Planning, Execution, and Results of the Precision Airdrop Technology Conference and Demonstration (2003)

Abstract : During the week of 3-7 November 2003, the second Precision Airdrop Technology Conference and Demonstration (PATCAD) was executed at the US Army Yuma Proving Ground in Yuma Arizona. The PATCAD 2003 was facilitated by the US Army Natick Soldier Center (NSC) and partially sponsored by numerous other organizations to include: US Army PM-Force Sustainment Systems, US Air Force Air Mobility Command, US Special Operations Command (SOCOM), US Army Tactical UAV Office, Deputy Under Secretary for Defense for Advanced Systems and Concepts (DUSD-AS&C), Foreign Comparative Test Office, US Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG), and ECIII. This paper will describe in detail the rationale, timing, and planning required to execute a PATCAD, provide an overview of the program and systems demonstrated and displayed, and describe the results of the event. In addition, related future events that are being planned at the time of this paper submission, specifically PATCAD 2005 and NATO related efforts, will be presented. It will also describe the safety aspects and technical considerations for executing a PATCAD and the airdrop logistics and lessons learned from this and related events.