MSPO 2016: Zodiac Aerospace Announces Parachute Contract Award for French Special Forces

 
MSPO 2016
Official Foreign Online Show Daily News and Official Web TV
International Defense Industry Exhibition & conference
6 - 9 September 2016
Kielce , Poland
 
Zodiac Aerospace Phantom Canopy
 
 
MSPO 2016: Zodiac Aerospace Announces Parachute Contract Award for French Special Forces
At MSPO 2016, the International Defence Industry Exhibition currently held in Kielce (Poland), French company Zodiac Aerospace revealed that they received a contract award from DGA (French Procurement Agency) to deliver tactical parachute systems to the French Special Forces Command (COS).
     
Poster on display on Zodiac Aerospace stand during MSPO 2016
     
The SMTC OPS (for systeme de mise à terre des chutteurs opérationels) or "Phantom Canopy" (in its commercial name) contract was awarded on August 30 2016.

The Phantom Canopy is a modern tactical parachute designed to carry up to 510 lbs over long distances and  operate from low or high altitudes.

Computer Aided Design software was used to tune each design component, especially the canopy leading edge and the profile shape. This enables the canopy to have both great performance and easy handling. Engineering design efforts were made to reduce drag and increase lift.

Various deployment methods have been verified including freefall drogue, static line drogue, double-bag static-line, spring-loaded pilot chute.

Despite a large speed range, the Phantom has collapsible wingtips which increase the sink rate to maintain altitude with team members or shorten the landing approach.