Robot parachutists hit the mark

After 10 drops using the Sherpa, Bush will provide the flight data to Brundige for further analysis. If everything checks out, 1st Air Delivery Platoon should receive 18 more Sherpas.

"It's like anything else. Until you actually give it to the guy on the ground and let them use it, you don't know everything. We don't anticipate the system being a failure," said Brundige, a Los Angeles native.

Each system, which includes a body, canopy, riggings, remote control, rechargeable batteries and software, costs US$68,000. A standard military cargo parachute runs approximately US$11,000.

Of the 5 million pounds of cargo moved by Combat Service Support Battalion 7 since March, approximately 100,000 pounds parachuted in, but that number is set to rise as there are plans to continue to air deliver supplies, both via precision and standard chutes, as one of the several methods to keep Marines equipped.

Since it is a specialized method of distribution, though, Burke doesn't expect air delivery to replace vehicle convoys in Iraq. While dangerous, they are currently the most effective way to move supplies around the battlefield since vehicles and drivers are numerous and cargo weight is seldom a concern.

While air delivery has seen limited use by the Marines thus far in Iraq, its helps reduce the number of Marines and vehicles taking to the dangerous Iraqi highways, veins of insurgent activity but lifelines to sustain troops.

To reduce vehicle convoys to remote bases like Korean Village, plans call for equipping the second rotation of air delivery Marines with larger parachutes, albeit standard ones, and pallets capable of delivering much larger loads of rations and water. Sherpas will be incorporated into standard drops as well as used to resupply units operating remotely.

In addition, the Army is attempting to modernize its supply distribution process throughout Iraq, and aerial delivery is certainly a part of that. Using aerial delivery to keep soldiers and Marines off the roads is a win-win for everybody.