Onyx Industries tests smart parachute system for precision supply drops from up to 25 km

Onyx Industries has demonstrated its RAM-T (Rigged Alternate Method Tandem) air delivery system paired with a JPADS-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.

Precision Guidance Technology

The demonstration featured a static-line square parachute that steered itself autonomously to a designated landing point, rather than drifting with the wind. This precision is enabled by the Joint Precision Airdrop System (JPADS) — a capability jointly developed by the U.S. Army and Air Force beginning 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 course in real time.

Standoff Capability and Safety

The key advantage of pairing precision guidance with an air delivery system is standoff distance. Rather than forcing a cargo plane or helicopter to fly directly over a drop zone at low altitude — exposing the aircraft and crew to enemy fire — a guided parachute allows the aircraft to release its payload from farther away and higher up. The parachute handles the final approach independently.

"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," Onyx Industries said in a LinkedIn post.

Airborne Systems Partnership

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

• Carrying loads up to 2,200 pounds (1,000 kilograms)
• Operating from altitudes as high as 25,000 feet (7,600 meters)
• Steering to a target as far as 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) from the release point

Inflatable Payload Barrel

The demonstration paired the 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 thicknesses:

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

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 is available in four main configurations:

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

All straps and hardware are rated to withstand up to 10,000 pounds (4,535 kilograms) of force.

Key Features

• Wheeled carriage frame built from 316 stainless steel with polyurethane wheels, allowing ground crews to roll the loaded system into position rather than lifting it by hand
• Multiple delivery methods supported, including tethered tandem drops, conventional static-line delivery, and fully guided parachute systems like JPADS

Modular Accessories

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

• 25 pounds (11.3 kilograms)
• 50 pounds (22.7 kilograms)
• 100 pounds (45.4 kilograms)

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