U.S. Army tested shock-absorbing super-cushions for landing heavy loads

The main problem when landing heavy equipment with a parachute is to soften the landing as much as possible. Until recently, U.S. Army airborne units used special platforms with a shock-absorbing layer of cardboard, the structure of which resembles a bee honeycomb. On contact with the surface, the honeycomb deforms, dampening the impact energy.

It would seem that the problem is solved. However, after landing, to free the cargo, the cardboard had to be separated with an axe, pickaxe or shovel, which in combat conditions, when minutes count, caused precious time to be wasted.

The current US Army RRDAS quick parachute landing system being tested differs from the previous one in that instead of cardboard layer it uses reusable cloth cushions located under the pallet.

They inflate 755 ft from the ground and absorb a load of up to 10 tons. The system also includes special supports that fix the load in an upright position. Equally important, it takes 25 and 40 percent less time to install and remove the cushions than before.

Tests of the new system will last until 2025, and their results will allow improving the design of RRDAS.