MEDIA ADVISORY

Future of precision airdrop to be showcased

NATICK, Mass. – Media are invited to attend a showcase of the latest airdrop technologies on Oct. 25 during the Precision Airdrop Technology Conference and Demonstration (PATCAD) at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG), Ariz.

PATCAD brings together allied military and governments to collaborate on and become familiar with the latest airdrop products. PATCAD-2007 will be the largest precision airdrop demonstration ever conducted in the world.

This year, eight nations will be participating. More than 25 systems that have payloads from 5 to 30,000  pounds will be demonstrated. U.S. systems scheduled to be shown include the 2K Screamer being using operationally in Afghanistan, the 2K Firefly U.S. Army Program of Record system, and the largest parafoil system in the world, the 30K MegaFly. New Zealand will be showing the Skyboard system, described as a “skydiving glider,” while France will exhibit the Panther system. The United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, and the Netherlands will also have systems at PATCAD, while Belgium will be supporting the event with a C-130 aircraft. More than 150 cargo drops and 40 personnel jumps will take place during the event.

Please note that in order to attend, all arrangements must be made ahead of time. For more details about the event, please contact Andy Meloni or Andy Cronk at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) at 508-233-5254/5570 no later than Oct. 3.

To make arrangements to attend the event, please contact Chuck Wullenjohn in the Public Affairs Office at Yuma Proving Ground at 928-328-6533 or chuck.wullenjohn@yuma.army.mil no later than Oct. 3.

In addition to NSRDEC and YPG, other organizations are sponsoring PATCAD-2007. Product Manager Force Sustainment Systems, U.S. Joint Forces Command, U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command, Product Manager Clothing and Individual Equipment and NATO Headquarters are just some of the event’s sponsors. PATCAD will be facilitated by the NSRDEC. For more information about the NSRDEC, please visit their website at http://nsc.natick.army.mil/index.htm. More information about Yuma Proving Ground can be found at: http://www.yuma.army.mil/.