The German Armed Forces have begun testing the parachute deployment of small tracked ground vehicles Wiesel from the A400M transport aircraft.
Although the Wiesel is already compact enough to be transported by a CH-53 helicopter, this appears to be the first time it has been airdropped, marking an initial step toward a significant new capability for Germany’s airborne forces, according to The War Zone.
The tests were recorded in a video shared by the German Army, showing the tracked Wiesel being loaded for the first time into the cargo hold of an A400M inside its “cage,” an ATAX parachute system from British manufacturer IrvinGQ.
The load is then rolled out of the aircraft’s rear ramp before descending under three parachutes. Reusable shock-absorbing airbags were installed beneath the cage to provide a softer landing. At the end of the clip, soldiers can be seen driving the vehicle directly off the pallet without any significant preparation.
According to the German Army, the goal is to deliver the vehicle within 200 meters of the designated landing zone. With the ability to airdrop the Wiesel, paratroopers and their combat vehicles can be delivered directly to their objective without the need for any supporting infrastructure.
Additionally, if the tests are successful, the ATAX parachute system would also allow the German Army to airdrop other vehicles. According to hartpunkt, these may include the Caracal, other light utility vehicles used by regular forces and special operations units, and unmanned ground vehicles.
Photos and video: Instagram @deutsches.heer / Bundeswehr. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
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