Did you know that Safran manufactures parachutes? In late 2024, Safran Electronics & Defense secured another major achievement by winning the Multi-Mission Parachute contract from the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA). This contract paves the way for a drastic boost in operational capabilities! We’ll tell you all about it.
“Securing this type of contract is a long and demanding process – one that took over a year of work,” explain François Viviande, Program Manager, and Pierre Lasarte, Parachute Systems Sales Development Manager at Safran Electronics & Defense. The Safran teams in Massy and Joué-lès-Tours, France, were tasked with developing both the technical and commercial proposal before presenting and defending it to the DGA.
How long has Safran Electronics & Defense been in the parachute business? “This expertise dates back to Zodiac Aerospace, which acquired the leading French parachute company, Aerazur EFA, in 1978. We then took over this activity in 2020.” With personnel airdrops, air delivery systems, braking and evacuation parachutes for aircraft, etc., Safran Electronics & Defense now offers a comprehensive range of solutions, making it the European leader in the military sector.
However, to fully grasp the significance of Multi-Mission Parachutes, we have to go back to 2016, when the development contract for the Parachute Landing System (SMT), its predecessor, was signed. This single-seater tactical parachute quickly gained favor among users thanks to its performance, safety, and high level of certification. It allows heavily equipped operational parachutists to carry out complex infiltration missions.
The Multi-Mission Parachute is the “heavy two-seater” version of this new family of parachutes. “Developed on the basis of a Parachute Landing System, it will be adopted by the forces as a new tandem parachute for the French army,” indicate François Viviande and Pierre Lasarte.
Strengthened operational capabilities
The Multi-Mission Parachute offers several significant improvements. On par with the performance and certification level of its predecessor (the Parachute Landing System), the Multi-Mission Parachute delivers exceptional maneuverability, drift capacity, and precision.
Like the Parachute Landing System, it boasts a maximum drop altitude of 9,000 meters (~29,500 ft), enabling high-altitude military parachuting insertion with oxygen support. “This operational parachuting technique is used to deploy parachutes at high altitude, preferably at night, and infiltrate several dozen kilometers as a team, thus allowing to discreetly reach a landing zone before initiating a tactical mission on the ground,” explains François Viviande.
The Multi-Mission Parachute has a load capacity of 300 kg (~660 lbs.), i.e. 100 kg (220 lbs.) more than the Parachute Landing System. “The two-seater design is a major asset, allowing to transport personnel who are not parachute-qualified, such as a combat medic, or essential equipment for ground operations, including specialized gear,” explain François Viviande and Pierre Lasarte.
Additionally, it features Phantom canopies for both the main and reserve parachutes, providing superior performance for discreet infiltration. This allows for a flight range of approximately 50 km (31 miles) from the drop point, thereby enhancing mission flexibility.
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