HDT International Holdings announces the acquisition of Airborne Systems Group.

SOLON, OHIO – January 27, 2010 – HDT International Holdings, Inc. ("HDT"), which is majority owned by Metalmark Capital, today announced the acquisition of Airborne Systems Group Limited
("Airborne"), the world's leading developer and manufacturer of parachute systems and related products.
HDT is a holding company that also owns HDT Engineered Technologies, a leading provider of highly engineered mobile military and emergency response solutions. The two companies will be separately operated under the leadership of HDT. Elek Puskas, who has led Airborne since 2005, and Airborne's current senior management team, will continue to lead the company under HDT's ownership. Financial terms were not disclosed.

"During its 90 year history, Airborne and its predecessors have earned a strong reputation for designing and delivering innovative, high quality products to a global military customer base," said John Gilligan, Chairman of HDT. "In recent years, Airborne created the bulk of next-generation products adopted by the US Army, including the T-11 and MC-6 troop parachutes as well as the Joint Precision Airdrop Systems ("JPADS") that allow for the high altitude air drop of cargo and precision-guided delivery to targeted drop zones. We look forward to working with Elek and his exceptional team to assist Airborne as it continues to provide such products and services in support of high-priority programs."

"Airborne's products and engineering expertise complement the full HDT line of deployable, expeditionary solutions and broaden the range of products and services that we are able to offer our customers," said Vince Nardy, Chief Executive Officer of HDT. "The acquisition also expands HDT's global footprint and customer relationships, augments our product development and engineering service capabilities, and adds a number of very talented and experienced professionals to our leadership team."

"The addition of Airborne's unparalleled assets and experience to the HDT platform will accelerate HDT's objective of providing innovative products and services that help customers in the military and emergency response sectors support lighter, faster, and more agile forces, which are able to quickly deploy, utilize technology-enabled applications, counter asymmetric threats, and achieve mission success," added Jeff Siegal, Managing Director of Metalmark Capital.

Moelis & Co. and MacFarlanes LLP served as financial and legal advisors to Airborne. RBC Capital Markets and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as financial and legal advisors to HDT. Debt financing in support of the transaction was led by RBC Capital Markets with BMO Capital Markets and GE Anteres serving as co-lead arrangers.

Asignatura: CAF.
Alumno: Juan José Núñez Ceballos
Fuente: http://www.airborne-sys.com/press.htm

AIRBORNE SYSTEMS TARGETS DEFEXPO WITH A COMPREHENSIVE AERIAL DELIVERY CAPABILITY

Airborne Systems, a world leader in parachute systems, will highlight its capabilities as the only company that can provide a complete aerial delivery solution for troop and equipment alike when it exhibits at DEFEXPO (Hall 18 Stand 12G), Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, February 15-18).
These systems range from the fully-autonomous GPS-guided Joint Precision Airdrop Systems (JPADS) to the newT-11 mass assault troop parachute system now in service with the US Army and its unique maritime craft aerial delivery system, all of which cleared for use with the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules, and other military transport aircraft.
The Group's appearance at DEFEXPO comes less than a month after it was acquired by a US company, HDT International Holdings, Inc. (HDT), who also own HDT Engineered Technologies, provider of deployable and mobile products and services solutions for customers in military and emergency response sectors.
The acquisition also comes at the end of a six month period in which Airborne Systems has announced a series of strategic and breakthrough orders, underpinning its leading role in the development of parachute technology for the aerial delivery of both men and equipment, emergency escape and search & rescue solutions.
The US Department of Defense (DoD) full adoption of the JPADS 2K FireFlyTM, a GPS-guided aerial delivery system capable of carrying payloads up to 2,200 lb (1000kg) was announced in September 2009, although the system has been in service in operational environments for over a year. More than 1,350 FireFlyTM systems have been delivered to customers. Airborne Systems' 10K DragonFlyTM has also been selected by the DoD as its platform for medium weight requirement of up to 10000lb (4,500kg).
In October 2009, Airborne Systems won the largest of three production contracts for the new T-11 advanced troop parachute system that the company has designed for the US airborne forces. The full requirement is to replace the 52,000 T-10 parachutes over the next 5 years, in a programme with a potential full value of $220 million.

