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Aerial delivery by parachute has been practiced extensively,
but until the introduction of the ram-air parachute this capability
has not changed dramatically since the WW2 era. In recent years
air drops were implemented in most conflicts, for example, over
Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Afghanistan and, most
recently - over South Lebanon, air drops were performed from
low altitude, despite enemy threat by missiles and anti-aircraft
guns.
Current airdrop procedures are complex systems that, in most
cases are tied to known high risk choke points, such as aerial
and sea ports of debarkation and pre-planned drop zones. Drop
zones are sometimes marked with colored-smoke grenades or large
canvas markers. That, followed by the low-flying planes, could
give away the drop zone's location.
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the military context, air-delivery, usually synonym to speedy
service is bogged down into a series of complex preparations
outpaced by the operational tempo of modern battle. Moreover,
the higher an aircraft drops its load, the less accurate the
landings become. Therefore, to enable accurate delivery, low-altitude
drops are performed, but naturally, with higher risk involved..Low
level drops, classified as anything under 2,000 feet (600 m')
altitude, these procedures expose the plane and its crew to
the risk of enemy anti-aircraft guns and MANPADS.
Since drop zones are planned, prepared and marked in advance
by so-called "pathfinder teams" planning the air drop,
enemy observation can, in time assemble rapid-reaction forces
to try and jeopardize the mission. While pallets are scattered
over a large area, ground units arriving at the drop zone to
collect the deliveries could be exposed to enemy ambushes. This
was practiced with deadly effect by Vietcong during the Vietnam
war. Sometimes air delivered cargo is lost in 'no man's zone'
or much worse, in enemy territory, requiring rescheduling more
air sorties for replacement supplies to be delivered, an expensive
loss in time and funding. For example, in Afghanistan, where
air delivery is used extensively to re-supply forces in remote
locations, drop zones are severely restricted by terrain and
weather conditions, dispersing loads up to 1,000 meters from
designated points, forcing the troops on the ground to hike
and hunt for the urgent supplies.
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