Airborne Systems Targets DEFEXPO With a Comprehensive Aerial Delivery Capability

(February 8, 2010) -- Airborne Systems, a world leader in parachute systems, will highlight its capabilities as the only company that can provide a complete aerial delivery solution for troop and equipment alike when it exhibits at DEFEXPO (Hall 18 Stand 12G), Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, February 15-18).

These systems range from the fully-autonomous GPS-guided Joint Precision Airdrop Systems (JPADS) to the new T-11 mass assault troop parachute system now in service with the US Army and its unique maritime craft aerial delivery system, all of which cleared for use with the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules, and other military transport aircraft.

The Group's appearance at DEFEXPO comes less than a month after it was acquired by a US company, HDT International Holdings, Inc. (HDT), who also own HDT Engineered Technologies, provider of deployable and mobile products and services solutions for customers in military and emergency response sectors.

The acquisition also comes at the end of a six month period in which Airborne Systems has announced a series of strategic and breakthrough orders, underpinning its leading role in the development of parachute technology for the aerial delivery of both men and equipment, emergency escape and search & rescue solutions.

The US Department of Defense (DoD) full adoption of the JPADS 2K FireFlyTM, a GPS-guided aerial delivery system capable of carrying payloads up to 2,200 lb (1000kg) was announced in September 2009, although the system has been in service in operational environments for over a year. More than 1,350 FireFlyTM systems have been delivered to customers. Airborne Systems' 10K DragonFlyTM has also been selected by the DoD as its platform for medium weight requirement of up to 10000lb (4,500kg).

In October 2009, Airborne Systems won the largest of three production contracts for the new T-11 advanced troop parachute system that the company has designed for the US airborne forces. The full requirement is to replace the 52,000 T-10 parachutes over the next 5 years, in a programme with a potential full value of $220 million.

Airborne Systems' unique Maritime Craft Aerial Delivery System (MCADS) enables rigid inflatable boats to be airdropped into water, ready for immediate use, from the C17, C5, C-130 Hercules aircraft as well as being compatible with the A400M. MCADS is already in service with the US, UK and other nation's Special Forces and further orders have recently been received from other European nations.

Earlier this year, Airborne Systems also won its first contract to manufacture the new troop parachute system, known as the EPC, for the French airborne forces. More than 23,000 parachutes, comprising main and reserve parachutes, will be delivered in a multi-year programme under a contract with the DGA (Direction Generale de l'Armement) procurement executive of the French Ministry of Defence.

Source : Airborne Systems