PRODUCTS
The AS-2000 is Airborne Systems newest aerial delivery system and a modern replacement for the legacy G-12E. With a 50% reduction in weight and dimension, AS-2000 cargo parachute system is easier to pack, maintain, and deploy for heavy airdrop operations. Our cluster systems can be used in a configuration of 1, 2, or 3 canopies.
Main Parachute
This parachute features a 5% extended skirt polyconical canopy, composed of 60 gores and 5 reinforcement bands. Each AS-2000 Cluster parachute uses two electromechanical dereefers to ensure controlled and reliable openings. Block construction allows for easier patching and suspension lines allow for easy replacing with no requirement for special packing tools or materials.
Rigging & Storage
- No floor fans required
- Lighter weight makes payload rigging easier
- Lower profile when rigged
- Standard 9V batteries – good for life of battery, length of time may vary
- # of people to repack: 2
- Required length of area needed: 96 ft
The AS-2000 is Airborne Systems newest aerial delivery system and a modern replacement for the legacy G-12E. With a 50% reduction in weight and dimension, AS-2000 cargo parachute system is easier to pack, maintain, and deploy for heavy airdrop operations.
Main Parachute
This parachute features a 5% extended skirt polyconical canopy, composed of 60 gores and 5 reinforcement bands. Setup for reefing when exit weights exceed 1500 lbs. Block construction allows easier patching suspension lines allow easy replacing with no requirement special packing tools or materials. This parachute features a 5% extended skirt polyconical canopy, composed of 60 gores and 5 reinforcement bands. Setup for reefing when exit weights exceed 1500 lbs. Block construction allows easier patching suspension lines allow easy replacing with no requirement special packing tools or materials.
Drogue Release
The AS-2000 droguefall system utilizes Airborne Systems’ proprietary electromechanical drogue release, which triggers at a user-selectable altitude. Drogue release altitude is programmed using a simple 2-button interface located directly on the unit, and the programming can be checked at any time.
The AS-2000 includes a 15’ static line and Drogue Deployment Bag with 120” Square Drogue.
Electromechanical drogue release: programmable from 0 to 99 seconds via electromechanical release.
Rigging & Storage
- No floor fans required
- Lighter weight makes payload rigging easier
- Designed for standard CDS bundle (A-22)
- Lower profile when rigged
- Standard 9V batteries – good for life of battery, length of time may vary
Dedicated to military tandem operations, this parachute system combines high carrying capacity with exceptional flight performance and unique glide modulation capability. A ‘two-stage collapse’ square drogue attached between the main and reserve parachute containers ensures a stable and comfortable freefall descent, guaranteeing smooth openings even at maximum operating weight and altitude. Successfully tested to extreme weight and speed conditions, Gemini is the ultimate tandem parachute system for military HAHO and HALO operations.
Main Parachute
The Gemini Main is a 530 sqft, 11-cell, 38 ft span fully elliptical canopy. Its mildly tapered planform (20% reduction between the center and wingtip chords) ensures positive stability in turbulent conditions while reducing steering forces. With a glide ratio of 4.5:1, this parachute is fully compatible with the Hi-5 and Marauder Parachute Systems series, allowing a tandem pair to participate in HAHO or HALO teams with consistent performance.
Reserve
Gemini is designed as a main-on-main system. The reserve features identical performance as the main.
Glide Modulation
The main canopy has a built-in patented Glide Modulation system, which allows the jumper to modulate the glide ratio of the canopy anywhere between 4.5:1 and 1:1. The glide modulation is controlled by an additional set of toggles placed on the front risers. This allows the tandem master to adjust the position of the tandem with the rest of the team.
Features
- Attachment of the drogue in the middle of the container between the main and reserve compartment, ensuring a flat and comfortable position for the jumper under drogue
- Container Out-Of-Sequence-Deployment Security protection against out of sequence deployments where the main deployment bag becomes free from the main container during droguefall
- Unique dual-stage drogue collapse ensures a smooth pull of the deployment bag out of its container, reducing the snatch force and eliminating the trap-door effect at drogue release
- Oxygen attachment points on main and passenger harness
Accessories
Each system comes with:
- Tactical passenger harness
MC-6+ Maneuverable Troop Parachute System
The MC-6+ is the next evolution of the trusted MC-6, used by U.S. Special Forces since 2009. It’s tailored for precise infiltration of heavily loaded jumpers. With enhanced features including a larger canopy, higher maximum deployment weight, and slower descent rate, MC-6+ maintains the legacy of safety and reliability.