Airborne Systems' unique Maritime Craft Aerial Delivery System (MCADS) enables rigid inflatable boats to be airdropped into water, ready for immediate use, from the C17, C5, C-130 Hercules aircraft as well as being compatible with the A400M. MCADS is already in service with the US, UK and other nation's Special Forces and further orders have recently been received from other European nations.
Earlier this year, Airborne Systems also won its first contract to manufacture the new troop parachute system, known as the EPC, for the French airborne forces. More than 23,000 parachutes, comprising main and reserve parachutes, will be delivered in a multi-year programme under a contract with the DGA (Direction Générale de l'Armement) procurement executive of the French Ministry of Defence.

Asignatura: CAF.
Alumno: Juan José Núñez Ceballos
Fuente: http://www.airborne-sys.com/press.htm

Airborne Systems Demonstrates Modular Heavy Payload Autonomously Guided Ram-Air Parachute

YUMA, AZ, January 14, 2009 –Airborne Systems, a world leader in parachute design and manufacturing, announced they successfully completed a test drop deploying an 18,000 lb payload from 17,500 MSL under a modified modular ram-air parachute. This testing was conducted as part of a US Army Natick Soldier Research Development & Engineering Center development program to investigate the use of a modular design for precision guided airdrop of heavy payload systems.

Two of Airborne Systems' products called MegaFly™ and GigaFly™, are designed to carry heavy payloads (15K to 42K lbs) using GPS navigation to "steer" bulk supplies, equipment or vehicles to an intended point of impact. Both systems are modular and are assembled using five separate sections. When the sections are connected together to form a single large parafoil wing, the combined size is close to the wingspan of a Boeing 747 (211-ft).

"One of the unique features of this design is the interchangeability of parafoil sections to function as a modular system" said Brian Bagdonovich, Program Manager, for the US Army Natick Soldier RD&E Center. The MegaFly™ parafoil was designed for 20-30K pound payloads. Using modular canopies to carry heavier loads, the MegaFly™ system can easily be converted to a GigaFly™ system by removing the 2,500 sq-ft center section of the MegaFly™ and replacing it with a 3,900 sq-ft center section. The benefit of this modular interchangeability is to allow the system to accommodate a higher payload up to a 42K pounds".

"Conversely, the modular concept can also be applied to accommodate smaller payloads said Bagdonovich. By removing the center section of the MegaFly™, making it a four section parafoil instead of its typical five section configuration, the system will accommodate accurate delivery of payloads from 15K to 20K pounds". The four section parafoil configuration was successfully demonstrated with an 18K pound payload. "From an Army standpoint, the concept of modularity is just as impressive as GigaFly's ability to deliver high payload weights to a precise location" said Bagdonovich.

Asignatura: CAF.
Alumno: Juan José Núñez Ceballos
Fuente: http://www.airborne-sys.com/press.htm

Airborne Days Showcases Parachute Technology to Allied Military Audience

Eloy, AZ (February 15, 2009) Airborne Systems Group, which has combined the world's leading parachute brands specializing in aerial delivery, rescue and survival equipment, and engineering services, held a unique two day parachute technology event, demonstrating some of the world's most advanced aerial delivery products.

"Airborne Days II" showcased the latest in non-steerable, steerable and ram-air troop parachute systems. Demonstrations were also provided for precision cargo delivery and search and rescue systems. The event allowed allied militaries from around the world to participate in a specialized, hands-on educational format where qualified airborne military personnel were encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to test jump new state-of the art parachute systems made available from the company. Military personnel from 19 different countries made jumps with a variety of equipment.

