ParaLander Increases Effectiveness of Air-Drop Missions

EADS, EADS Defence & Security (DS) has been awarded a contract for equipping the Special Forces of Bundeswehr with its newly developed self-guidance ram-air cargo parachute system ParaLander. As the company announced on Wednesday, the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB) has signed a contract for the delivery of five ParaLander systems by end of this year in order to fullfill immediate requirements of the Bundeswehr ISAF contingent in Afghanistan. 
 
The ParaLander enables the air delivery of fragile and sensible mission equipment, re-supply and humanitarian goods precisely on target and on time from heights of up to 10,000 metres and over distances of up to 50 kilometres. The system is virtually all-weather capable. It enables the transport aircraft depolyed, e.g. C160 Transall or in future the A400M, to remain outside the range of most air defence systems. 
 
On account of its similar system architecture and the identical module for mission planning, the currently ordered ParaLander is closely related to another DS product, the ParaFinder. This is a mission planning and navigation system for high-precision parachute jumps from high altitudes, which is already in use by the German Special Forces. Thus, ParaLander substantially contributes to the mission effectiveness of the Armed Forces. At the same time, the system increases the safety of aircrews by allowing them to stay out of endangered areas. 
 
EADS Defence & Security (DS) is a systems solutions provider combining military air systems, missile systems, communications and intelligence systems, global security solutions, sensor and avionics systems, as well as test and support solutions into a single effective network. In 2006, DS – with its around 23,000 employees – achieved revenues of EUR 5.9 billion. 
 
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2006, EADS generated revenues of EUR 39.4 billion and employs a workforce of about 116,000.