MC-6+ Main Canopy
The MC-6+ canopy is a highly modified 28-gore polyconical parachute with a 36 ft. nominal diameter. Its unique drive system enables quick turns with minimal pendular motion, allowing control of forward speed and turn rate. With a low descent rate, it ensures safe infiltration into various drop zones, including high elevations. Despite its slightly larger size, it can be packed into a standard MC-6 pack tray for easy transition with main parachutes.
The MC-6+ has demonstrated superior performance at higher weights compared to the MC-6 and MC1-1C. It retains the unique capability of allowing jumpers to back-up in deep brakes, facilitating easy correction of landing point overshoots. This contrasts with the MC1-1C, which requires a hazardous 360° turn for similar corrections. Additionally, the MC-6 exhibits softer openings at higher elevations and avoids damage seen in the MC1-1C under similar deployment conditions.
T-11R Reserve Parachute
- Aeroconical reserve canopy that has proven its reliable performance while in service with U.S. and International Militaries
- Ensures rapid deployment with minimal post-inflation collapse and altitude loss
- Designed to inflate in all malfunction modes and even with a full main canopy
- Provides comprehensive safety in case of inadvertent deployment
MC-6+ Harness Assembly
- Saddle design with multi-directional adjustment
- Two rugged Capewell releases meeting stringent requirements
- Full adjustability from the 5th to 95th percentile for both males and females
- Four comfort pads at the shoulders and under the leg straps for enhanced comfort
- Two main harness straps can be pre-sized prior to donning for an improved fit
OCTO-11 is Airborne Systems’ newest static line troop parachute, alongside our legacy T-11 and MC-6 systems.
OCTO-11 features:
- Octagonal crown
- Eight arms with meshed corner vents
- Rotate-to-land capability
- Stable, low rate of descent reduces landing injuries
- Traditional packing / 24 lines
- Fits 5th percentile female through 97th percentile male
Design Concept
After 10 years of service, the T-11 parachute performance and user feedback was analyzed by our Research and Development team. This sparked a major development program aimed at preserving the unique qualities of the T-11 (soft, consistent openings, slow rate of descent and virtually perfect stability) while reducing the number of components, simplifying rigging, reducing packing time, and improving responsiveness to riser slip maneuvers.
We then landed on OCTO-11. This parachute features an octagonal crown and eight arms fitted with horizontal mesh to improve stability. The eight arms are joined to form a continuous hem. The eight small corner vents are meshed to eliminate the risk of jumper entanglement.
The unique design of OCTO-11 allows for smooth progressive opening (4 seconds) and low oscillation after canopy inflation. Two toggles allow the jumper to rotate the canopy along its vertical axis while maintaining its ballistic characteristics. No drive is created, which significantly reduces the chance of canopy collision. OCTO-11 allows the jumper to induce a more efficient riser slip, more quickly than T-11.
Canopy
OCTO-11 is composed of 24 shaped gores, providing radials of equal length. The hem is equipped with an anti-inversion net and no slider is required to control the opening.
Reserve
Octo-11 is fully compatible with T-11R reserve parachute, and has passed compatibility tests across the weight range.
The Marauder is the combination of two of our best ram air parachutes, the Hi-5 and RA-1. The Hi-5 is known for it’s high glide capability, complete with glide modulation. The Intruder® (RA-1) is known for it’s more conservative profile and docile behavior. The Marauder is the perfect combination of the two parachutes, resulting in a new military freefall parachute possessing the best capabilities from both product lines.
Main Canopy
The Marauder is a 9 cell canopy, utilizing the same planform, pressurized end cells, and proven reliability of the Intruder® canopy, fielded by the U.S. Army as RA-1. Utilizing the wingtip geometry and trim from the Intruder® gives the Marauder the same light toggle pressure, stability in deep brakes, on-heading openings, and powerful flare as the proven Intruder® design.
The Marauder features a high-lift airfoil section for the center cells, providing an improved glide ratio over the traditional Intruder®. The Marauder is capable of glide modulation, which was invented by Airborne Systems and used on the Hi-5 parachute series.
Glide Modulation Meets Docile Canopy
Glide modulation is a new technology for parachute control, unique to Airborne Systems. An additional control toggle is installed on the front riser that allows the pilot to smoothly transition the Marauder’s glide ratio from full flight at 4.5:1, down to a steep glide at 1.5:1. Glide modulation allows jumpers to land in small areas using a straight-in approach without deep brakes or low turns. Glide modulation can also achieve any glide ratio within the range, allowing jumpers to build and maintain stacks intuitively, at low closing speeds, which improves safety and reduces training required to achieve high proficiency.
Compatibility
The Marauder main canopy is compatible with the Intruder® (RA-1) or the Hi-5 reserve canopies, and has a pack volume compatible with any container currently equipped with the RA-360 (RA-1) or the Hi-5 370.
