Special Operation Forces

[Quintus Fabius]

Französische Sondereinheiten mit einer neuen Evakuierungsplattform mit welchen man leichte Infanterie per Heli auf der Stelle heraus holen kann ohne dass der Heli dazu landen muss: Sozusagen ein McGuire Rig 3.0

https://www.joint-forces.com/special-for...n-platform

The AirTEP Airborne Tactical Extraction Platform is a means of extracting, or inserting, up to ten personnel underslung from a transport helicopter

Favoured by Special Forces and Special Operations Forces around the globe, but also used by emergency services as means to allow speedy evacuation of civilians from burning high rise buildings or (as the SeaTEP variant) workers from oil rigs or sailors in distress, the AirTEP is a pentagon-shaped folding arm and net assembly arranged around a central column which hangs around 25 metres beneath a helicopter like an inverted umbrella.

For the technically minded, the complete AirTEP assembly weighs a little over 50kg and in folded configuration measures 1,500mm by 400mm diameter. When fully opened the unit has a diameter of 2,900mm and remains at 1,500mm tall. The system has been certified for use under most medium transport helicopter types used by NATO (e.g. EH-101, Mi-17, S-61, SA-330, UH-60 etc.) for a maximum 1,500kg human payload transported at up to 180km/hr or 100 knots. The platform can be used in wind conditions up to 50km/hr or 30 knots and its pentagonal configuration minimises in-flight gyration, making it easy to fly with as an underslung load and meaning operators can maintain defensive firing arcs during flight.

The accompanying images of French Special Forces (Forces Spéciales Françaises) using AirTEP were taken during the dynamic displays at the SOFINS Special Operations Forces expo and conference at Camp de Souge near Bordeaux in April 2019. The rescue team were from Navy Special Forces (Commandos Marine or Bérets Verts) and the helicopter was an EC 725 Caracal belonging to 4e RHFS (4e Régiment d’Hélicoptères des Forces Spéciales). The operator in charge of the recovery operation was wearing the new French Army Special Forces camo pattern uniform and was most likely also from 4e RHFS.

AirTEP is a French-designed system, first certified for airworthiness in 2006, primarily manufactured by Escape International of Paris but also manufactured under licence by Capewell Aerial Systems in the United States. The system is used by over twenty countries and although in many cases the manufacturers cannot disclose precisely who their military clients are it is a matter of public record that they include in Europe the Czech, Danish and French SF / SOF. In the Middle East the Bahrain Royal Guard, UAE Presidential Guard and Jordanian SpecOps have all used the AirTEP.

Obwohl es dieses französische System schon seit 2006 gibt, hatte ich es bis dato gar nicht auf dem Schirm.