Soaring to New Heights: How Safran’s Versatile Parachute Revolutionizes French Military Operations
Were you aware that Safran produces parachutes? In late 2024, Safran Electronics & Defense achieved another significant milestone by acquiring the Multi-Mission Parachute contract from the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA). This agreement facilitates an impressive enhancement in operational capabilities! We’ll share all the details.
“Obtaining this type of contract is a lengthy and challenging endeavor – one that spanned over a year’s effort,” state François Viviande, Program Manager, and Pierre Lasarte, Parachute Systems Sales Development Manager at Safran Electronics & Defense. The teams at Safran in Massy and Joué-lès-Tours, France, were responsible for crafting both the technical and commercial proposal before submitting and defending it to the DGA.
How extensive is Safran Electronics & Defense’s history in the parachute industry? “This expertise traces back to Zodiac Aerospace, which acquired the prominent French parachute manufacturer, Aerazur EFA, in 1978. We subsequently took over this division in 2020.” Through personnel drops, aerial delivery systems, braking and evacuation parachutes for aircraft, etc., Safran Electronics & Defense currently provides a vast array of solutions, establishing itself as the European leader in the military domain.
To fully appreciate the importance of Multi-Mission Parachutes, it’s essential to revisit 2016, when the development contract for the Parachute Landing System (SMT), its predecessor, was signed. This single-seater tactical parachute rapidly became popular among users due to its performance, safety, and superior certification standards. It enables heavily equipped operational parachutists to execute intricate infiltration missions.
The Multi-Mission Parachute represents the “heavy two-seater” variant of this new category of parachutes. “Engineered on the foundation of a Parachute Landing System, it will be utilized by the forces as a new tandem parachute for the French army,” state François Viviande and Pierre Lasarte.
Enhanced Operational Capabilities
The Multi-Mission Parachute presents numerous substantial advancements. Matching the performance and certification levels of its predecessor (the Parachute Landing System), the Multi-Mission Parachute offers remarkable maneuverability, drift capability, and precision.
Much like the Parachute Landing System, it holds a maximum drop altitude of 9,000 meters (~29,500 ft), enabling high-altitude military parachuting insertion with oxygen support. “This operational parachuting method is implemented to deploy parachutes at elevated altitudes, ideally at night, facilitating team infiltration across several dozen kilometers, thus allowing discreet access to a landing zone prior to commencing a tactical mission on the ground,” explains François Viviande.
The Multi-Mission Parachute can support a load of 300 kg (~660 lbs.), which is an increase of 100 kg (220 lbs.) compared to the Parachute Landing System. “The two-seater configuration is a significant advantage, enabling the transportation of individuals who lack parachute qualifications, such as a combat medic, or vital equipment for ground missions, including specialized gear,” clarify François Viviande and Pierre Lasarte.
Moreover, it incorporates Phantom canopies for both the main and reserve parachutes, delivering exceptional performance for covert infiltration. This feature allows for a flight range of approximately 50 km (31 miles) from the drop zone, thereby increasing mission adaptability.