Attendees marveled at the precision demonstration of the Airborne Systems MicroFlyTM and FireFlyTM JPADS (Joint Precision Air Drop Systems) which use GPS (Global Positioning Systems) to "steer" the cargo to a specific target location. These JPADS systems are revolutionizing troop re-supply in remote hazardous locations as they can be dropped from altitudes and locations well out the range of small arms fire. The company has developed a series of these precision cargo delivery systems for use with varying weights and sizes using the same software platform. With this "family" approach, the user interface on the Autonomous Guidance Units and the Mission Planer are identical across the various models of precision guided cargo delivery products.

One of the new troop parachutes featured was the T-11 advanced tactical parachute system. The T-11 is the world's most advanced non-steerable parachute system and is slated to replace the US Army's aging T-10 series of non-steerable troop parachutes in use since the 1950's. The T-11 is designed to carry more weight, reduce opening shock and reduce impact energy upon landing to lessen the potential for injury. Another new technology shown on interactive display was the U.S. Army's latest steerable troop parachute, the MC-6 system which is being fielded to replace the U.S. Army's MC1-1 series of steerable troop parachutes. Like the T-11, the new MC-6 has reduced opening shock, less oscillation and reduces impact energy upon landing

Several high performance military parachutes were also featured. These included the Hi Glide HAHO (High Altitude, High Opening) system which has the highest gliding capability available and has been adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps, along with the Raider/Intruder System currently under evaluation as a candidate for the replacement of the U.S. Army's MC-4 Ram Air Parachute System. A static demonstration was also provided for the ARK (Aerial Rescue Kit) and SPARK (Small Pack Response Kit) which are the latest technologies used in aerial delivery rescue and survival equipment.

"We really felt this was a great opportunity to learn about products and have a better understanding of how they perform; something we can't get in a brochure" said a Special Forces attendee who asked not to be named.

Asignatura: CAF.
Alumno: Juan José Núñez Ceballos
Fuente: http://www.airborne-sys.com/press.htm

Airborne Systems Celebrates 90th Anniversary of Irvin’s Historic Parachute Jump

Santa Ana, CA (April 19, 2009) Airborne Systems Group, which has combined the world's leading parachute brands specializing in aerial delivery, rescue and survival equipment, and engineering services, today marked the 90th anniversary of the historic parachute jump by Leslie Irvin, who later pioneered an entire parachute industry.

Born near Los Angeles, Irvin started a ballooning and parachuting career in 1911 while in his early teens. In 1915, Irvin joined the Universal Film Company as a stunt man for the fledging Californian film industry where he performed acrobatics on trapezes from balloons and made descents using parachutes. His experience as a stunt man contributed to his later belief that a jumper in a free fall descent would not lose consciousness.

On April 19, 1919, Leslie Leroy Irvin, made the world's first premeditated free fall parachute descent using a rip cord, rather than using a canister or tether line attached to the aircraft to pull open the parachute. Working with the US Army's Air Service parachute research team, Irvin made the historic jump from a plane over McCook field near Dayton, Ohio. During the jump, Irvin broke his ankle but was inspired to start his own parachute business.

Later that year, he opened the Irvin Air Chute Company in Buffalo, NY. What became known as the Irvin parachute gained rapid acceptance, and by the early 1930's was in service with some 40 air forces around the world. With the start of World War II, Irvin became a major manufacturer of parachutes. During the war, Irvin parachutes saved over 10,000 lives. The Irvin name had set the standard for innovation, reliability, and quality.

As a humanitarian, Irvin was obsessed with saving lives with his equipment. He founded the Caterpillar Club to recognize individuals that had their lives saved by a parachute. Today, the Caterpillar Club is one of the most famous flying clubs in the world and has awarded thousands of airmen, and a few airwomen with a gold caterpillar pin, symbolizing the silk from which early parachutes were made. Some of its famous members included names such as Charles Lindberg, General James Doolittle and former astronaut John Glenn.

Irvin's design innovations weren't limited to parachutes. With aircraft flying at increasing altitudes, pilots were subjected to lowering temperatures. To address this requirement, Irvin designed and manufactured the classic leather and sheepskin RAF flying jacket which became recognized during the Second World War.

