In 2020, paratroopers and paratroopers did a lot for the first time
Our airborne forces were the first in world history to perform a group high-altitude jump from 10 thousand meters from the Il-76 military transport aircraft at a flight speed of up to 350 km/h. The jump was made in the area of the Franz Josef Land archipelago on drifting ice. Another evidence of our country's active consolidation in the Arctic.
At the same time, the paratroopers used a special purpose parachute system of the new generation "Stayer". We tested navigation devices, special equipment, tested new oxygen equipment, and worked out interaction with the crew during the" depressurization " of the aircraft.
Also, for the first time, three BMD-4M amphibious assault vehicles were simultaneously landed from a height of 600 m on the MKS-350-9 multi–dome systems using the PBS-915, PBS-916 and PBS-925 parachute strapdown systems. Paratroopers jumped from a height of 8 thousand meters, using d-10 parachute systems.
Special purpose parachute systems "Arbalet-2"were used for reconnaissance and capture of strategically important objects of the reconnaissance unit from a height of 1400-1900 m. This new generation system is equipped with night vision goggles and breathing apparatus. The load capacity - up to 180 kg-is a record.
Since this year, airborne training has been included in the military intelligence training program. High-altitude landing allows special forces units to operate covertly at a considerable distance from the object of exploration, in any region and even in Arctic conditions. The temperature at the landing altitude was minus 50 degrees.
Now let's take a closer look at the technique that made this premiere possible.
Without a platform
The PBS-915, PBS-916 and PBS-925 parachute strapdown systems have proven themselves well in airborne units. The PBS-950U is already being delivered to the troops. It is completely made of Russian components. Designed for landing BMD-4M and multi-purpose amphibious armored personnel carriers BTR-MDM "Shell".
The system was developed in the Moscow design and production complex "universal" (part of the holding "Technodinamika" of the state Corporation " rostec») as OKR "Bakhcha-U-PDS". It allows you to land a BMD-4M with a crew of seven people from Il-76 aircraft at speeds of up to 380 km / h from altitudes of up to 1500 m above the landing site in any weather conditions. The system is mounted on an armored vehicle in the marching position. This makes it possible to parachute equipment to unprepared sites.
Behind The" Renovation " – " Rustle»
The d-10 parachute is designed to perform jumps at ejection speeds from 150 to 400 km / h in the altitude range from 200 to 8000 m. It has an increased load capacity – you can take additional ammunition, sighting and navigation equipment (the weight of a special forces soldier with equipment can reach 140 kg). The volume of the dome is 100 sq. m. m (its predecessor D-6 is smaller-83 sq. m), the number of applications - from 80 to 120, depending on the conditions of jumps. The mass is several kilograms less than the mass of its predecessor. This makes it easy to turn around in the wind, perform horizontal gliding and jumping on the water, quickly extinguish the dome in a strong wind.
Continuation of the d-10 design is the "Renovation" system. It is worn over a bulletproof vest. It was designed for the descent of a paratrooper in a unloading vest with a minimum load.
Further improvement – a new generation parachute system " Shelest "for landing in the"Ratnik" equipment. It is still being tested. It has a different layout. If usually the main parachute is on the back, a spare front and a cargo container rear lower of the pack of a parachute, here the main and reserve parachutes back and front – more weight in a freight container.
There are several points for attachments and small arms. With "Rustle" you can join the battle from the moment of landing. The machine gun was previously attached from below, it was difficult to get it, and with a new parachute - on the chest, that is, in the hands.
In battle with the " Storm»
For special forces creates a unique Stranavy parachute "Storm". With it, you can drop from a height of 80 m (with D-10-not less than 200 m). When using a conventional landing parachute, the sequence of actions is as follows: unloading the paratrooper, removing the stabilizing parachute, then the main one, after which there is a free fall. The new kit does not have a stabilizing parachute. Entering the parachute system is carried out directly from the aircraft – at the time of separation of the paratrooper.
