Yuma Proving Ground hosts precision airdrop demos

The Precision Airdrop Technology Conference and Demonstration 2009 was essentially a trade show for research and developers, military personnel and defense contractors to share and show off their latest airdrop technologies.

"It is an opportunity for folks to see what all the different technologies out there are," said base commander Col. Thomas Payne. "It is also an opportunity for researchers and developers to see if there is some technology out there that they haven't heard about."

About 200 cargo and personnel drops were made during the weeklong event, with weights ranging from two to 40,000 pounds.

Precision airdrop technology uses on-board Global Positioning Systems (GPS) or guidance from a computer to deliver payloads or personnel to a specific location.

Held every two years, this year's "PATCAD" brought together 15 allied nations at the proving ground: Spain, Australia, Belgium, Britain, Canada, the Netherlands, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Japan, Norway and the United States. Over 450 people are expected to have attended the conference.

The proving ground has hosted the conference which began in 2001 three times before. It is held every two years at YPG. It started on Monday and ended on Friday.

In 2001, there were 135 participants from six countries. In 2003, there were 250 people from 11 nations and 50 airdrops. In 2005 about 350 participants from 17 countries attended the event, while 450 participants from 17 different countries attended this year.

Payne said the biannual conference and demonstration is also a partnership with other countries that allows the U.S. and its allied nations to share knowledge, which can lead to mutual development of other new technologies.

Wing commander Rebecca Stanley of the Royal Air Force was among the small contingent of British military personnel who attended the conference.

"We are not looking for anything," Stanley said. "We are here to check out all the various precision airdrop capabilities that are out there and watch the demonstrations."

The conference part of the event was held Monday at the Quechan Casino Resort, where all of the technology was on static display.

Payne added that nearly all the precision airdrop systems being developed, tested and/or fielded within the United States were being showcased, as well as systems from a number of allied nations.

Gen. Harry Greene, of the Army Research Development and Engineering Command, said the precision airdrop demonstrations were all outstanding and the technology was state of the art.

"Precision airdrop technology is a revolution in military logistics," Greene said.

Greene explained that using the technology will help protect troops on the ground because it uses computers and GPS receivers.

Instead of having to do a convoy to a remote location, Greene said the Army, using the technology, can resupply a remote area using a precision airdrop.

"It takes a soldier out of harm's way. What is not to like about it?" Greene said. "We can also do it from high enough altitude that the aircraft isn't at risk."

Greene added the PATCAD also helps to explore the next-generation system of precision airdrops, such as the possibility of using unmanned vehicles for delivering payloads.

"We aren't doing it yet, but we are getting there," Greene said.

Payne added that the use of GPS has been the biggest development in vertical precision airdrop capability.