U.S. Army Particular Operations Command troops take a look at RA-1 Ram Air parachute automated activation gadget | Article

FORT BRAGG, North Carolina – Airborne tools testers listed below are busy with Particular Operations Troopers testing the Army’s latest Enhanced Digital Computerized Activation Gadget (EEAAD).

The Airborne and Particular Operations Check Directorate (ABNSOTD) is gathering knowledge from the operational person to help an Army-wide fielding choice to switch the getting older reserve automated activation gadget at the moment fielded to navy free-fall (MFF) models.

“The EEAAD offers the potential of the rigger store to obtain the info immediately, which isn’t offered by the at the moment fielded automated activation gadget,” mentioned a Parachute Rigger with the U.S. Army Particular Operations Command.

The ABNSOTD first accomplished threat discount efforts for the EEAAD utilizing solely ABNSOTD take a look at jumpers to make sure that the meant take a look at merchandise didn’t impose extra and unexpected dangers or hazards to the jumper earlier than operational take a look at jumps.

Operational testing began within the vertical wind tunnel.

“This allowed the take a look at workforce to look at the strategy load system beneath simulated free-fall circumstances being employed by a MFF certified take a look at jumper,” mentioned James Cochran (JC), a seasoned Army Check Plans Analyst with the ABNSOTD.

“The ABNSOTD employed a bunch of threat discount measures to make sure the potential take a look at merchandise was secure and efficient from the meant person’s standpoint,” he mentioned.

Operational Troopers from USASOC completed testing with the RA-1 primary parachute and reserve with the EEAAD put in by conducting MFF take a look at jumps into the Laurinburg, North Carolina drop zone.

“The EEAAD won’t solely present MFF operators with a next-generation reserve parachute activation gadget however may even facilitate after motion evaluations,” mentioned Lt. Col Derek Johnson, Chief of ABNSOTD’s take a look at division.

“The EEAAD may even help soar incident investigations by offering the flexibility to obtain and analyze flight knowledge on the unit stage,” he added.

The operational testing consisted of recent person coaching and navy free fall jumps adopted by knowledge assortment of soar knowledge, downloaded from the EEAAD.

“The simplicity of the menus and setting offers extra confidence to the jumper that the gadget will work as anticipated,” mentioned one USASOC Operator.

~~

Concerning the U.S. Army Operational Check Command:

The U.S. Army Operational Check Command relies at West Fort Hood, Texas, and its mission ensures methods developed are efficient in a Soldier’s palms and appropriate for the environments through which they practice and struggle. Check unit Troopers present suggestions by providing enter to enhance upon current and future methods Troopers will finally use to coach and struggle.

The Fort Bragg, North Carolina-based Airborne the Particular Operations Check Directorate (ABNSOTD) plans, executes, and reviews on operational assessments and area experiments of aerial supply and air transportation tools and procedures for airborne and particular operations forces to offer key operational knowledge for the continued growth of doctrine and fielding of apparatus to the Warfighter.