-expendable, 463L or Type V airdrop platform for gravity airdrop
PROGRAM STATUS
FY18:
- JPADS 2K transferred funding to Integrated Logistics Support Center (ILSC) Sustainment Contract
- JPADS 10K Fielding and Delivery
PROJECTED ACTIVITIES
FY19:
- JPADS 2K ILSC Sustainment and Modernization via depot
- JPADS 2K Block 1 Engineering Change Proposal (ECP)
- JPADS 10K total package Fielding and Delivery continues
- JPADS 10K Block 1 ECP