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KABUL, Afghanistan - ISAF forces concluded a small-scale, rapid-response aerial delivery test last week, validating a new way to get mission-critical supplies to Afghan and ISAF forces on the ground.
The U.S. Third Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) and 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) spent two weeks planning and evaluating the most effective way to get supplies on the ground safely when landing an aircraft is not practical.
"We are exploiting a niche in aerial delivery tactics in order to resupply Marines under all conditions," said Maj. Sam Schoolfield
The Marines pushed more than 1,300 bottles of water bundled in various weights at different altitudes from the back of an MV-22B Osprey, CH-53D Sea Stallion and CH-53E Super Stallion over three days.
"Some have more in the load and some are at a bare minimum so we can see which loads are better," said Lance Cpl. Jordan Shemanski, an aerial delivery specialist with 1st MLG (FWD). "I'm here to watch them come out of the birds and watch how the whole extraction process works with the new parachute."
The new parachute is called a single cross and is part of a recently developed air drop method -- the low-cost, low-altitude aerial delivery service, or LCLA. The Army introduced the concept just over two years ago to create an inexpensive, "disposable" system to deliver supplies into remote areas. The Marines have adopted the single cross parachute because it's designed to support 80-125 pounds of cargo and meets their specific needs for delivering the loads they need on the battlefield.
"What it's really doing for us is allowing us to provide continued resupply support on short notice to any area no matter what the situation," Schoolfield said. "We can drop supplies right on top of them. We don't want them to have to fight their way out of a tough situation just to get to supplies."
The tests were so effective, the United Kingdom's Joint Aviation Group is taking a look at using it to resupply its troops as well.
JAG leadership plans on testing the concept from the back of a CH-47 Chinook in the near future.
The Marines have made up their minds.
"Our ground guys will never walk alone," said Schoolfield. "We will be on target, on time, every time. Wherever the Marines go, Marine Corps aviation will be there."
| Date Taken: | 07.08.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 07.08.2010 05:50 |
| Story ID: | 52496 |
| Location: | KABUL, AF |
| Web Views: | 155 |
| Downloads: | 135 |
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