How the guided airdrop works

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1,000 feet above the target a larger parachute deploys, slowing the descent and delivering the cargo vertically to the ground

Falling at 100mph, the cargo steers itself to the target, turning as the actuators pull risers on the parafoil

Aircraft flies to drop zone and releases the cargo under a rectangular parafoil, fitted with GPS and steering actuators

Probe transmits wind data, which is used to compute an acceptable drop zone

Aircraft releases probe

Drop zone can be at up to 25,000 feet and 15 miles from the target

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5

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1

1,000 feet above the target a larger parachute deploys, slowing the descent and delivering the cargo vertically to the ground

Falling at 100mph, the cargo steers itself to the target, turning as the actuators pull risers on the parafoil

Aircraft flies to drop zone and releases the cargo under a rectangular parafoil, fitted with GPS and steering actuators

Probe transmits wind data, which is used to compute an acceptable drop zone

Aircraft releases probe