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US Marines test glider drones that drop supplies to troops
Since it's not always possible to deliver supplies to troops in dangerous regions by land or sea, the Pentagon uses steerable parachutes called Joint Precision Airdrop System or JPADS. They're expensive and difficult to retrieve, though, that's why the US Marines tested a much cheaper and more practical alternative: disposable glider drones that cost only around $1,500 to $3,000 make. Their creator, Logistics Glider, build them out of plywood, household hardware and off-the-shelf electronics, yet they're capable of carrying up to 1,600 pounds for up to 74 nautical miles. That's thrice JPAD's range for a fraction of what the parachute system costs ($29,700).