In later years, Irvin's company also made car seat belts, slings for cargo handling and even canning machinery. The company later changed its name to Irvin Aerospace to reflect the change to the newer markets it served. Today, Irvin Aerospace is a brand of Airborne Systems, a leading designer and one of the world's largest manufacturers of parachutes and related equipment.

"Leslie Irvin was a parachute pioneer and a true American hero" said Paul Colliver, a 50 year employee of the Irvin Company who worked for Leslie Irvin. "How many people can say they made something that saved tens of thousands of lives?"

Asignatura: CAF.
Alumno: Juan José Núñez Ceballos
Fuente: http://www.airborne-sys.com/press.htm

Richard Smallwood Named Executive VP, Customer Business at Airborne Systems

Pennsauken, NJ (June 23, 2009) Airborne Systems Group, a company specializing in aerial delivery, rescue and survival equipment, and engineering services, announced that Richard J. Smallwood has been named Executive Vice President of Customer Business for the company. He will operate at Group level as a member of the Senior Management Team and will be responsible for all sales and marketing activity worldwide. His primary focus will be to continue the growth of the company by leveraging the products and overall capabilities while continuing to improve the company's customer focus.

"Richard brings an exceptional background of global sales and marketing experience with some of the world's most respected aerospace companies," Elek Puskas, CEO said in making the announcement. "We are confident that Richard's expertise and leadership skills will continue to position Airborne Systems as the preeminent market leader in the design and manufacture of parachutes and related products, while maintaining our aggressive growth rate," he added.

Richard has a wealth of experience in international sales and marketing gained mainly in the aerospace and marine industry. He spent 22 years with Rolls-Royce plc holding a number of senior executive positions including Senior Vice President, Airlines and Business Director, Marine Systems. During his time at Rolls-Royce he also spent three years based in Germany as Managing Director, Business for the joint venture BMW Rolls. Prior to Rolls-Royce, he was with BAE Systems where he worked on both civil and military aircraft programmes. He has an honours degree in Production Engineering from Aston University and an MBA from Cranfield School of Management (University).

Asignatura: CAF.
Alumno: Juan José Núñez Ceballos
Fuente: http://www.airborne-sys.com/press.htm

NASA Astronaut Visits Airborne Systems Space and Recovery Facility

Santa Ana, CA July 17 - Airborne Systems Group, which has combined the world's leading parachute brands specializing in aerial delivery, rescue and survival equipment, and engineering services, announced that its Airborne Systems North America Space and Recovery Group today hosted a visit by NASA astronaut Barry Wilmore, who is scheduled for an November 2009 Space Shuttle launch to deliver two Express Logistics Carriers (ELC racks) to the International Space Station. The upcoming mission will also feature four spacewalks and will bring Canadian astronaut, Robert Thirsk back to earth.

"NASA wanted our employees to hear firsthand how the products we make directly impact the safety of our NASA astronauts flying in space," said Peter Johnson, General Manager of the Space and Recovery Group. "Captain Wilmore's shuttle flight will be facilitated by straps manufactured at Airborne Systems in Santa Ana. The straps were added to Shuttle Reusable Solid Rocket Motors (RSRM) following the Challenger disaster in 1986. These straps secure heaters to the joint regions of the RSRM, providing proper thermal conditions for launch.

Today's visit was supported by ATK Space Systems, the producer of the RSRM. It included a tour of the facility and a presentation by Captain Wilmore to all employees followed by a questions and answer period.

The space shuttle is scheduled to be retired in 2010 and will be replaced by a rocket / capsule design. The future NASA vehicle called Orion / ARES is being supported by both Airborne and ATK. The current space shuttle landing brake parachutes were also manufactured by Airborne Systems.

Asignatura: CAF.
Alumno: Juan José Núñez Ceballos
Fuente: http://www.airborne-sys.com/press.htm

Airborne Systems precision airdrop system is rolled out across all US Military Forces.

