World Tribune.com

New chute lets paratroops fly up to 200 km. to avoid combat zones

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, May 30, 2006

LONDON — Germany has developed a military parachute system that allows flight for 200 kilometers before landfall.

The modular carbon-fiber wing enables the wearer to jump from an airplane at an altitude of 30,000 feet and fly for 200 kilometers. The system has been developed and tested by the German firm Elektroniksystem und Logistik and Draeger.

The London-based Jane's Defence Weekly reported that the system was developed to ensure that paratroopers could avoid a combat zone. The trials were scheduled to end by 2007 with production ready for next year.

The system has been in use with the German Army since 2003. The original wing enables the wearer to glide for 48 kilometers.

Jane's said the new wing would allow paratroopers to travel up to 40 kilometers with a load of 100 kilograms. The magazine said the system could evade ground-based radar.

In the next stage of development, Elektroniksystem plans to employ small turbo-jet drives similar to those on unmanned aerial vehicles. This would allow paratroopers to be carried longer distances without jumping from such extreme heights.


Copyright © 2006 East West Services, Inc.

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