In a first, Army gets vertical wind tunnel to train special forces

• Recently, the Army's Special Forces Training School (SFTS) in Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh received the Army's first Vertical Wind Tunnel (VWT).

Purpose of the VWT

• It will enhance the training infrastructure for special forces and combat free-fallers.
• It is designed to refine the Combat Free Fall (CFF) skills of armed forces personnel.
• It serves as a freefall simulator, generating a controlled column of air at specific velocities to simulate various CFF conditions.
• This enables trainees to practice and enhance their skills in conditions similar to real-life freefalls.

Advantages

• The integration of the VWT into the SFTS curriculum offers several advantages.
• It allows for the simulation of different freefall scenarios, essential for evaluating individual responses in an airborne operating environment.
• The system helps reduce instability during freefall and parachute deployment, aiding trainees in acclimating to freefall conditions.

Prelims Takeaway

• Vertical Wind Tunnel