DSEi, London - September 8, 2009 - Airborne Systems announced the full adoption by the US Department of Defense (DoD) of one of its family of Joint Precision Airdrop Systems (JPADS). The JPADS 2K, based on the Airborne Systems FireFly is a GPS guided parachute system capable of carrying payloads of up to 2,200 lb (1000kg) that can be dropped from altitudes up to 25,000 ft (7600m). Using a steerable ram air parachute, the JPADS 2K can fly itself to a target up to 25 kilometres away, and land accurately at the designated target.

Airborne Systems JPADS enhances the operational capabilities for armed forces whilst minimising risk to personnel and equipment during resupply operations. JPADS avoids the need for vehicle convoys and reduces risk to aircrews delivering supplies, and to units on the ground. Compared to the round parachutes used for conventional airdrop, JPADS can also decrease flight hours required for resupply missions as cargo can be delivered to different units at different locations from a common release point along a single flight path.

The JPADS 2K has been in operational theatres with the DoD for over a year as part of an Urgent Material Release, performing successful resupply missions to remote and hazardous locations. Ric Allison, Senior Vice president, Customer Business Airborne Systems Europe comments, "JPADS is a significant advantage to the user. Its technology means that a unit can receive supplies and equipment in almost any weather condition, at any location, without the need to use helicopters and put aircrew and additional soldiers at risk."

The JPADS 2K Program is managed by Product Manager - Force Sustainment Systems (PM-FSS), located at the US Army Natick Soldier Systems Center at Natick, Massachusetts. PM-FSS is currently fielding the JPADS 2K to US forces. In addition to the JPADS 2K Program, PM-FSS also manages the JPADS 10K program which uses the Airborne Systems DragonFlyTM system.

Airborne Systems has sold more than 850 JPADS 2K and FireFlyTM systems to US and International users with substantial orders expected over the next few years. Due to its performance, reliability, and ease of use, the Airborne Systems JPADS 2K is now the most widely fielded precision airdrop system in the world.

Asignatura: CAF.
Alumno: Juan José Núñez Ceballos
Fuente: http://www.airborne-sys.com/press.htm

Colombia beefs up Venezuelan border with airborne battalions

The Colombian government has announced it is building a new military base on its border with Venezuela and has activated six new airborne battalions. Relations between the two nations are at a historic low with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez already telling his generals to prepare for war.
He moved 15,000 more troops up to the border, accusing Colombia and its ally, the US, of planning an attack.

Colombian Defence Minister Gabriel Silva announced the formation of a new base in La Guajira in the north, near the Venezuelan border.

At the same time, the Colombian army activated the new airborne battalions, which are equipped with US helicopters.

The helicopter fleet, made up mainly of Blackhawks, now numbers 120, making the Colombian Army Air Corps the best equipped and most experienced in Latin America, the BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Colombia says.

President Chavez has criticised a pact announced last month allowing US troops to use several bases in Colombia. Silva said that the new base would have up to 1,000 soldiers.

It would, he added, also have a care facility for indigenous Wayuu people who live in the area.

Since Venezuelans were told by Mr Chavez to prepare for war and the Venezuelan army starting blowing up bridges that link the two nations, Colombia has been overhauling its defence strategy.

Until now this strategy has been geared almost exclusively to fighting the country's 45-year Marxist insurgency allied with the drugs' cartels.

General Oscar Gonzalez, commander in chief of the Army in an interview with Colombia's main daily "El Tiempo" said that the country has "serious vulnerable points" in the face of a foreign aggression.

"We have serious vulnerable points in the event of external aggression. In Colombia we are concentrated in the internal threat, but the risk has emerged, because in that way it has been clearly and directly stated".

When asked about Venezuela's military expenditure, the top official said that "spending billions of US dollars in military equipment that is not related to internal public order but rather to display it in a manner that goes beyond borders is the technical definition of 'offensive'".

Meanwhile from Caracas President Chavez in his latest "Aló president" program claimed that a drone (unmanned aircraft) was sighted in Venezuelan territory.

"That's yank technology: they are remote controlled, they film and even let bombs off; my orders were very clear: 'whenever one is sighted, shoot it down'", said Chavez.