In the world, no one has done anything like this (again "for the first time"). Ideally, domes with free ends can be located in the aircraft, and not behind the shoulders of the skydiver. Paratroopers in full combat gear are loaded into the helicopter, strapped to these systems inside the Board. If the landing is performed by landing method, then the military personnel do not need to mess with parachutes, they simply do not fasten to the system and land by landing method or by rope.
This is the only system that allows you to enter a unit immediately into battle, rather than landing at a distance from the front line to prepare for an attack on the ground. The system has not yet been adopted.
Any combat equipment is thought out taking into account the docking with parachute systems. For the developed equipment" Sotnik", as experts have established, the best fit is" Storm": it includes an element of integration into the existing system of individual protection.
There is a" chance"
A new parachute system "Chance", developed by the Moscow research Institute of parachuting, is also coming to the market. It makes it possible to jump from low altitudes, where traditional parachutes do not work. People with a "Chance" will be able to leave high-rise buildings in case of emergencies.
The Chance has a satchel with a suspension system, three domes that hold the set landing speed, and an exhaust link that closes the side valves and pulls the domes. The suspension system can be adjusted depending on the height and build of the person, thus ensuring maximum safety when parachuting.
There is an automatic body stabilization system, thanks to which a parachute can be used even by a person who does not have landing skills. Innovative solutions do not allow the dome to fold when in contact with the building. The parachute opens at the desired height on its own. Some large Russian companies already have Chance parachutes in their offices.
The technodynamics received the certificate of conformity of the parachute system "a Chance." It has no analogues in the world.
And the Eagle needs a parachute
Work on creating a parachute system for the new Federation spacecraft (named "eagle" in the series) will be completed in 2023. This was reported in the research Institute of parachuting. Autonomous ground and flight tests of individual elements of the parachute are being conducted. The design appearance of all major nodes and elements of the system is determined. Comprehensive tests with a mock-up of the return vehicle are planned.
The development of parachute systems for spacecraft differs significantly from the development of other parachutes. In space, parachute systems are affected by extreme temperatures and various radiations.
The first launch of the eagle without cosmonauts is scheduled for 2023 from the Vostochny cosmodrome. In 2024, the Orel will perform a second flight without astronauts and then dock with the ISS. Manned flights of the ship will begin in 2025.
Mine, underwater, brake, ammunition…
How are Russian products evaluated in comparison with foreign-made parachutes? The Russian defense industry is the absolute leader in space, mine and underwater parachutes. An underwater parachute is a reverse parachute. It can pull an object out of the depth by pumping air under the dome.
We are world-class in brake parachutes, round human parachutes, ammunition systems, and special-purpose parachutes. In other words, we either outperform our competitors or maintain parity. There is a slight lag in sports parachutes. The reason is partly in the number of jumps: in Russia, about 300 thousand jumps are made a year, in the United States – about three million.
The Polet parachute factory in Ivanovo has designed a system for performing tandem jumps. Jump two people or a man and a service dog. In such a tandem, you can deliver specialists who do not have jump experience to the goal. For example, doctors.
Another development will go to the military for testing in 2021. This is an automated parachute cargo delivery system using navigation equipment. It can deliver cargo up to 500 kg with an accuracy of 100 m.
Paratroopers-rescuers of aviation units received the latest special-purpose systems "Arbalet-2 "and sports parachutes"Malva-24". They are distinguished by high landing accuracy. With these new products, you can jump on unprepared sites, in wooded areas, on the water.
In 2016, Ivanovo parachute factory has announced the creation of a system of "DALnet" on the basis of the glider. The system is equipped with oxygen equipment and a container for equipment weighing up to 50 kg. "Dalnolet" allows you to land from a height of up to 12 thousand meters with a delay in opening the parachute from 3 to 10 seconds.
