ESG Elektroniksystem-und Logistik-GmbH is joining forces with Dräger Aerospace GmbH to phase in a novel ram-air parachute system for the German armed forces. The two companies have linked up in the Special Parachute Equipment and Logistics Consortium (SPELCO) for this purpose and have been awarded a contract for this work by the Federal Office for Military Technology and Procurement (BWB). Dräger will be responsible for the oxygen system, whereas ESG will contribute its experience as a system and software house and its expertise in the field of logistics.
The new ram-air parachute system will revolutionise the operational readiness of the German parachute forces. It will consist of about 60 subsystems. They will include the parachute and various units for the oxygen supply, communication and navigation. SPELCO's first task will be to have these individual components certified, which will be followed having the overall system certified. Following certification, the consortium will procure the items, though the majority of manufacturers and the most important units (oxygen equipment, parachute etc.) have already been selected by BWB. Finally, SPELCO will be responsible for delivering the overall system to the armed forces.
One of the many special features of the ram-air parachute system will be that important units are fitted with a transponder (chip). This technology for tracking logistics consignments had already proved successful in ESG's Advanced Tracking & Tracing (ATT) system solution. With the chip it will be possible at all times to establish which ram-air parachute systems are ready for operation, and which are not. It will also be used for technical monitoring purposes.
The documentation for the ram-air parachute system will be produced as interactive electronic technical documentation (IETD) and will form part of the parachute management system. The management system will also include maintenance management, support management, a product monitoring component and the ATT database. These elements will be made available to the German armed forces and the manufacturers of the individual ram-air parachute components by means of an Internet-based software tool. The software components will be also be developed by ESG.
With more than 900 employees and annual sales amounting to 126 million euros (in 2001), ESG is one of Germany's leading system and software companies.
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