The war of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) against Hamas continues with particular ferocity, with operations in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip taking centre stage.
As an indication of the ferocity of the operations, Israel for the 1st time in 17 years, is using C-130J Super Hercules combined with "Guided Parachute System" ,to support my troops fighting on the front line in the Gaza Strip.
The earlier aerial delivery of supplies to Israel's battlefield, had taken place during the Second War with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. in 2006.
The aerial supply of the Israeli army using a guided parachute system
In particular, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) announced on 11 December that it successfully used its new "Guided Supply" parachute guidance system during operations in Gaza. The operation, aimed at dropping supplies, was reportedly codenamed 'Gift from Paradise'.
The IAF said it recently carried out the first air drop of the war that reached nearly seven tons of water to hundreds of fighters engaged in combat in Han Younis.
In a press release, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that Guided Supply "is an advanced operational system that allows, the parachute with supplies to precisely go to specific points ,reinforcing ground forces using precise navigation capabilities."
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A video has since been released, although the IAF has stopped giving specific information about the new technology.
The video shows an image of the aircraft in the air at night. Three cartons are then shown being unloaded through the rear cargo ramp.
Most attention, however, is focused on a purple light-emitting device at the top of the aircraft, which is thought to be responsible for autonomous guidance.
"Over the past few days, a logistical supply operation was carried out that included dropping approximately 7 tons of logistical supplies to hundreds of Commando Formation fighters currently fighting in the Khan Younis sector," the IDF said in a statement.
The IAF said: "In a joint operation with the High Altitude Brigade's Technology and Surveillance Department and the High Altitude Brigade's Airborne Supply Unit, a supply was carried out using an Air Force "Samson" aircraft from 103 Squadron."
In the announcement, the "Guided Provisions" was described as an advanced operational system that enables parachute landings of expensive equipment and technology. That self-adapts so that it can land exactly where friendly units want to land.
"One of the operational capabilities that is unique to the 98th Division is the ability to be independent in situations where it is not possible to send supplies on the ground," the Israeli army said of the division operating deep inside the Gaza Strip.
Concluding the statement, the IAF remarked, "All divisions practiced using the system together to achieve accurate parachute delivery capability."
First U.S. to implement precision aerial drops of supplies with GPS-enabled parachutes in Afghanistan
Judging from the video, which shows a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft dropping supplies to IDF troops, military analysts predicted that it could be GPS-equipped parachute kits manufactured in the United States or a JPADS system provided to Israel by the United States.
The U.S. military began using the Joint Precision Airdrop System in 2001 to supply troops in forward attack positions in parts of Afghanistan that were too dangerous for road access. Pallets were dropped by parachute and maneuvers were performed with rudder and GPS guidance.
Jordan recently used a similar system in the Gaza Strip
In November this year, there were reports that Jordan sent aid to a hospital it sponsors in the besieged Gaza Strip, reportedly using the Joint Precision Airdrop System.
King Abdullah II posted a photo on Platform X showing an aid pallet being loaded onto a Hercules plane. Military experts noticed a JPAD on top of the pallet as the photo went viral.
Although there are few details about the device Israel is using, a Middle East-based military expert told Eurasian times:
"It is possible that Israel is using a system similar to the JPAD, adapted by its allies the United States for use by Tel Aviv. However, it is also possible that Israel's advanced defense manufacturers built a similar system locally, perhaps with some help from Washington. It is difficult to say at this stage, but its operation is very similar to JPAD."
The difficulty of supplying the Israeli army in urban areas
The deployment of this equipment by the IAF highlights the difficulties Israel faces in providing supplies to its forces during intense fighting in inaccessible urban areas in the Gaza Strip.
Military experts have warned the IDF of the dangers of a ground invasion within the narrow enclave that is a Hamas stronghold.
However, the IDF has continued to push deeper into Gaza. Israeli tanks advanced on 11 December into Khan Younis, the southern town where hundreds of thousands of Gazans have taken refuge.
The number of deaths from hand-to-hand fighting in the city has increased on both sides, according to Israel's defense minister.
Israel has now ordered them to relocate to al-Mawasi. However, foreign humanitarian organisations disagree with the order, as the location is a tiny strip of land with few structures and no infrastructure to provide basic human needs.
The importance of using a guided parachute system to reinforce forces on our islands in wartime
From the above we understand the most important role of airborne supply using guided parachutes in the conduct of operations by fighting Israeli units on the front line in the Gaza Strip, in dense urban areas where ground supply is extremely dangerous.
With regard to the Greek Armed Forces, the use of these parachutes is considered of particular importance in reinforcing our combat forces in our Aegean islands with supplies (ammunition-armor-supplies) in case of a military confrontation with Turkey.
Ensuring the reinforcement of our combat forces with the above mentioned supplies on our islands, in a short time, accurately, using guided parachutes will be of crucial importance, since the risk of them falling into the hands of the enemy will be eliminated, while there will be no need to create a drop zone for supplies, which is extremely difficult and dangerous during operations, with Turkish drones flying.