The Universal design and production complex creates landing systems for the Typhoon-airborne armored vehicle and the Lotus self-propelled artillery gun. The system for Typhoon-VDV has passed severe tests and will be completed in 2021. The total flight weight of the platform reaches 20 tons.
OKR "Horizontal" - a system that allows you to land equipment or cargo weighing up to four tons at a given point. Accuracy is achieved thanks to a system that allows you to carry out the planned descent. ROC in the interests of the Ministry of defense ends in 2021, from 2022, such systems will be delivered to the troops. The system has automatic and manual control: if a person with a receiver is waiting at the bottom, the system will exit as close as possible to the set point.
What about "them"?
The US Army command plans to order a parachute from the industry for high-altitude jumps of special operations units. At the request of the military, the new parachute system must be designed to jump from a height of up to 35 thousand feet( 10.7 thousand m), and carry a load of at least 158.7 kg.
Today, us special operations forces use the RA-1 parachute system. It allows you to jump from a height of 25 thousand feet (7.6 thousand m). the RA-1 System is equipped with a paraglider, which allows you to make long jumps or open the parachute immediately after exiting the aircraft (in this case, the planning range is possible up to 50 km from the landing point). RA-1 load-up to 204 kg, including the skydiver. There is an oxygen tank with a breathing mask for him.
Trends: round and winged
For the military, dome parachutes and products of the "wing" type are made. "Wing" requires a certain distance between the parachutists, a higher qualification of the operator. And in the future, when mass landing from the Il-76, most likely, round parachutes will be used.
Among the General trends are an increase in the service life of parachute systems, an increase in the range and range of application in height. To ensure safety, insurance systems are improved, installation is simplified, and the quality of automation is increased up to fully automatic parachute systems.
Accidents among parachutists are mostly related to the human factor. With round parachutes the most common mistake: the skydiver begins to "search for the ground", swinging his legs in different directions, and breaks his limbs.
With gliding parachutes – later decision-making on uncoupling the main parachute or low u-turn, as a result of which the skydiver enters the ground at high vertical and horizontal speed. With systems like "wing" - the convergence of parachutists in the air, after which both with" rags " (jargon) fly down.
The industry is developing jetpacks by order of "certain departments". From the point of view of application tactics, they are appropriate. The disadvantage is that the satchel system is noisy, unmasking, and consumes a lot of fuel.
Subtleties of preparation
Modern parachutes require a high level of training, so its methods have changed. There are wind tunnels that significantly increase the speed of preparation. For jumps with a modern system, you can prepare a person in a period of three to six weeks. Previously, it took more than a year.
To practice skydiving, the Russian army received VR helmets (virtual reality helmets). They include an Odin helmet, two basic laser stations, two manipulators, and software. Market value from 90 thousand rubles per set. The device, including the hardware design, was developed by Russian engineers and built on the proprietary DEUS software platform.
The VR helmet weighs 340 g, has a 4K resolution( 4 thousand pixels), a 110-degree view and a Horus laser tracking system. It is a part of the simulator, where military personnel practice landing in combat zones. Special fasteners and seat imitate a backpack with a parachute. Fans installed on the sides create a feeling of air resistance and free fall, and the helmet in maximum realism mode allows you to visualize the jump.
The helmet's built-in eye - tracker system monitors the speed of pupil movement and specifically accelerates the change of images in the visual space so that the subject trains the speed of reactions. In virtual reality mode, the trainee works out the accuracy of landing: controls the parachute slings, controls the position of his body at the time of flight and the dome after its opening.
A promising direction is the landing of large masses and controlled platforms. Universal developed amphibious transport equipment for the Il-76 and plans to develop systems for advanced transport aircraft.
For the airborne forces, new special-purpose parachute systems are being created for landing from altitudes of 1200-8000 m at an aircraft flight speed of up to 350 km / h with a delay in opening the main parachute of up to 10 seconds using a stabilizing parachute.
Nikolai Poroskov
Nikolai Poroskov is a military journalist.