11/11/2023 0 Comments Military fall parachutistPerformance: The Army's and Marine Corps' parachutes both met all of their minimum performance goals, such as the distances they can travel and the weights they can carry. The Marine Corps plans to complete its program in fiscal year 2025. The Marine Corps' program met its one schedule milestone by fielding its initial parachutes almost 2 years earlier than planned. Schedule: The Army's program is nearing completion, having met its schedule goals. The Marine Corps' program has met its cost goals, and has largely addressed a $1.4 million budget shortfall, which will enable it to buy nearly all of its planned parachutes. Specifically:Ĭost: The Army's program costs have been stable since 2013 when it revised its cost goals to account for an increase in planned parachute purchases. The Army system on the left does not incorporate a drogue parachute, which results in a simpler design and lower-cost parachute system.Īrmy and Marine Corps Free Fall Parachute SystemsĪccording to GAO's review of program documents, the Army and the Marine Corps are meeting the current acquisition goals for their free fall parachute programs. According to the Marine Corps, the added in-flight stability from a drogue parachute also helps because the Marine Corps has more limited training opportunities than the Army. A drogue parachute helps prevent “head over heels” tumbling, which was a contributing factor in previous Marine Corps parachuting fatalities. For example, the Marine Corps' need for a small drogue parachute (see Marine Corps system on right side of figure below) differentiated it from the Army. But, according to GAO's review of program documents, their requirements differed in several areas, which helps explain why they chose different systems to fulfill their needs. Both services used low-risk acquisition strategies for their parachute replacement programs that were based on buying existing systems that could meet their needs with minor modifications and no government-funded development. The Army and Marine Corps use free fall parachutes with their special operations forces and reconnaissance units to covertly land personnel in contested areas.
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