Design & Development of Mission Computer with Navigation System for combat free fall parachuting operation

The mission computer is used to improve jumpers situational awareness about the mission progress, improves safety and increases the effectiveness of military jumper by providing accurate navigation even for most demanding mission. Mission computer includes the following:

• One Pilot Unit.
• One Display Screen.
• One support board or harness.
• One compass.

Design requirement of Mission Computer with Navigation System:

1. System should be specifically designed for the combat free fall mission using ruggedized modules and proven sensors/software.
2. There should be facility to configure display based on jumper’s experience and mission requirement.
3. Types of information display available to the jumper should be:

• Jumpmaster screen to be used on the plane to check the progress of the flight towards the release point.
• Navigation screen to be used under canopy to guide the jumper towards the landing zone.
• Map display of the area below the jumper during the flight under the canopy.

iv)        The mission computer with parachute navigation system should have a facility of selecting one primary target and two alternative landing targets. A push button located on the mission computer can be activated with gloves to allow the jumper to rotate through screens and landing areas.

The mission computer should come with mission planner software that provides mission planning for combat free fall jumps/missions. It allows the user to select mission parameters such as payload weight, canopy, aircraft type, release altitude, speed, heading, and IP location. The Mission Planner software should automatically download the wind data and plan the mission for optimum release point.

• It should be wearable, using chest harness to be used for planning and execution of the free fall jump. Facility to calculate descent rate and time to target on deployment of parachute using onboard sensors should be provided.
• It should be compatible with personal radios for data transfer between multiple units during execution of the free fall jump.
• In built Satellite Navigation [NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation)] and map features for navigation to target during day and night both should be provided. 
• It should be shock proof and water resistant, at least IP 66 compliment or equivalent.

Future Expectation from the prototype / Technology developed

The demand for this high-quality combat free fall parachuting equipment i.e. Mission computer with navigation system is mainly driven by requirement of Indian Armed Forces. This equipment will be helpful reliable device for promoting safe and successful combat free fall parachuting for Indian Armed Forces.

Once developed same item can be customized and exported as per requirement of foreign Armed forces.