Ahead of a possible future conflict in the north, the IDF logistics directorate held an exercise last week to improve its delivery of ammunition and supplies to forces operating deep behind enemy lines.

During the drill, the IDF practiced dropping ammunition, food, supplies and even Hummer vehicles from C-130 Hercules transport aircraft behind enemy lines to forces that are cut off from regular logistics lines.

In line with lessons learned from the Second Lebanon War in 2006, the IDF has put a strong emphasis in recent years on improving its ability to create supply lines to forces operating in Lebanon, Gaza or Syria.

The IDF has, for example, developed a long-range power-propelled parachute capable of carrying supplies to troops.

Called “Flying Elephant,” the parachute is designed to carry one ton of supplies and will be powered by a propeller engine and launched by a catapult system.

Once airborne, it will lift up cargo with a specially-designed handle. It will then use GPS to locate the landing site and has a level of accuracy of approximately 30 meters within designated coordinates.

In another improvement, the IDF recently completed the installation of new software for the Tzayad digital army program enabling commanders to also monitor logistics supply levels.

Tzayad creates a digital picture of a battlefield and allows units to share information on the location of friendly and hostile forces, as well as imagery collected from ground and aerial sensors.

The IDF has also developed a new cargo container that can be carried underneath transport helicopters without slowing down the speed of the aircraft.

To enable the fast speeds, the new container comes with built-in wings that were aerodynamically engineered to prevent wind resistance, which would otherwise slow down the helicopter or the parachute. (© 1995-2011, The Jerusalem Post 04/15/12)