Cargo delivery system
Improve military mission capabilities without compromising safety or increasing training requirements. The MicroFly II® is an autonomous cargo delivery system that emphasizes ease of use, flexibility, and low cost. The MicroFly II® Guided Precision Aerial Delivery System (GPADS) is designed to utilize the same canopy as the HAHO/HALO insertion teams which therefore allows both equipment and jumper to land together.
It can also be used in a standalone configuration supplying small weight range payload to designated drop zones. Furthermore, the MicroFly II® may be used as a re-supply to troops on the ground when larger systems such as the Flyclops2K or the Dragonfly10K are not required.
- Deliver cargo to unsafe warzone.
- Guide jumpers to their destination.
- Allow for more accessible equipment upon landing.
- Deliver odd-shaped supplies.
Combo Drops – Unmatched Performance
The MicroFly II® will match the speed and rate of descent of a jumper under canopy, consequently allowing the MicroFly II® to lead the unit to the IP while allowing the unit to remain in close contact with the MicroFly II®. Being in close proximity thus ensures that the unit will therefore not become separated from its equipment and allows the MicroFly II® to be used as a pathfinder to the IP.
Flexibility and Control for a Range of Military Missions
- Keep the unit intact and in control of its equipment throughout the entire insertion phase of the operation.
- Use with any ram-air canopy, including the Airborne Systems Intruder 360® (RA-1), MC-4, MC-5, and others based on mission requirements.
- Rig the MicroFly II® to a bundle in 10 minutes with no pyrotechnic devices.
MicroFly II® – Proven Technology
- 15 lbs lighter than MicroFly®
- Simplified drogue fall rigging
- Removable lithium battery with a six-month maintenance schedule
MicroFly II® – Innovative Design
- Silent slider reduces noise of the system in flight (On Intruder® 360 canopy only).
- Lands autonomously into the wind or along a linear feature such as a road by entering a specific landing zone.
- Fly multiple MicroFly II® systems manually using the handheld remote control unit.
- Comes standard with Airborne Systems jTrax®Mission Planner.*
- Compatible with the current USAF JPADS Mission Planner (JPADS MP).
*The Airborne Systems Mission Planner is capable of running simulated missions in virtual operational environments when using terrain-mapping software.
An Advanced Cargo Delivery Parachute System
The Airborne Systems FireFly® cargo delivery parachute was selected by the U.S. DoD as the system of choice for the U.S. 2,000 lb. Joint Precision Aerial Delivery System (2K JPADS) program. The system’s guidance, navigation and control software analyzes its environment in real time, ensuring accurate payload delivery. Its long-distance capability increases safety for the aircrew and the receiving unit, reducing the need for ground logistics. It is currently being used in operational theater to reliably deliver supplies and equipment to U.S. forces in remote locations.
Accurate, Reliable, and Easy to Use
- Carries unmanned payloads up to 2,200 lbs. (1000 kg)
- Can be dropped from altitudes up to 24,500 feet MSL
- Flies 25 kilometers or more given environmental conditions.
- Lands on target or up to 150 meters maximum of the designated impact point
- Continually adjusts for wind conditions until the final flare to land
This horizontal and vertical separation between the delivery aircraft and the unit receiving supplies increases safety for the air crew and improves security for the receiving unit. The ability to autonomously deliver supplies reduces a deployed unit’s logistical footprint and decreases the number of convoys required to sustain the force.
Mission Planning
Comes standard with Airborne Systems jTrax® Mission Planner. Simulating missions before an actual airdrop allows the aircrew to ensure surrounding terrain will have no effect on the mission.
Compatible with the current U.S. JPADS Mission Planner (JPADS MP); programmable through the mission planner software or the remote control unit.
*The Airborne Systems jTrax® Mission Planner is also capable of running simulated missions using the included terrain mapping software.
Control Unit
The remote control unit offers the following capabilities:
- Provides guidance, navigation, and control software for greater accuracy and better reliability
- Monitors the status of systems while onboard the aircraft prior to drop
- Monitors directional heading during flight ensuring landing on designated impact point.
- Enables manual operator override with handheld device
Family of Systems
The FireFly® is part of a family of GPADS platforms developed and manufactured by Airborne Systems. The MicroFly®, FireFly®, and DragonFly® systems are capable of delivering gross rigged weights from 200 lbs. (90.7 kg) to 10,000 lbs. (4,535 kg). Airborne Systems has also developed the MegaFly® and the GigaFly® which will increase the GRW range up to 42,000 lbs. (19,050 kg). All operate with a common algorithm, user interface, and mission planner. The packing methodology for all systems is identical, so little additional training is required to qualify riggers on different systems.
