Onyx Industries tests smart parachute system for precision supply drops

Onyx Industries has demonstrated its RAM-T (Rigged Alternate Method Tandem) air delivery system paired with a GPS-guided parachute built by Airborne Systems, showcasing a solution that addresses both the challenge of deploying equipment from an aircraft and landing it precisely where troops need it.

The Core Challenge

Getting critical equipment out of an aircraft is only half the battle. The harder problem is landing it exactly where needed without forcing a pilot to fly dangerously low or slow over hostile territory. Onyx's demonstration tackled both issues simultaneously.

How the System Works

The demonstration delivered a payload under a static-line square parachute that steered itself autonomously to a designated landing point, rather than drifting with the wind. The guided parachute technology behind this precision is called the Joint Precision Airdrop System (JPADS) — a capability the U.S. Army and Air Force began developing jointly in 1993 and first used in combat over Afghanistan in 2006.

JPADS works by attaching a GPS-equipped guidance unit to a steerable parafoil parachute. An onboard computer continuously adjusts the canopy's steering lines throughout the descent, allowing the payload to correct its own course in real time rather than following a single, unguided trajectory.

Key Capabilities

• Standoff distance: Aircraft can release payloads from farther away and higher up, reducing exposure to enemy fire
• Autonomous navigation: The parachute handles the final approach without pilot intervention
• Precision delivery: Equipment lands exactly where ground forces need it

As Onyx Industries stated in a LinkedIn post: "By continuously adjusting the parachute throughout descent, JPADS enables the payload to be delivered accurately while reducing drift and increasing stand-off options for the aircraft."

The Inflatable Payload Barrel

The demonstration paired guided descent with a specific RAM-T component called the inflatable payload barrel — a protective container built from Hypalon-coated drop-stitch fabric, the same rugged material used in military boats and pontoons. Available in two thickness options:

• 1.3 inches (3.3 cm)
• 2.6 inches (6.6 cm)

The barrel comes standard with two of the smaller RAM-T variants and is available as an optional add-on for larger models. It is designed to protect a wide range of cargo during landing impact, including:

• Unmanned systems
• Communications equipment
• Weapon systems
• General soft goods

The design keeps the overall package light enough not to reduce the payload weight the parachute can carry.

RAM-T Platform Configurations

The RAM-T platform comes in four main configurations:

| Variant | Width | Weight | Max Exit Weight | |---------|-------|--------|-----------------| | Smaller | 34 in (86 cm) | ~124 lb (56 kg) | 1,000 lb (450 kg) | | Larger | 40 in (102 cm) | ~171 lb (78 kg) | 1,000 lb (450 kg) |

All straps and hardware are rated to withstand up to 10,000 pounds (4,535 kg) of force. Every variant rides on a wheeled carriage frame built from 316 stainless steel with polyurethane wheels, allowing ground crews to roll the loaded system into position rather than lifting a several-hundred-pound package by hand.

Delivery Methods

The platform supports multiple delivery methods depending on mission requirements:

• Tethered tandem drops
• Conventional static-line delivery
• Fully guided parachute systems (as used in this JPADS demonstration)

Modular Accessories

Onyx built additional accessories around the core RAM-T platform to handle the physics of dropping unpredictable cargo. A ballast system lets operators add precisely measured weight in increments of:

• 25 lb (11.3 kg)
• 50 lb (22.7 kg)
• 100 lb (45.4 kg)

Using sand, fuel, water, or any other granular material, crews can fine-tune the payload for optimal delivery.

About Airborne Systems

Airborne Systems, the JPADS manufacturer partnering with Onyx on this demonstration, has sold more than 850 of its JPADS and FireFly systems to American and international customers. The technology has become the most widely fielded precision airdrop system in the world, with variants capable of:

• Carrying loads up to 2,200 lb (1,000 kg)
• Operating from altitudes as high as 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
• Steering to targets as far as 25 km (15.5 miles) from the release point