Asignatura: CAF.
Alumno: Juan José Núñez Ceballos
Fuente:http://en.mercopress.com/2009/12/21/colombia-beefs-up-venezuelan-border-with-airborne-battalions

World Bank Supports Project for Environmental and Spatial Planning

 Friedrichshafen/Caracas, 02 April 2004
The cartographic authorities of Venezuela have now received up-to-date information for cartographic and environmental planning and decision-making purposes: The German Infoterra GmbH, a subsidiary of the European satellite company EADS-Astrium, has delivered the last of 518 radar maps and the corresponding digital data to a very satisfied client, the Instituto Geográfico de Venezuela Simón Bolívar (IGVSB) and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN). Thus, the project CartoSur II, mapping an area of 262.000 km² (Venezuelan state of Delta Amacuro and the northern part of the state of Bolívar) using airborne interferometric synthetic aperture radar technology, was successfully finalized.

From now on, these radar ortho-images at a scale of 1:50.000 can be used in various application areas. Primarily, they are the data basis for new cartographic maps of the area. In addition, they can support the monitoring and controlling of natural resources, or the realization of forest inventories within forest protection activities. In addition, national, regional, and local spatial planning and infrastructure development projects may revert to this recent information.
For the past 20 months, Infoterra and its partners, the Brazilian Orbisat Remote Sensing S.A. and the Venezuelan Cartográfica Mercator S.A., closely supported by the experts of IGVSB, worked on the project, which included the construction of an all new interferometric synthetic aperture airborne radar sensor transmitting in X- and P-band (OrbiSAR 1), designed specifically for the unique environmental conditions of equatorial areas. In addition, the data acquisition with this airborne sensor, careful data processing within a specifically developed and mostly automated processing chain, and an extensive quality control were accomplished. The establishment of this operational production scheme allowed a timely delivery of the subject of the contract, and puts the consortium into an excellent starting position for upcoming similar projects.

Throughout the entire project, the consortium´s experts were present in Venezuela´s capital Caracas, where the CartoSur II processing center was established. The incorporation of Venezolanean experts, that were extensively trained by the consortium, was an important key to the success of the project, and accomplished an effective technology transfer into the country of Venezuela, this being one requirement within this World Bank-financed project.
Based upon the radar ortho-images of the projects pilot area, El Manteco in the state of Bolívar, Infoterra derived additional value added information such as conclusions on the land use situation and change control mechanisms. Furthermore, an archiving concept, which will store and save the valuable datasets from loss for at least ten years, has been developed and implemented.

Infoterra GmbH, leader of the CartoSur II project, and responsible for quality control and product deliveries, is a 100% subsidiary of EADS-Astrium GmbH, and is part of the Infoterra-Global Group. Infoterra employees in Germany and the United Kingdom acquire and process airborne and spaceborne remote sensing data into client specific information products. These products are used in various application areas including agriculture and forestry, regional planning, cartography, and exploration of natural resources.

The Infoterra-Group is established among the leading suppliers of geo-information products and –services worldwide. In addition to using satellite data supplied by various providers today, Infoterra will be able to exclusively use and market the data provided by TerraSAR-X, a new radar satellite which is currently being developed and constructed by EADS-Astrium GmbH and scheduled to be launched in 2006. This satellite is designed to deliver – independent of daylight and weather conditions – high-quality radar data for commercial applications. This data will improve the quality of the information products generated by Infoterra even further.

Orbisat Remote Sensing, being responsible for the provision of the airborne radar and the processing of the radar data, is part of Orbisat da Amazônia S.A, residing in Campinas, Brazil. Orbisat Remote Sensing is able to carry out similar propjects wordwide.

Mercator S.A. was responsible for field logistics of the airborne campaign, geodetic measurements and the operation of the processing facility. Mercator is the leading Venezolanean engineering company with professional skills in geodetic and topographic matters.

Asignatura: CAF.
Alumno: Juan José Núñez Ceballos
Fuente:http://www.eads.net/1024/es/pressdb/archiv/2004/2004/es_20040402_venezuela.html