Rockwell Collins to outfit Marines with head-mounted ParaNav units

It looks like the US Marines will soon be adding yet another bit of gear to their already well-equipped high-tech arsenal, with Rockwell Collins announcing that it's set to provide 'em with 3,000 of its head-mounted ParaNav GPS units, which will be used to give parachutists a bit of guidance assistance. As you can see at the right, the system makes use of a heads-up display for maximum convenience and added sci-fi effect, which is apparently full-color and able to attach directly to parachutist's goggle's or helmet shield. As if that wasn't enough, the rig also sports built-in WiFi to stay connected with the so-called Joint Precision Airdrop System, and it includes some custom circuitry to allow for "dead reckoning calculations" in the event the GPS decides not to cooperate. No PMP functions though, it seems -- or at least none that they're telling us about.

[Thanks, SK]

[Matt @ Feb 15th 2008 1:58PM]

just a few more seconds... almost there...

[Mark @ Feb 15th 2008 2:19PM]

Stay on target... Stay on target!

[Aguiluz @ Feb 15th 2008 3:27PM]

Damn! Missed the target, this viewfinder is blocking my view!

[Josh L @ Feb 15th 2008 2:01PM]

"dead reckoning calculations"

It's always nice to see Military Contractors with macabre senses of humor.

[Dan Davis @ Feb 15th 2008 2:02PM]

Coming from a former paratrooper, this isn't really useful in the air. Once you hit the ground, all bets are off. I think some better NVG's would help Airborne troops out much better than this.

[Jake @ Feb 15th 2008 2:33PM]

What's an NVG? Seriously curious.

[Dan Davis @ Feb 15th 2008 3:00PM]

Night vision goggles. It's pretty scary/exhilerating to stand in the door of a C141 or C130 in the pitch black night, knowing that the ground is a mere 1250 painful feet below you.

[ichihua @ Feb 16th 2008 10:41PM]

this is for haho jumps with about 45 minutes of air time.

[bigdoggie @ Feb 15th 2008 2:08PM]

*plans to hijack ParaNav cargo truck*

[JuggleNuts @ Feb 15th 2008 2:24PM]

Is that the late Phil Hartman?

[Jay @ Feb 15th 2008 2:26PM]

Think moonless night drops.

[Matt @ Feb 15th 2008 2:29PM]

All this needs is a feather earring and the Mr. T disguise will be complete!

[Jake @ Feb 15th 2008 2:37PM]

I pity the fool who don't use GPS! (C'mon, someone had to say it!)

[trevor @ Feb 15th 2008 4:05PM]

I thought they were going for a "Sparta meets Bill Gates" sorta thing, with an extra helping of dork for good measure.

[mrpoo @ Feb 15th 2008 3:40PM]

This sounds OK, but how many POIs does it have? If you land off course, you are going to want to know where the nearest Cracker Barrel is.

Also, Apple already patented this idea.

[PSM @ Feb 15th 2008 4:11PM]

I would love to see Apple develop equipment for the military. That would be entertainment!

No offense meant to Apple. It just would be funny.

[bryan @ Feb 15th 2008 4:21PM]

I actually drop JPAD's (the joint precision airdrop system) from the C-130 for cargo. The things are incredibly accurate. The range from the PI and the height that we drop them from is just astounding. Old technology just meant we dropped it in a spot that hopefully, with winds calculated, would mean it would drift close to where we wanted it. With this technology, each bundle has it's own GPS and guides itself down to the ground with a self-steered parafoil. The percentage of successful army/marine recovery has shot through the roof, and as a result of being able to put anything in a tiny square, we are able to drop to much more obscure places. This means less convoys to drop zones and less risk for IED's which of course means less casualties. And as an added bonus, we drop from so high that our risk of getting shot down is greatly reduced as well. All in all, this is one of the best investments the army/air force has made. I'm guessing in this case it would give them coordinates/HUD to guide them to the dropped loads.

[CanCar @ Feb 15th 2008 4:24PM]

It´s like plays Nintendo, but in real time! louisianadepartmentofwildlifeandfisheries.net

[phanbouy @ Feb 15th 2008 5:35PM]

iamabizzarrespammerwhoneedsafreakinhobby.com

[George McFly @ Feb 15th 2008 4:27PM]

Still trying to figure if that's a faux mohawk or a snake creeping onto his helmet.

[blurry @ Feb 16th 2008 11:05AM]

It's Rockman! (or Megaman, depending on which side of the pond you live on)

[patnodewf @ Feb 18th 2008 12:16AM]

I dont know which US Marine Corps you're referring to. The one that I was honorably discharged from in 2005 though, the most high tech thing they had seemed like it was from 1988.