Carlton Meyer
21st Century Weapons
e-mail Feb 1999

The rapid resupply of forward combat units remains difficult. Air drops and helicopters are effective, but aircraft must fly within range of most anti-aircraft weaponry to deliver a load.

The solution is a reusable GPS guidance system which can steer a descending parachute dropped from 40,000 ft.

This method could easily supply units isolated by enemy action. Since transport aircraft could remain beyond visual and audio range, cargo would seem to appear magically from the sky. Night drops could sustain surrounded units without the enemy's knowledge.

However, the real value of safe, accurate air drops is the rapid resupply of critical items. While sealift and trucks are the only practical method of moving the bulk of supplies, it is a slow process. The logistics "tail" requires port operations, warehouses, roads, bridges, security and base camps to house support personnel. As a result, combat units are often crippled because of a lack of critical items of supply.

GPS guidance systems for air drops would allow large transports to bypass the cumbersome system and direct-deliver loads in the same manner as long-range bombers.

Imagine a system in which each combat battalion is allotted one air drop each day directly from a major logistical depot. This would allow an infantry battalion in Bosnia to order directly from an American air base in Germany. Within 24 hours, the critical supplies would float down from the sky and land near the battalion headquarters. The bulk of basic supplies like fuel, ammo, and canned rations would still be moved overland since air delivery is extremely expensive. However, perishable items like medical supplies and fresh food are best moved by air, and timely items like mail.

A major advantage would be a "just-in-time" system for the thousands of small spare parts used by combat units, to avoid, theft, black-marketing, spoilage, fires or capture. The U.S. Air Mobility Command should establish relationships with major logistical depots for a worldwide Fed-Ex type air drop delivery service. The U.S. military has devoted billions of dollars to perfect precision-guided munitions. This technology can easily be adapted for precision-guided supplies.

U.S. Army Guided Parafoil Delivery System (G-PADS)

http://www-sscom.army.mil/prodprog/mobility/gpads-l.htm

Carlton Meyer

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