On October 7, 2023, the Israeli army was surprised by an attack carried out by Hamas using motorised paragliders. Because of its small size and relatively silent operation, an ambush on a control post can be carried out successfully before being detected. Now the United States Army is starting a Personal Air Mobility System (PAMS) program to use gliders when conducting operations on the battlefield.

For your information, PAMS needs to be capable of flying at an altitude of 10,000 feet, with an operational range of up to 100 km and carrying a load of up to 160 kilograms but only having a total weight of around 35 kilograms without fuel. In theory, military personnel from parachute units are sent to the operational area using transport ships before jumping out. The parachute is then opened and then they will glide to the target using a motorised glider.

In addition, surfing is difficult to track using radar or infrared detectors. It also operates more quietly than conventional helicopters and aeroplanes. Through PAMS, military personnel can enter the battlefield undetected by the enemy, as Hamas has proven.

Moreover, it can also be used for the purpose of monitoring the operational area, taking out wounded members and carrying the necessary supplies to continue the operation without using conventional aircraft.

Motorized gliders have been tested by the US Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) and special forces but not in real-world missions. The PAMS project wants to use it in operations by parachute unit members on a larger scale.

In case you didn’t know, Motorized windsurfing was invented by Mike Byrne from England in June 1980 using a small homemade windsurfing engine for recreational purposes. Only now is it being proven to have a place on the battlefield because conventional aircraft are becoming easier to repel using MANPADS?

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