Safe Delivery of Valuable Cargo – The Cargo Delivery Parachute of Choice
Selected as the cargo delivery parachute system of choice for the U.S. 10,000 lb. Joint Precision Aerial Delivery System (JPADS 10k) program, the Airborne Systems Dragonfly® is a fully autonomous GPS-guided cargo delivery system. Featuring a fully elliptical ram-air parachute canopy, it has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to land within 150 meters of a designated Impact Point.
Accurate and Easy to Use
The DragonFly® AGU is programmed in the same way as all other AGUs manufactured by Airborne Systems. The only data required to place the system into operation is the location of the Impact Point and the system GRW. Wind data can be uploaded into the AGU, but the wind data is not required for operation. Just as a jumper under canopy continuously reads the winds and makes the required corrections, the DragonFly® makes continual corrections until the final flare to land.
- Using only Impact Point data, the Airborne Guidance Unit (AGU) calculates its position four times per second and continually adjusts its flight algorithm to ensure maximum accuracy.
- Has a glide ratio of 3.0:1 for maximum offset capability.
- Can be rigged for extraction or gravity drop.
Modular Design for Packing and Maintenance
A unique modular system allows the AGU to be charged while the canopy is being packed, enabling turnaround times of less than four hours between drops.
The DragonFly® army cargo delivery parachute system uses a deployment bag similar to a conventional G-11 style deployment bag with a standard Release Away Static Line (RASL). The system can be easily converted from gravity drop to extraction configuration while the system is packed.
- Comes standard with Airborne Systems Mission Planner (jTrax-MP)*
- Compatible with the current U.S. JPADS Mission Planner (JPADS MP)
- *The Airborne Systems Mission Planner is capable of running simulated missions in virtual operational environments when using terrain-mapping software.
Military Mission Planning
Use of a Mission Planner is essential for the accurate deployment of the DragonFly®. Mission Planning can be conducted with the Airborne Systems jTrax Mission Planner or the current U.S. Air Force Consolidated Airdrop Tool Mission Planning Application (CAT MPA). The Mission Planning software calculates the release point for the system by using forecasted wind data and the flight characteristics of the DragonFly® canopy. The Airborne Systems jTrax Mission Planner is also capable of running simulated missions using the included terrain mapping software. Simulating missions before an actual airdrop allows the aircrew to ensure surrounding terrain will have no effect on the mission.
GPADS Control Unit
The Remote Control Unit allows a user to remotely program the system for a mission and can be used to monitor the status of systems while onboard the aircraft prior to drop. After the DragonFly® is dropped, the Remote Control Unit can be used to monitor the location and heading while in flight. If desired, an operator may override the Airborne Guidance Unit and fly the system manually.
Family of Military Cargo Delivery Parachute Systems
The DragonFly® is part of a family of GPADS platforms developed and manufactured by Airborne Systems. The MicroFly®, FireFly®, and DragonFly® systems are capable of delivering gross rigged weights from 200 lb. (90.7 kg) to 10,000 lb. (4,535 kg). Airborne Systems is also developing the MegaFly® and the GigaFly® which will increase the gross rigged weight range up to 42,000 lb. (19,050 kg). All operate with a common algorithm, user interface, and mission planner. The packing methodology for all systems is identical, so little additional training is required to qualify riggers on different systems.
jTrax® Mission Planner (MP) is Airborne Systems’ proprietary software that allows the Jumpmaster to quickly determine the Release Point (RP) for personnel and Guided Precision Aerial Delivery Systems (GPADS) drops.
jTrax® MP is operated in three simple steps:
• Select the parachute system and All Up Weight (AUW)
• Select the Impact Point (IP) and exit altitude
• Select the aircraft to be used
jTrax® MP automatically downloads the wind forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). jTrax® MP then calculates the Launch Acceptability Region (LAR), the region in which the team can jump and be able to reach the IP. This allows the Jumpmaster to move the RP anywhere within the LAR.
Failure Footprint
jTrax® MP provides the Jumpmaster with a failure footprint represented by a red circle. The failure footprint is the region in which the payload or team could land in the event of navigation error or system failure, providing a grid for a search team to locate the jumper or cargo.
Satellite Imagery
jTrax® MP uses satellite imagery, which allows the Jumpmaster to use the software to brief the team on obstacles, targets, and flight path to the IP.
Oxygen Systems
Personnel Oxygen Systems (4)
Personnel Parachute Systems
High-Performance Ram Air Parachute Systems (6)
Troop Parachute Systems (4)
Cargo Delivery Systems
Guided Precision Aerial Delivery Systems (5)
Low-cost Aerial Delivery (4)
Cargo Delivery Systems (2)